The Beach Boys sang, “Let’s go surfin now, everybody’s learnin how”. That could very well be the theme song of the city of Santa Cruz, California. Think beach, sun, fun, and perfect sunshine, and you’ll have a picture of Santa Cruz.

Located on Monterey Bay, south of San Francisco, Santa Cruz is in many ways the quintessential California town, combining a laid-back counterculture atmosphere with plenty of shore activities and, of course, surfing. The city is the proud home of the historic Boardwalk. It contains one of the oldest amusement-park areas on the West Coast and one of its roller coasters is even a National Historic Landmark. Don’t let that fool you as the park is truly state of the art with numerous other roller coasters, special effects and robotics as well.

This is surfing country. There are several places along the coast for the adventurous visitor to shoot the curls or just watch the experts show their stuff. Whether you can hang 10 or not, you'll enjoy the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, contained in a lighthouse off West Cliff Drive, near Lighthouse Field State Beach. It covers the sport from its infancy in the 1930s, explaining changes in board technology and chronicling the stars of the surfing world.

Of course, the town's numerous beaches in addition to, or aside from surfing. You can just relax and get that perfect tan while sipping on a cool drink. Or, if you prefer, fishing and swimming are fun sports for those who want to be active while they're hanging out. A nice break is to experience a sailboat cruises for viewing the beach from the bay. With so many beaches to choose from, with miles of shoreline, you should be able find one to fit your activities and temperament.