| The city of Santa Cruz, originally named San | | | | Lorenzo rover levee. |
| Lorenzo, was discovered in 1769 by the | | | | |
| Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portolà . The | | | | For those looking for an alternative to |
| city continued to expand and eventually | | | | surfing or skating, other outdoor sports such |
| became known as Santa Cruz, meaning "Holy | | | | as cycling, camping, hiking, and rock |
| Cross", in honour of the local mission. By | | | | climbing are also popular in the area. The |
| the 1820s Mexico had assumed control of the | | | | Santa Cruz Wharf is known for fishing, |
| area and Americans began to arrive in great | | | | viewing marine mammals and other recreation. |
| numbers over the next thirty years. | | | | The city provides many great opportunities |
| California became a state in 1850, and Santa | | | | for butterfly watching and ornithology. |
| Cruz County was created as one of the | | | | Santa Cruz also has the Historic Downtown |
| twenty-seven original counties. | | | | Retail District, which features numerous |
| | | | theatres, galleries, shops and boutiques. |
| By the turn of the century, the agricultural, | | | | |
| logging, lime processing, and commercial | | | | The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is |
| fishing industries all prospered in the area. | | | | California's oldest amusement park and a |
| Santa Cruz also became a prominent resort | | | | designated State Historic Landmark. It |
| community, due to its scenic beauty and mild | | | | features one of the oldest wooden |
| climate, and today it is well-known for | | | | rollercoasters still in use in the US as well |
| water-sports such as surfing, paddling, | | | | as numerous modern attractions. It has been |
| sailing, diving and swimming. It is | | | | owned and operated by the Santa Cruz Seaside |
| reputedly the site of the first surfing in | | | | Company since 1915. Entrance to the Beach |
| California, when, in 1885, three Hawaiian | | | | Boardwalk is free, but rides cost between |
| princes - Prince David, Prince Edward and | | | | $2-$4. |
| Prince Jonah Kalaniana'ole - surfed on | | | | |
| locally milled redwood boards at the mouth of | | | | Winemaking is an important part of the |
| the San Lorenzo River. Santa Cruz has 11 | | | | economic and cultural life of Santa Cruz |
| world-class surf breaks, including the point | | | | County, from the growing of the grapes to |
| breaks over rock bottoms near Steamer Lane | | | | their venting. The Santa Cruz Mountains are |
| and Pleasure Point, which create some of the | | | | home to some of the oldest and well-renowned |
| best surfing waves in the world. | | | | wineries in California, producing fine |
| | | | Zinfandels, Chardonnays, Cabernet Sauvignons, |
| Santa Cruz also has a Surfing Museum at | | | | as well as Ports, Pinot Noirs and other |
| Steamer Lane, which continues to be staffed | | | | varietals and blends. The wines of the Ridge |
| by early surfing pioneers such as Harry Mayo | | | | Vineyards and David Bruce Winery were |
| and others who have surfed Santa Cruz waves | | | | selected for tasting in the Paris Wine |
| since the 1930s. It hosts several surf | | | | Tasting of 1976. |
| contests drawing international participants | | | | |
| each year, including the International | | | | To get to Santa Cruz, visitors can take |
| Longboard Association contest and the O'Neill | | | | advantage of cheap flights to the San Jose, |
| Cold Water Classic. | | | | San Francisco or Oakland international |
| | | | airports and from there arrange private |
| Santa Cruz is also famous for the Derby skate | | | | transfer or take scheduled airport shuttles |
| park, the first public skate park in the USA | | | | to their final destination. Booking a hotel |
| as well as the brand new Mike Fox Skate Park, | | | | in Santa Cruz can be done easily online and |
| containing both shallow and deep skating | | | | from there visitors can experience all Santa |
| pools and ramps, located along the San | | | | Cruz has to offer. |