Beach St, Santa Cruz

I initially reviewed this place after having visited in March, when it was the off-season and the only thing open was the chintzy arcade. Since then, I have gone back and would like to fully amend my last review. I had a GREAT time at the Beach Boardwalk on Monday - where all of the rides cost only $1. The Giant Dipper is a go-to classic, and the Doubleshot is fun, especially if you can get a seat on the ocean side of the ride.

The crowds are packed and the ambiance is that of a typical beach boardwalk, with some Santa Cruz stoners dotting the mix of children and adults enjoying a fun boardwalk experience on a not-so-hot summer night (Santa Cruz doesn't see warm weather until August). Expect to wait in line - especially on a $1 night (but who doesn't enter an amusement park with that expectation)?

Would I have wanted to pay more than a dollar per ride? Probably not. Was it worth the dollar/ride, for a fun night out with some friends for a couple of hours? Absolutely.

When you think of Santa Cruz, this is probably the first spot that comes to mind, as images of beaches with crashing waves, small restaurants, the wharf and the boardwalk all come to mind. And the images are probably all accurate. Restaurants abound on this street, home to the wharf, the boardwalk - and the tourists. This spot can get a little crazy in the summer, and the indoor arcade and small, carnival-style outdoor amusement park are more Jersey Shore than Malibu Beach.

Beach Street Cafe is a classic Santa Cruz diner with a friendly owner and an abundance of memorabilia, and is one of several restaurants on this street. However, the eateries are outnumbered by the surf shops.

Beach Street extends to West Cliff Street on one side, and Third Street (with the amusement park) on the other. You can definitely get a sense of what Santa Cruz has to offer, but I would recommend going downtown, or escaping to nearby Capitola south of here.