Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Reviews

Great addition to spending some time at the beach. Good rides and fairly inexpensive rides if you purchase the wristbands. Come and go from the boardwalk to the beach in just a few stops. Easy and inexpensive parking close by.

I spent so much time on the Boardwalk when I was a teenager OH SO many years ago, and I relish those memories. However it was like a morgue this last week. Very clean, but everything was shut down except the Arcade. AND it is not dog friendly - no dogs in common areas. It's funny because the dogs are allowed on the beach with leashes, but you have to cross the common areas to get to the beach.

Loved Santa Cruz, it had the feeling of an old fashioned seaside town with the arcades and rides. Great atmosphere with Christmas music playing

I was skeptical at first about an amusement park on the beach, took my wife and kids 9 and 11 and was very impressed. We drove by on a Sunday and looked like it was packed and we had purchased wristbands night before online for Monday and saved money. Monday was great we were there for over 6 hours and kids loved it. My family felt very safe there! Great staff workers too!

Crowd was smaller than expected, as we expected it to be packed - parking lot was almost full. Of course all local schools aren't out yet.

If you like spending money on transitory & mediocre pleasures, this is likely your cup of tea. The place hasn't changed in any meaningful way in many years, so the idea of 'historic landmark' kind of papers over the careworn feeling of 'old and used.'

Not sure if its the general dirt that is an issue or that it covers a kind of vicious simulacrum of reality. [ie. sticky dirty railings gum laden walkways or the elderly plastic figures that feel somehow predating Disney associates walking around in cephalic-headed cartoon suits]. The bathroom I visited did provide copious soap and cold water and blowers, & had the feel of a well-worn pair of jeans belonging to someone else found by the dumpster.

I suppose having free admission guarantees high prices for food drink and sundries. I admit to be out of touch with the cost of cheap amusement park fare like funnel cakes cotton candy & notions, but $20 for a burger feels a tad upscale for the sunbeam bun hosting a frozen US Foods beef parts roll.

It's hard to knock the 'value transaction' for the under 10 set though; our participant was pleased with acquisition of 7 plushy colorful land-fill destined 'animals' for the investment of a few hours of 'skill' & $60 in plastic rings to toss at bottles, weighted baseballs & beanbags to throw at various balloons & weighted clown heads, water to squirt into animal mouths & the like. Existential dread at guaranteed losses at the motorized claw flim flam.

On the negative side, I'm sorry to point out the obnoxious 95db noise in the arcade, & general overall noise to be so acute it borders on physical pain & accumulated exhaustion on all participants.

No one was amused by my periodic reminder of metal fatigue, trusting the astute maintenance ride staff to anticipate any untoward thrills to the overpriced amusements, yet no one in our party was drawn to the whirling spinning dropping and stomach curdling thrills & chill rides. We presume if that is your oyster, my warnings will fall on deaf ears.

In our rapidly decaying culture it is humbling and a touchstone of constancy & faith to find a place so skilled in promoting its well-worn & tired attractions, fleecing the rubes with ancient gags & cheap thrills, not to mention the seeming patient lines of yokels willing to lose an idle hour or their jerkin to such transparent witless activity.

Fun for the whole family.
Very fun place, for all ages.
In addition to the wonderful view of the sunset. Located at the foot of the sand, where you can see the sea, birds, sailboats, surfers, etc.

Burgers and good salads, tourist spot extreme. Nice beach. Kids had a great time in the arcade. Don't forget a stop at the Candy store.

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is a classic year-round beach funfair with a retro feel that makes it fascinating despite the attractions not being particularly modern or spectacular. It is the perfect place for a walk among stalls, historic rides and the scent of cotton candy in the air.
One of the most curious corners is undoubtedly the arcade, where you can still find cabins and vintage attractions from the 1960s. It's funny to see today's kids spend $3 throwing balls at five old tin cans, a little trip through time that shows how the simplest fun can still engage.
Overall, the Boardwalk has its charm: it is not a thrill park and special effects, but a pleasant experience for those who love the sea air and the atmosphere of yesteryear.

We are driving the PCH and this was an excellent stop between San Fran and Monterey. Warning - the weekend is packed with locals! We didn’t think about this until after we arrived. You can easily spend $25 pp and spend about 2 hrs there. They have a day pass for $44.95. Typical fair food and we thought it was good and reasonably priced.

The Boardwalk has been around almost as long as Nancy Pelosi has been alive. Admission free and great fun for everyone. Park food is what it is but fortunately there are some good local places you can visit within walking distance.

very nice place we loved was our first time we will come back again. The beach and the boardwalk imagine a fair on the beach it a experience that you will keep

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Was a huge disappointment! We waited to park for 3 hours only to find every parking lot full. We are wondering why the Santa Cruz tourist department has not recognized the need for additional parking including parking garages and alert systems to inform travelers of full parking areas. This is a huge oversight and lack of thought to an obvious problem. Personal with foresight, imagination, and ability need to improve efforts to meet the demands of this area. You have a beautiful resource to share with the world, too bad you don’t have the know how on how to manage it.

We never got to experience this spot on our trip. What a waste of precious time

My kiddos had a ball. I have a 6, 10 and 13 year olds and they got a unlimited pass and they went on rides all day. We also got points and they were able to play games, they were in heaven. Must do is the carousel, and make sure to sit on an outside horse. You’ll see when you get there. Best ride in my kids viewpoint.

Dirty, loud, unruly teenagers, far too many people, and nasty food. If you’re an amusement park junkie, go for it.

Beware of profiling discrimination against people with tattoos by private security. They required my 35 year old son, present with his elderly mother and child in broad daylight on a weekday, to buy a long sleeve T-Shirt or put bandaids over his tattoos because they look gang related. I don't care if they had some gang problem in the past. Anyone could see this was a non-threatening family outing at 11:30 a.m. No alcohol, just father and son enjoying rides. No warnings of this "tattoo policy" on any websites. Imagine if tourists travelled a long distance. We watched them do the same to an Asian couple pushing a baby stroller. We chose a refund of our tickets and left based on principle. I found good ole liberal Santa Cruz to be fairly racist when I lived there in the '90s, and it hasn't changed much.

Great vacation spot for family with teenagers. Beach, shops, surfing, and amusement rides. Wednesday night movie on the beach. Keep an eye out for discounts on rides.

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is timeless IMO. My parents brought me here and now my wife and I have started making great memories here as well!! Nothing like the salt air, beach vibes, great food, and of course the pretty exciting rides!! Can’t wait to go back!! This is definitely a great staycation for us Bay Area Folks!!

This place was amazing. I felt just like a little kid again being here. It had every old fashioned amusement park ride you could think of... the big slide that you ride down a mat on, a 100 year old wooden roller coaster that is still in great condition and was a blast to ride. It has kiddie rides, a carousel, a sky ride (ski lift kind of ride) a wild mouse coaster and a Ferris wheel and many more. It also has a great indoor pirate themed mini golf. Also, it has every kind of beach boardwalk treat you could think of and a beach to walk on too! I think it an amazing piece of American nostalgia that you can't find too many places anymore. I used to go to boardwalks and amusement parks like this when I was little in the 70's and 80's, but not too many exist anymore. The ones on the east coast are mostly closed or run down and only have a few rides left. And I thought the food and ride prices were very reasonable for today's prices. If you are in Santa Cruz, don't miss a chance to go here for some family fun, and get a card to ride some rides. The Haunted House ride and the coaster were a blast.

I bought my 3 grandsons, ages 19, 16, 14 unlimited wristbands from AAA. The boys loved the day. They were able to spend time on the beach and ride the rides. Even though it was crowded they were able to ride all the rides, play midway games and pee wee golf. I packed lunch, snacks and drinks for the beach as purchasing the food there is expensive.

We watched a recent Transformers Movie where the set was filmed at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. I grew up coming to this place and enjoying the beach and the rides. Next to the carousel is where part of the film was made along with a beach scene.

If you buy a wristband for Unlimited rides you can save some money. In the long run you will come out ahead. The icon rollercoaster has always been a my favorite and one of the few wooden coasters still around. There is also a large gameroom and a miniature golf course upstairs. You can also take in a view of the beach in a ride on the skyteam. Overall you can spend a full day here having fun.

Well located in front of beautiful beach with a view of Pacific Ocean. Highlight the vibrant and fun atmosphere, like how the park is filled with laughter, colorful decorations, and lively energy. The variety and excitement of the rides, such as thrilling roller coasters, water rides, or family-friendly attractions. Talk about standout rides or ones that are truly unique to that park.
There is also a great draft beer.

If you like crowds this is the place to go. Was so excited I found my candy apple!! My granddaughter loved the rides. The pier was closed for awhile due to police activity. Nice walk and give the kids money and they can play in the arcade or go on rides. Would like to go back and spend more time.

Visited on a sunny Saturday in December- very busy but friendly and fun. Very long queues for the main rides and it was hard to get our money’s worth with the $30 wristband in the 3 hours we were there. But no worries it was fun all the same!

I bought unlimited ride passes online and was very thankful since they sold out. The line to collect our wristbands was very slow, but that was the only negative of the day. There were limited rides open due to Covid, but we went on nearly everything that was running. I always love the Giant Dipper, but loved the Fireball too.

A very retro amusement park, a good experience to enter the USA of the 60' 70'
Ideal for family trips.
Very well kept attractions
We recommend spending an afternoon in the park

My Nanny Ceil used to take me to the Far Rockaway boardwalk and I had fun. When I moved to 726 Rustic Lane, Mountain View, CA and purchased our home in 1987 for $400k I quickly became pregnant, under treatment with Dr Stitt, my ob/gyn. After birth we had a Jewish baby naming with Rabbi Levi in our home with my parents too. When Molly was an infant-toddler she went to Stanford university psychology research dept and was certified. Then we took her to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk for fun. first, early on the beach. then we changed and did the children's rides. then lunch and cotton candy, and finally the arcade. We played air hockey and ski ball. Go, enjoy, it's a great time with or without kids. It is in the movie Lost Boys with Keifer Sutherland.

This was a fun place to visit. I really enjoyed the history of this place. There is a lot of information throughout the Boardwalk sharing the history of some of the attractions. Take time to read and learn.

In addition, this is a great place to visit for rides and a wonderful beach and beach view!

You HAVE to go on the roller coaster, just to say you did it. The whole atmosphere is great down there. Be ready for crowds though! It is definitely busy. Lots of cute shops to go to, and the warf was so nice!

We arrived late on a Sunday evening to find it shut at 7pm and only opened at weekends (I know it’s probably out of season) The parking was also $15 (realise now that parking is expensive in California) We went back on the Monday morning just for a walk around, parking was only $5 then. Our children would have loved to go on the rides if they had have been open & there looked to be plenty of places to get snacks and drinks.

We spent two days at the boardwalk and had a great time! The wrist band was a great value. They have a AAA discount if you buy online ahead of time.

After a search for a meter to load up with quarters in a Sunday we walked over to the boardwalk. Right on the beach. Have to walk through the arcade unless you use the sidewalk.
Lots of food choices if you enjoy fried and sweets. Full of families and couples and teens. A good variety of rides esp if you want to spin and be thrown about! Don’t know how much the all you can ride pass is but the basic rides are 4-5$ min. Some lines but. It too bad at any of them. Neat ring grab and toss on the merry go round for older kids/adults in the outer horses-

Loved it here! Games, food, rides, shopping and music! It has it all. We tried the giant corn dog and beers. The arcade was a blast. Hate that dogs aren’t allowed there.

Just went to the Boardwalk this weekend. It's fun because you don't need to pay an entrance fee to get in. You can also purchase a full day pass or season pass and it is quite reasonable compared to many other amusement parks. Almost all of the property has been redone and is more up to date and has more food options than before. They have also added a couple new rides as well which is nice. Still a very nostalgic place for those of us who grew up going there. They haven't taken that part away. And of course, there is the beach there. Enjoy!

$20 for parking on July 4th, otherwise everything is ok. Good for family with young children. Had fun there.

Board walk is an amusement park and one of the attractions in Santa Cruz. It is located on the beach side. Variety of games and rides are offered at different rates. Restaurants are also there. Kids can enjoy and lot of fun rides are there.

Love the beach and Boardwalk. Spent equal amounts of time sitting on the beach, going on rides and trying to beat each other’s scores in the arcade. The food is great! If something isn’t open while you’re there, just stop by another time (made a mistake of thinking I couldn’t get deep fried twinkies and Oreos, so by the time they were open I was full!)

Go if you want to use the rides and if you want to try your luck with throwing a ring on a bottle. Noises and colors and lots of junk foods. We liked walking on the boardwalk. It’s fun if you have young kids.

We visited for just two hours in the evening over Memorial Day weekend, and it turned out to be the perfect amount of time—enough for three rides and some food. Just a heads-up: by 8:45 p.m., food options at the stands become quite limited, so plan accordingly. We had a blast and were actually glad we didn’t spend more time there. The highlight was the Giant Dipper roller coaster, built in 1924—an unforgettable ride!

Visited beautiful Santa Cruz California to visit our grandchildren
Our son suggested the boardwalk and the kids loved being there
Will be back agsin

The staff were very helpful,they were kind and helped us solve our problem. Rides were fun and some of them were scary. It is best for familyes because there are rides for every one.

Our sons loved it here, we spent an evening here all going on different rides, there is a great atmosphere and some good food stalls (not all the usual rubbish) and you can get a beer! There was a movie on the beach - The Goonies and there were hundreds of people sat on the beach watching it. It was a lot cheaper at night than during the day and a pass for each worked out a lot cheaper with the deals that they were doing. It worked out a lot cheaper than a country fairs in the UK and was a lot more fun!

This place is a fun spot to visit. I should have checked online for the schedule. I went on a day it was closed. Lesson learned.

Enjoy the scene! There are huge waves, lots of surfers, and countless beauty. There is also a lighthouse, and a small farmers market, with all the good stuff you can eat!

Stopped here on our drive to Monterey from San Francisco. Parking was easy, the boardwalk was clean and well maintained. We rode the Giant Dipper for the nostalgia of a wooden rollercoaster but didn't feel compelled to ride anything. Great people watching!

I haven't been to the Boardwalk since I was a teenager, it was just as much fun as I remembered. Great rides, fried treats (CORNDOGS!) and a very decent beach. The Pirate Themed Arcade is sure to be a hit with the younger travelers. So much fun!

What a great place to spend the day! There is no admission fee. The boardwalk has so many fun things to do, excellent food selection and access to the beach. My family had a great time here!

I go with my family every time I visit them in this area. The prices are chopped when you go on retro nights (currently Monday & Tuesday after 5pm.) This makes it all worth it.

Clean, fun and lots to do! Right next to the ocean. Great parking. Yummy food. We all had a great time! It is a bit expensive.

Had a really good time! Came from San Jose for the day. I haven't rode on the rides (except the Giant Dipper) in years but got wristband passes for the day, $31.99 each on Groupon ($39.99 on site) And definitely got our moneys worth. With good rides between $5-$7 it didn't take long to exceed original investment. Played a few carnival games, and my son played Plinko and won 4 passes to mini golf and 8 passes to play Laser tag. The golfing was fun , I'd never played there before...great pirate themed atmosphere!! Laser tag was fun we played in a no team 'free for all' format which was cool but something went wrong with the computer system and we never got to see the results of who won, disappointing for many in our party. Over all we had a great time and felt we definitely got our moneys worth.!!

It’s nice and tranquil during the day. Plenty of beach access. There are plenty of volleyball courts on the beach as well. There is an amusement park with a wooden and modern steel coaster. Finally, we did not enter but there is a huge indoor casino that also offers family games and activities. There are a few restaurants on strip.

As you can see in their pictures, this is an amusement park on the beach boardwalk. If you like rides purchase an all day pass. If you just want to stroll, no problem. There are many free attractions as well. Fun for the entire family.

Our family visited the Santa Cruz Boardwalk again last summer and had a blast! Ages ranged from 71 down to 5 years of age and everyone enjoyed the fun Boardwalk. There are games and rides for everyone. People watching is also great.

Looked pretty and clean but it has trading hours which we missed so be sure to check prior to going.

It’s been years and it will undoubtedly be years again before we consider another trip here. Way too many people; super commercialized; super expensive. Reminded us of Octoberfest in Munich but there we had done VIP access that buffered the crowds.

The whole area is so amazingly overbuilt, it feels like it could collapse into the ocean at any moment. But if you like Disneyland, don’t mind the cost, and the jostling of the crowds, this is the place for you. And if you have children the rides are enticing, although we didn’t really see many people on any, I assume because of the cost.

Date of Visit: Saturday, Dec 14th, 2019

When you visit Santa Cruz California there are 3 major attractions.
The waterfront, the Pier, and The Boardwalk/amusement park.

The boardwalk stretches quite a distance along the waterfront. There are amusements of all kinds here. It is like a small amusement park.
There are rides, games, concessions, attractions, shopping, and food services
In the Summer this place is more lively and happening but we were there in December and there are plenty of things to do and a lot fewer people.

There is a laffing Sal animatronic feature which reminded me of the one I grew up with in Crystal Beach Amusement Park.

There is a lot to do especially for the kids.

During the summer there are live bands, and more attractions.

This place looks so good!! Unfortunately it wasn’t open when we were there but we got to walk around and have a look, would of loved to stay until it’s open (only weekends when we were there) but we didn’t have the time. I’d say it’s a must do for those with kids in Santa Cruz for sure. Looks like a lot of fun

This was such an amazing experience. If you're in the Bay area, this is a must-do! Tons of rides and games for all ages, including a log flume, big roller coasters, a ferris wheel, carnival games, and much, much more! Overlooking the ocean, the Santa Cruz boardwalk also has lots of great photo ops! A sure way to create smiles and fun for the whole family!

We stopped just for lunch on the boardwalk for about an hour. Car window smashed and some small bags stolen. Major bummer. Police unresponsive as if it happens. Frequently.

This was on Pacific Ave which is a major thoroughfare to the boardwalk... so beware!

We travelled here from England especially for the boardwalk due to its Lost Boys connections and we were not disappointed. We must have a taken hundreds of photos! Fantastic.

We visited here in October 2018 in a Sunday.

It was excellent value with the all day pass.

There were loads of rides for all ages. Queues were pretty small considering.

My daughter loved all the rides and there was lots of variety for her

There was ample parking outside.

I highly recommend this.

Maybe because it was grey and overcast I didn’t appreciate this for what it is. Half of it was shut, and what was open seemed dated.

It’s a shame because I wanted to like it and had such high hopes when I arrived here. As I said, maybe I just got here on a bad day.

The Boardwalk itself has an amazing charm to it, with all the classic food stands and rides. There are so many people that navigating it can become a challenge. Try going early or later at night.

The variety of the funnel cakes are a must try

The Santa Cruz boardwalk was a highlight of our trip. The food, sights and sea lions were an absolute delight. We ate on pier looking at views.

Lots of things to do, staff was friendly, easy access, clean, lots of food options. Not worth the money, took 3 kids, paid full price for ride wrist bands but the lines were very long throughout the hole day. There was no discount for the 2 kids that couldn't ride 50% of the rides due to height. Would have been nice if they offered a discounted rate for the little kids....

Overall experience was awesome! I gave 4* because we we're stuck for 2-hours waiting for parking on Saturday. Will be back again hopefully to drive a little bit early so we can enjoy our time. The beach is clean, food are affordable. Rides and games are great! Perfect for family.

I went there last Monday. People shouted around. Food is quite expensive but not worthy. It’s okay if you just want to walk in the beach. Not recommend for taking a rest. It’s too noisy.

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is a wonderful Attraction to all ages. I'm a senior citizen and I enjoyed myself and my husband also a great selection of food to choose from.

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is an amazing place to spend a day with family and friends. We went there on a sunny day with our family including kids and had a wonderful time. We walked along the waves enjoying the sea weed circling our feet and getting washed away. We sat relishing the sunshine and kids building castles with the sand. There are food restaurants nearby where one can enjoy snacks, churros, ice creams and more. When the kids got drenched in the water, we could even manage to buy dresses and towels for them. Visit to the beach is free. You can book tickets online or offline (there is quite a queue) to enjoy the various thrill rides (Double Shot, Undertow, Roller Coasters etc) or kiddie rides. One can enjoy the magnificent view of the ocean and the boats. A must visit for any tourist to the city.

Disappointed the park was closed. Our trip was planned was going to be in town just to spend time at the park. But it was closed. Oh well.

Not enough parking and $20 if you can find a space. When paying machine kept my Card. No staff to retrieve my card and waiting 20 minutes for assistance to exit

This is one of the few remaining boardwalks in the USA, and it is one of the best. It is nostalgic, historical yet modernized without losing its charm. We have been coming here for decades it still has that magic. Spotless, great food and rides....

The parking for the boardwalk is $15 and a seemingly 15 hour traffic jam. The boardwalk was so crowded with screaming kids, we left in about a half hour. I had been when I was in high school and my wife and I visited the boardwalk 20 years ago...

No admission fee. Only pay for parking. Kids can play in sand or to to the boardwalk. Walking distance to pier.

This is the first boardwalk we have been to on the West Coast. It wasn't like any Boardwalk on the East Coast, but it was fun. The park is pretty clean and well-maintained. Solid collection of rides.

Great views of the ocean, and if you walk out on the pier, the pictures of the boardwalk are fantastic.

Enjoyed the afternoon at Santa Cruz Boardwalk. Lot’s to see and do even tho you don’t ride the rides. Enjoyed the family atmosphere, lots of fun food for all. Enjoyed especially the old and nostalgic posters, pictures and memorabilia from years past intertwined throughout the boardwalk and in the shops. Loved the Merry-go-round and all it’s different pipe-organs that cycled through that were on display-BEAUTIFUL!
No entrance fee!

So few of this style remains. Thought it was very fun, but very crowded. Love the 1924 wooden roller coaster-fantastic. Other one-metal wild mouse type was enjoyable.

Although there was a lot of stores that were closed, we still had a great time visiting. It was clean and quiet just some people are not wearing masks properly. We will comeback so we can enjoy the rest of the stores, rides once it opens back up.

Arcade is decent and not so expensive by today’s standards. Most things are $1.00 per play but there are some at $0.50. Cards are rechargeable and tickets are automatically credited. The mini golf is fun and quick play - great for kids as it is not so long.

We usually get passes and go multiple times a year. You can do as little or as much as you want there from rides to laser tag, or just walking around sampling food. Iconic and you should not miss this if you are a visitor to Santa Cruz. Concert night are fun. It gets a 4 instead of 5 rating only due to the price increases over the years.

This is a fantastic place to relax on the beach while the kids run around and ride fun and exciting amusement park rides. The food is great and there is a variety to choose from. We love the summertime free concerts (Bands on the Beach) and $1.50 nights where all the rides are $1.50 on Mondays and Tuesday nights during the summer.

We came here for the free Friday night rock concert on the beach and on the Boardwalk. Great time and lots of people around having fun. Lots of fun fast food; we had tacos. While we did not take any rides, it was fun watching others. An iconic California experience.

No visit to Santa Cruz is complete without visiting the boardwalk and going on the Big Dipper! Go early and skip the crowds and lines.

Best Boardwalk we saw on our trip from SD to SFO, and we didn't even expect it! We just stopped to see it "real quick." Rode a couple rides and walked around. It was so much fun and things looked well kept and even new! Even the bathrooms were clean.

The other places we visited like this are the Santa Monica Pier (much smaller version of this - lovely) and the Mission Bay Boardwalk/Arcade (it was fun but the coaster is rough and the facility not nearly as shiny or big).

Santa Cruz Boardwalk is always a fun place to be to during summer. You and your kids can enjoy on the beach and have fun on the rides, games. Just avoid weekends, as it's super busy. I went on weekday and was much more easy to enjoy with less crowd.

The boardwalk was one of our planned stops during our PCH vacation. Plan on arriving early if you want a parking spot. We arrived mid-morning and paid $20 to park in the almost full lot directly in front of the park. When we left in the afternoon the lot was full with cars backed up at the entrance. Trying to navigate our way out of the area was challenging do to the heavy traffic and two lane streets. My wife and I found the restrooms clean with staff inside making sure they stayed clean. We rode the sky ride twice and the views are colorful. We also walked down the street and out onto the pier. Allow time to do this so you can enjoy the volley ball games and people activity on the way to the pier. If you have kids they will certainly enjoy the park and you can take them for a walk along the beach too. Make plans to spend a long full and fun filled day.

Busy seaside entertainment area with a variety of rides and stalls. Good place to visit if you like raw entertainment. Most activities require prepaid tokens from the various booths

Most people come to the Santa Cruz boardwalk for the rides but the place is also fun just to walk around. As it is next to a beach, one can also get a nice view of the ocean besides strolling on the sand.

I guess, I expected something much bigger. It is expensive, but it is California. The beach is really big and overall pretty clean.

My family goes every year, we love it. Look forward to our visit every summer. Kids love the rides. It's never too busy and food is great. Reminds me of my childhood vacations before my father passed away, lots of great memories.

This was a fun place to visit. It felt safe and was very clean. It was nice that you could walk around with out having to pay for the rides.

What a treat for amusement park lovers with 35 rides, including Rollercoasters range from kid friendly to adventurous. The rides are spaced in between more than 30 food vendors. We enjoyed the falafel, tri tip bar b q, fries loaded with carne asada.
I took my grandson on the kid's version of bumper cars and we loved it, and we pan. come back when he is 3 inches taller for real bumper cars.
Each ride has a sign showing minimum or maximum height, need for paid chaperone. The information is available online and on printed maps.
Entry is free. Each ride counts a certain number of points, that translates to dollars. Three option for enjoying the rides include a prepaid (and reachargable) debit card that can be shared, an all day wristband passport or season pass for each person. Ride start abou $5 or 5 points and go up.
This place goes on and on, all set on the Santa Cruz Beach.
Accessible entry. Some rides are accessible, many ae unable to be accessible. Accessible mens and womens restrooms have diaper changers, dedicated stall with grab bars.
Van accessible parking is available in paid open parking lot

I love the sights and amusements here; walking around and exploring the area is much more fun. I rode my first rollercoaster here, and I'll never forget how much fear and excitement went through my body. There's so much to do. It is overwhelming in a good way. I remember not wanting to leave because my friends and I haven't ridden every ride. This one ride that turned and spun was scary, but we still wanted to ride it. Santa Cruz has many attractions for young individuals and entertainment for all ages. This place is so memorable. I recommend it to everyone.

Brilliant atmosphere. Fairly quiet even when we visited on Saturday, so hardly any wait for the rides. Lovely and clean and safe to walk around. Was so much better than I had anticipated. Family loved it. Great day out.

Took the holiday train ride complete with CHRISTmas carols, cookies, hot cider and photos with elves and Santa. A good one time experience, would have been better if it had gone to the redwoods.

This place is great. Lots to do or to do nothing. Rica are fun and you can always play a round of miniature golf or sit and watch the waves. Lots of food choices in and near by. Good for all ages.

Old School Boardwalk with a variety of rides and entertainment for everyone. The wooden roller coaster was a blast form the past and the fact that is is wooden, means it makes a lot of noise and moves around a lot.

The broad walk was great, but the beach was dirty. Trash on the beach and smelled horrible. Parking was very expensive, $20.

This boardwalk had such a nice, cozy atmosphere! It really felt like a holiday here. There were many nice shops and attractions and the prices were really in proportion. We had a super fun day here! It was also nice to see the film locations of The Lost Boys in person.

It's a great spot, can walk to the boardwalk, and we parked very close to our room. Very quiet area, very quiet at night... Could not even hear neighbors. Our only problem was it was a double bed, and it was tight for 2 persons. I believe they are remodeling, but our bottom unit definitely required it in the bathroom. It looked dirty but it was needing replastering. We'd certainly stay again, just now summers, when prices are crazy.

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is an amazing place to spend a day with family and friends. This was our second visit. We went there on a sunny day and walked along the waves in the beach enjoying the seaweed circling our feet and getting washed away. We sat there relishing the sunshine. One can enjoy the magnificent view of the ocean and the boats. As it was a working day, the rides and most shops including Restaurants were closed. We enjoyed Garlic Fries, Corndogs and Ice Creams from the few Restaurants open. We did not mind as our earlier visit with kids, we had enjoyed the rides.

Although I went on a weekday in September when the rides were closed, I could imagine how this would be when open. Assuming (maybe a risk these days) a decently civilized crowd, I think this would be a fun afternoon/evening. It is not large; think a compressed Wildwood NJ, but there's enough rides to keep the kids happy and a few to tempt the teens as well. Typical beach shopping, vast arcade (with a bit of history tucked inside upstairs by the pool table) and a couple of more fru fru shops. Added bonus is the pier, which has what seemed to be a decent variety of restaurants from shacks to probably fairly expensive. And you get the seals - I had missed them on my SF stop and it was nice to see them here. All in all it seemed pretty lowkey, and I like these little slices of Americana.

To be honest we didn't really stop as it was so busy on a Sunday afternoon & parking is expensive. However, our drive by gave us enough of a feel for it.

We took a vacation from San Fran to LA driving down the Pacific Coast Highway. Stopped in Santa Cruz to see the boardwalk. This is a fun place for the kids. We rode the roller coaster and it was a blast! Don’t miss this !!

While visiting the beach and surrounding communities, we walked through the boardwalk. Looks like a lot of fun.

This is truly one of best beaches in the area. We love this area and this beach. We will be back. Lots of beach to walk and explore.

lots to do here, no matter what ride your preference is. Nice beach for those not interested in the rides, but a huge selection of rides for those who are. We took a "ticket" (card) for USD100 and that included any food as well as any rides we wanted to take. There is also a gentle "Sky glider" ride which slowly moves above the crowds and is a nice contrast to the hustle and bustle below.
Excellent food choices too with a wide variety of junk and decent food.

Beautiful boardwalk with lots of fun rides and an amazing beach. The roller coasters were so much fun. Highly recommend!

A landmark for almost a century this venue offers fun for the whole family. It is operated very well, including maintenance, security, staff training, variety of rides and activities and food offerings. It offers discount evenings, passes and group purchase options which can help reduce the cost of a visit. While not cheap, it offers so much more than a visiting carnival. The location is beautiful and on an iconic beach. I am very impressed by the training that seems to go into staffing, the uniforms and visible security. I highly recommend visiting this coastal gem.

Plenty of food, rides, games and fun for the entire family here. Boardwalk is well maintained, clean, safe and lots to do. Parking was very simple right in front. Beach access very easy as well. Great visit for the entire family!

It was a beautiful night, our two year old loved the lights and music. I was very proud when I won a carnival prize for her. No pressure at all. Good safe atmosphere.

We stopped here in December to escape the rain. Parking in the front lot is $10. Attractions inside are a bit expensive but that’s to be expected in the area.

So many shops and restaurants, lots of sea lions and seagulls. You have a grea view of a surfing area for beginners, we saw dozens of them. We ate lunch at the Fire Fish, where they have lots of $15 catch of the day specials that I would think were good deal even if they cost more.

Boardwalk on the central coast of Santa Cruz, with several attractions in addition to the beach itself. Amusement parks, shops and restaurants occupy the region.

The second day of our California trip we decided to go to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk that evening. Our primary purpose was to make sure to ride the 3 roller coasters. SCBB like most boardwalks is really cool at night with all the neon colors and the sound of the ocean as background noise. You can purchase a wristband to ride everything for $39.95 or individual Ride Tickets. I have been to about a dozen other amusement park boardwalks and this one stands out as my favorite. I didn’t get to see this boardwalk a few years ago before the refurbishment, but the $12 million they spent has really made a difference from what I’ve heard and seen.
The Wooden coaster the Giant Dipper is one amazing roller coaster. Not only is it almost 100 years old but it has been beautifully maintained and really packs a punch. Undertow the smaller steel coaster was also fun. The kid coaster Sea Serpent was very well themed. There were so many food choices it was actually hard to choose. Plenty of souvenir shops as well. The horror movie “Us” had a number of scenes based on this park…Which is another reason we made this a part of our trip. We wanted to ride some the dark rides, but it was getting late.
By the end of our trip we had visited 13 amusement parks in California and we all agreed one of our best nights was visiting Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

Our teenage boys are obsessed with theme parks so Santa Cruz Boardwalk was a must stop while visiting Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz boardwalk is not a cheap outing. Between paying $20 for parking and for the unlimited ride bracelet it set us back over $100. They charge more for parking and tickets on weekends and holidays so keep that in mind when planning your visit.

You can find every type of junk food and drink on the boardwalk. Once again you will pay for it but when else can you eat deep fat fried Oreos?

I found the Santa Cruz boardwalk to be very clean and in good working order. If you are looking for a memorable outing this is a great choice.

I came here several times as a kid and went back for the first time as an adult yesterday. It's such a fun boardwalk and I love that there is no set admission ticket -- you just pay for whatever rides you want to go on. With that said, we were disappointed that many of the rides were closed. There were 17 rides open, but many of the family rides were closed for some reason. We went on a weekday and parking in the lot was no problem in the afternoon. There was very little wait for the rides, less than 5 minutes. I would imagine that it's very busy on a weekend, so I'd recommend sticking to a weekday if you can. We did not eat any food there (except some ice cream, which was fine). I recommend packing a cooler and bringing food, as the food options didn't look great. My kids had a BLAST and we look forward to returning on a day when more of the family rides are open. Also, dress for the weather -- it was scorching hot.

Well I will probably never go again on a weekend. I guess everyone had the same idea on Saturday because it was CROWDED! Almost an hour to park and get through traffic. I thought cause of Covid it would be a bit lighter but that was not the case LOL. people were packed in that park like sardines. Lots of people letting loose and drinking. We had reservations so rides were easy but left after maybe two hours cause it felt chaotic. My kids got bumped into several times. Even the beach was crazy. It got a bit lighter close to closing. Not from the area so maybe that’s the normal for area, but a super crowded park where it’s hard to walk kind of takes the fun away. If crowds make you stress then this is not the place for you.

We have two 17 year olds and set them loose with wristbands on the boardwalk. They enjoyed the freedom of being able to run around on their own and I felt safe letting them. We also enjoyed a free concert on the beach during our visit! All around fun!

We relived another family experience, but with our grown kids. Always a fun, good time. Many rides have been "smoothed out," making it ok to ride as an older person.

I walked on the boardwalk and felt a throw back to the past. Lots of carnival barkers and tons of rides set against the beauty of the Pacific Ocean. I started walking from the oldest roller coaster to the other end near the wharf...it was crowded with all kinds of people!!! It was a fun experience and sort of a blast from the past!!! Highly recommended!111

What a throwback- it reminded me of what revere beach was like, only cleaner. It was a nice walking area and thought Laughing Sal was a hoot. Visit this place while in the area!

We rode the Sea Serpent ride and the ride operator tightened the lap belt to an appropriate tightness but decided to go push more to the point that it was cutting into my legs. She walked away too quickly before I could say anything. During the ride, it started cutting into my legs a lot and I had to hold the straps up from my legs as best I could. At the end of the ride I noticed I was bleeding on my legs from the cloth lap bar. I told the ride operator not to tighten so hard next time and she laughed at me and said “ok” and walked away. I don’t think that is ok to be bleeding after a ride at the Boardwalk.

Lots of fun and games along with food. They have thrill rides and on fridays they have a concert on the beach. I believe concerts are only during summer and end in August.

This was actually one of my favorite places we visited, but because we got here so late and didn't have time to do much and a kind of attitude like comment from a worker, it gets 4 stars. I could see it easily getting 5 stars though. We visited briefly at the end of a long day, with our three kids, ages 10-13 on a Tuesday evening. We lucked out big time with parking and got street parking right in front of the boardwalk next to the $20 parking lot, with a space where the meter was already fully paid---score!

Driving into Santa Cruz was a mix of cute and kind of shady so we weren't sure what to expect at the boardwalk, but while on the boardwalk, we felt safe. We did not bring electronics with us that day and took anything of value with us out of the car. No one bothered us, but there were a few shady characters walking around, but, again, not on the boardwalk itself.

I don't like trying to figure out points and how much of a card to get for what rides etc at a ticket counter so I looked at all the rides the night before, determined what would be favorites and what would be maybes and calculated what we needed to buy ahead of time--for us it was $150/150 points. Unfortunately, I forgot rides closed at 9, but we missed just one. I thought we were going to leave with money unspent, but then remembered you can use your points in arcade, and while there discovered, you could also use them to play the carnival games. My husband really loved the Big Dipper Coaster. My son and I who are not coaster people really liked the Tsunami. We all rode the sky ride...felt way higher than it looked and I constantly felt like I was going to lose a flip flop, but still cool views. The Cave Train was a relaxing, quirky, silly ride we did together. Once rides closed, we played a few carnival games, grabbed 1 souvenir a piece and went on our way. We did not have time to eat anything so I cannot comment on the food.

I would definitely visit here again if in the area and stay a bit longer. I'm not a big ride person and wasn't sure what to expect. The 2 story arcade area we walked thru looked very cool and the boardwalk with amusement rides and multiple food stands in all the same area was really cool and one of the best of its kind we visited. Although I don't like calculating points, for a quick trip, I do like the flexibility of only paying for what you want to ride/do. It can be more expensive this way at times, but worked for a short visit. All day bands are available too.

All of us enjoyed it and wished we had a bit more time here.

My son and I stopped by in a trip together. This place is so much fun. Come early and bring a jacket. The wrist bands is the way to go.

This place is nuts, so much to see and do. Great for families. We spent a couple of hours here wandering around.

I wasn't sure what to make of this....it sounded like it would be Atlantic City or something like that. It's not. There's a little beach, and several rides and an arcade. It's a little tired, and not very big. There's a huge parking lot, and a large pier with several restaurants on it. We walked along the pier and ate lunch there, and that was far more interesting than looking at anything at the boardwalk. Perhaps we would have enjoyed it more if we went on the old roller coaster, but perhaps not.

This place was a lot of fun. There is no admission cost so those members of our family who don’t like to ride the rides could still be there and not feel like they were wasting any money. The food was surprisingly good for an amusement park - still somewhat pricey but not nearly as bad as a normal amusement park. The place that makes crepes was excellent. Get the all day pass for the rides. Lines were never really long (again, compared to normal amusement parks). They have plenty of options for all ages.

Unfortunately, while we were sitting down eating dinner, we saw a small child puke on the kiddie ride right next to us. They shut down the ride, and then two maintenance workers came over and scrubbed every inch of this thing for about 20 minutes. Then they taped off that particular car, and finally reopened the ride. It was fairly impressive to see how much they cleaned it, and then didn’t let other guests use that car after the ride was reopened.

There are so many great reasons to enjoy a day at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk; all of them fun. For me it was a bucket list item, ride the Giant Dipper. We arrived about noon and immediately began looking for a restaurant with table service. Fortunately, it is a short walk to Santa Cruz Wharf. After lunch we walked the length of the Boardwalk looking for ice cream and deciding which attractions we wanted to ride. I purchased a reloadable card for the rides. It was a nice warm day which made getting a bit wet on the log ride pleasant. Of course, I enjoyed the Giant Dipper and bumper cars. Toss in the carousel, ice cream, salt water taffy and lots of other fun things and you have a great day at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

I had not been to Santa Cruz since I was a little boy and had no memory or recollection of the boardwalk. In reality it is a wonderful place to visit because there is no entrance fee and you can walk from the beach play in the ocean and go right back on to the boardwalk and eat or ride the rides. We did not ride any of the attractions but we did walk the full length of the boardwalk and were amazed at the wonderful atmosphere there. It is just like any other amusement park with all the various rides, games, and food vendors all throughout the park. We did sit down and I had a foot-long corndog and my wife had some chicken fingers at one of the little food kiosks, and it was good carnival food. It would be a wonderful place to take grandkids, your own kids, or just spend the day at the beach with a nearby attractions if you didn’t want to get in the water all day. I highly recommend anybody to go to Santa Cruz and experience the boardwalk and the beach there, it was a great time.

We didn't realize things don't start hopping here until after noon. We had to leave at noon so just barely got a good falafel sandwich before having to leave. The view of the beach was nice.

The day that we visited in mid-June, the temperature was in the upper 50’s. It was a bit chilly for us to ride the rides. We enjoyed walking around, checking out the boardwalk and people watching for a few hours. The boardwalk was really neat. We got corn dogs and fries at one of the stands for lunch. Parking at the lot across the street was $20.

The boardwalk harkens back to the retro amusement parks you see, and while most everything was closed when we saw it, it was still a cool backdrop to a lovely bay sunset.

The boardwalk is such a fun experience- vendors and food and people. The beach is great and the view incredible. The crowds were calm and it was a really good way to spend the day!

The positives:
- It’s right by the beach which is large and expansive.
- The weather typically nice.
- Lots of fun rides and games for kids mostly ages 8 and up.
- The “unlimited ride” wristband was pretty nice.
- Has the same carnival “state fair” feel/ambiance.

The negatives:
- The Boardwalk and surrounding area is VERY VERY SMELLY AND DIRTY.
- The rides and attractions do not appear to have been updated since I went as a kid.
- It was super crowded..... literally shoulder to shoulder lots of the time.
- Leaving was a unmitigated disaster… due to traffic. It has the WORST GRIDLOCK in the afternoon. The areas wasn’t designed to handle the huge volume of cars coming and going from the parking lot. It literally took us almost two hours to go 2.5 miles…. from the parking lot to highway 1.
- No new rides since I was a kid.

Honestly, the negatives way outweigh the negatives. It just isn't worth it. If I was to go again, it wouldn't be during a summer weekend.

I had not been here in decades and I was totally impressed! The place is clean, neatly and freshly painted, well maintained, staff are well trained and helpful, the rides are well maintained and monitored carefully, lots of food options, clean restrooms and visible security. We felt safe and had a blast with our group of ages 75 - 4 months.
There are a variety of options for ticket purchase, the season pass is by far the best option, but there are others. Each ride tells you how many tickets you have left on your pass and you can add value if needed. The rides are not cheap, but you pay for safety, maintenance and assistance. The cheapest child ride was 5 tickets = $5. The iconic Big Dipper wood roller coaster was $8. Trains are available to and from Roaring Camp/Big Trees. Parking is around $20 and is right across the street...easy access.
We loved being there again and will go back.

If you love amusement parks and carnival food, then probably a great place for you. Tired and touristy. May be fun for teens to hang out in the evening (unless you've seen Lost Boys). Good happy hours on the pier and Sea Lion viewing.

Nice timepass.. Typical boardwalk.. crowded mostly.. parking is good.. There is a public parking right across the street.. We ate in a couple of food joints, and it wasnt good at all.. Was oily and unhealthy... beach is ok.. we visited from NJ, and found it average.. expensive too...

My wife, 3 yr old son and myself really enjoyed our morning at the Boardwalk. We grew up in the 80s and were both The Lost Boys fans, so it was really neat to see where the movie was filmed. Our son enjoyed some of the rids. There is plenty to do and see. It gets pretty crowded and we were there on a weekday (although it was July so schools were out). We would definitely go back if we happen to be in that area again.

We were driving up the coast from LA to San Francisco and this was one of the stops that was suggested. What a great day we had there. It really is a great old school amusement park in a great setting. The old wooden roller coaster was a must do as well as the chairlift ride looking out over the beach. Really enjoyed the Fright Walk Under the Boardwalk.

Love the boardwalk! Always a great time to adventure and have fun with family! They have all the classic carnival rides and tasty food!

We love visiting the boardwalk. We go every year. We missed last year but went this weekend. It was very packed due to spring break but I’ve seen worse.

So, I'm from NY State. The recent visit was my fifth one to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. This is a classic seaside resort with rides, food, boardwalk, and beach. The Giant Dipper roller coaster is one of the best in the country and is from the golden ago of roller coaster. You can't miss the historic Looff Carousel where you can reach for the ring in an attempt to get the brass ring. There are many of these left. There are plenty of other rides like bumper cars, thrilling spin rides, and rides for the kids.

Food is OK. Nothing really stood out, but it was what I expected for boardwalk food. I found some unique craft beers at some stands to try.

Parking is available in pay lots as well as meters on the street. If you are at a meter make sure you keep track of your time and bring plenty of quarters. There are some places with credit card parking machines.

We were on a family road trip from San Fran to LA and decided to stop here to stretch our legs and grab lunch. There was a lot of activity. Lots of rides for younger kids, large clean beach and many restaurants, as well as, a pier to walk. Glad we stopped!

This is a classic old school amusement park! This place reminds me of a defunct park Crystal Beach from southern Ontario Canada that I grew up visiting! The main focus here are dark and flat rides as well as a world class arcade with mini golf! The beach is right there too! The coasters are smaller and older than most parks, but still fun! The Sky Glider is a nice way to get across the park! The three dark rides look fun, but unfortunately we were only able to ride one. They also have a scary walk through attraction too! One of the kiddie rides called Speedway was really fun! It’s a themed version of an old ride called the Whip! The arcade is full of new and classic games, pool, pinball a shooting gallery and more! I really loved this place and I can’t wait to visit here again!

Driving down from San Francisco the weather turned from cool and cloudy to hot and sunny in Santa Cruz. Parking was rough but once we got a spot we strolled the colorful boardwalk for souvenirs and junk food. Fun!

We love it there! Fun for the whole family! Walked every where. Stayed close in the Howard Johnson. Great weather.

We returned to have fun at the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz on a delightful sunny July day. We loved riding some rides, having some snacks, and enjoying the scenic views of the Pacific Ocean.

Many others were there too.

While some rides were closed due to the virus, we still had a wonderful time.

this place is amazing, alot to see & do, excellent for families, couples any one, rides, shops cafes. worth the look

Great day on the beach and amusement. The day was sunny and the beach was great for making sand castles ...

Crowded and not very beautiful beach.
Very disappointed ! Small waves dark sky tourists everywhere, not interesting place.

Had a awesome time great weather,service and food. Good place to bring the kids. Overall an amazing day.

My teenage daughter and a friend and I spent a day at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk during our California trip. We enjoyed the indoor mini golf and shopping. The girls had fun on the rides. We were lucky to get a 2 for 1 wristband, but the boardwalk got very crowded later in the day because there was a clam chowder bakeoff. That made it difficult to enjoy because of the crowds.

We came here back in October when the rides are only open at weekends. We got here early to avoid the queues but even at 9.00, the queues were quite long. We bought an all day ticket which was reasonably priced and went on loads of rides. The Giant Dipper is a real treat...if you only go on one ride, make it this one!
Food and drinks are ridiculously expensive and the choice isn't great either.
The beach is right there so if you want to take time to chill out and catch a few rays, you can.
We didn't park at the Boardwalk as it was quite expensive so we walked the 15minutes from our hotel.

Loved this boardwalk. We had a great time on the roller coaster as well as shopping and walking around. The boardwalk isn’t too long nor too short. We loved the roller coaster so much we rode it 4 times. Lol

The boardwalk is definitely for the younger crowd. It would be a stop if you have kids especially teenage kids. They have a lot of rides and games for them to enjoy. It is also right there at the beach so there is something for the whole family to spend the day/night. If you are driving some southern California or from up north it is a nice place to rest and stretch your legs. It can definitely be made into a weekend stay if you like the beach and carnival rides or for the adults to be a kid again.

Outstanding fun! F Disney. Food is great and inexpensive. Rides are dope. Get the all day pass for $50. It’s worth it. Get there early and enjoy. Bring sunblock.

This is definitely a tourist magnet. There are amusement rides, arcades with old and new video games, other amusement games, and amusement park food. But what is different than say a mega theme park is that many of the food items and amusements are different - corn on a stick, potato on a stick, 1970-1980s video games. And of course, you are overlooking a beach and ocean. It is a nice family activity. Parking is tough though during peak times which are summer & weekends. They are very vegetarian-friendly with many vegetarian items throughout the boardwalk.

A fun place to visit with the family. It is a lot- much bigger than I expected. It was fairly busy each time we went. I really liked that the arcade had many games for $1. I’m used to being gouged on those things. We didn’t do any rides but people watched. It’s very pretty to see the boardwalk at night from the wharf

It has been years since we have visited the Santa Cruz beach boardwalk. We were impressed the city, county and beach boardwalk corporation have done much to clean up the area and make it enjoyable, free of litter and trash, homeless and vagrants. It is refreshing.
Came here to visit the old childhood haunts. Spent the whole day, sampled the foods and had to ride the big dipper with the grandkids.
You need to visit before summer and the crowds increase.

My company had a picnic on the patio by the beach volleyball courts. The location was perfect. We hired a steel drum band and they were awesome. Make sure you hire them! The staff are very wonderful to work with. The only challenge we had was finding the patio easily. If you are a local, it’s no problem but there are several entrances and we had staff a little confused. Be clear with your directions ahead of time! We had a great day! Highly recommend!

Nice place, would have been great place to visit during summer. The pier/wharf was very touristy, lots of souvenir shopping, sunset was good. Plenty of seals to watch and be amused. I would highly recommend this place for families with little kids and early teens.

So cool to be able to ride rides, go to the beach, and shop all at the same time. The boardwalk is free to walk on and also beach access, the rides cost money but are reasonable. And don't forget to have the famous clam chowder while there.

A fun place to people watch if the rides don't interest you. The area has been cleaned up from past visits and there is definitely a security and law enforce presence. The food is your typical carnival food with some healthy choices available if you choose. Easy parking across the street.

This is an old fashioned carney ride runway. It was completely shut the day we visited, which was okay, since I'm not a fan. Several old roller coasters and "throw up" rides-a cute skyway, junk food, and all of it historic with a splendid setting along the beach.

I love the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, I think it’s the best amusement park both outdoor and indoor. There are so many things to enjoy here besides the rides, carnival type game booths with prizes, miniature golf (I won a free extra game for getting a hole in one), arcade games, bowling nearby, food stalls aren’t the best taste wise but the prices are much more affordable than at most amusement parks. There are good restaurants also nearby, the farther away from the boardwalk the less expensive it gets and the food taste improves too ;). I like that there’s no entrance fee to the boardwalk you can pay for individual rides or games by loading the boardwalk card which is dispersed on machines throughout the area or you can buy season or day passes. On certain days the rides are discounted or unlimited also. I appreciate that you can choose how much you load your card versus on standard entrance fee, the lines aren’t too bad either compared with places like Disneyland (that place is insane and exhausting). The Boardwalk has a great nostalgic, classic feeling with a gorgeous view of the warm beach, I suggest you bring a beach tent to enjoy some shade, the boardwalk shops also sell beach umbrellas and I like the ships for their souvenirs and clothes. I go to the Boardwalk with my young son every summer, we love the small beach town atmosphere here.

Made a stop here for a day during a long road trip. Our teens had a great time going on rides while my husband and I enjoyed the beach and views. Lots of food options too. We had a great time.

We walked through here in the evening in May so none of the rides were open but its a beautifully clean area with lots of rides and things to do and eat. Parking is free on the road after 8pm.

You can park about 5-10 walk away for about $5-$10. If you want to use the restroom and the first one you come to at the entrance of the boardwalk is crowded, just walk about 1 minute down the boardwalk and there are non crowded restrooms. There are lots of shops and places to eat. At the end you can see the seals underneath.

Lived up to the hype and more! We had an amazing time. Lower your expectations on food. Arrive early, traffic looked like a nightmare after 12pm. Pay $20 for the main parking lot - we were told that car-break ins are common for street parking. Felt like we travelled back in time with the rides, the beach, the boardwalk. Magical day.

Disappointed that most of the Boardwalk was shuttered. However, there was a candy store that was open and sold me some great fudge. They have quite a variety of candies. The arcade was open as well but I couldnot handle the loud noises from the games, etc. Their bathroom was clean and well maintained however. Thew exterior was well cared for and had several benches where you could sit and enjoy a view of the ocean. I will have to return when it is open.

Quite the place to see and be seen! You can walk through for free, or purchase tickets for the sky-high rides. Highly entertaining just to watch the screamers on the roller coasters! Beyond that, interesting shops and plenty of food covering the range from Caesar salads to corn dogs to fried twinkies! Plus a wide-open inviting beach with plenty of room for everyone!

Very nice beach, fun amusement park and pier. A definite recommendation for a visit if you are anywhere in the area.

This is a must-do for anyone visiting the Santa Cruz or Bay Area. This boardwalk has it all as a miniature amusement park with games, food, shops, and the rides of course. It’s great for kids and teens to spend a day. It is a bit pricey with the food, games, and rides. The best park is you can hang out on the beach with family and/or friends and have restrooms and food right there. The boardwalk does have areas for smaller children so it can be fun for everyone. It is free to walk in, but you do have to pay for everything else once there. The beach is also free and great for people watching. If you are driving in, they do charge $20 per car to park in their lots. The meter is the way to go if they are available. We paid $4 for a couple of hours. There is also free parking just across the bridge towards SeaBright beach, and that is a short walk to the boardwalk. If you head over there, don’t forget to take a stroll down the pier. The food is cheaper and they have great views of the ocean. It’s free to walk in as well.

We took advantage of the city shuttle one day, the next we tried to find a parking spot ourselves and ended up giving up. About the only way you can get a spot is to either get very lucky or get there at 8am. Highly recommend the shuttle which drops off/picks up at the corner of Cliff & First Streets.

Would also recommend to follow the Boardwalk on social media as they advertise the sales/daily specials for ride tickets, otherwise it's very expensive.

We mainly shopped and got drinks since we are not big ride fans. We enjoyed the adjacent beach much more.

Great experience! Loved watching the sea lions swim around and play with one another. Restaurants on the wharf are good! Bad customer service was experienced at one of the restaurants, I don't recall the name of the restaurant but it was the only one that is upstairs and is Mexican cuisine. The waiters didn't even acknowledge my son and I. I had to ask to place my order. I asked for plastic utensils the waiter looked at me and walked away...he never came back. I asked for 2 straws the bus boy who gave us the straws just got done running his hands through his hair....the straws were not wrapped. At the time the restaurant wasn't busy so I don't know exactly what was going on. No waiter asked us if we wanted a refill, our chip bowl refilled our beverages refilled. No nothing.
Worst experience ever.

It had been raining throughout the day when we were in Santa Cruz and it did not appear that the boardwalk was open. Went down after it had cleared for a few hours and a few rides were open including the Big Dipper and some others. Quite expensive to ride one ride but it was fun. Would like to see a better way to know which rides are open and which ones aren’t so we know to check it out.

The atmosphere is electric, plenty of rides and sidewalk entertainment for the kids. The beach had a lot of seaweed but the weather was very cold end of May so we didn’t fancy taking a dip. Parking is tough is you are driving but we were lucky to score a park right at the beginning before the pier. Parking was not cheap, about $6 for a couple hours. Don’t miss the boardwalk and the pier (sea lions) especially during spring and summer when it’s packed and happening!

Awesome place to go, great for kids of all ages. Awesome different foods including vintage treats from when the boardwalk originally opened. They have large amount of beach space for picnics and outdoor concerts. Rides, games, food, arcade, shops,etc. It’s a fantastic place to go when visiting California

We brought our 13 yo twin boys here during our summer Cali trip, traveling the coast. This is one of the oldest seaside amusement parks that was clean and well kept. We come from the east coast where many of the parks are old and run down- Santa Cruz is beautiful. The best part is that a week in August they have unlimited ride bands for only $19.95 after 5pm- we planned our trip to be sure we could capitalize on this opportunity. You can get tickets right at the boardwalk. It is right on the beach, but note the water is a ways back. Oh- and watch The Lost Boys before you go!

We visited the boardwalk on Christmas day and we're pleasantly surprised at how much was open! A few quaint stores were open, a few food places and some rides. We spent most of our time at the arcade with our 7 and 3 year old. We would love to visit the area again in warm weather but had a great experience even in the midst of winter!

I had heard about the boardwalk- but had never been there - so decided to drive down and check it out!

The roller coaster is a old classic wooden roller coaster and the rest of the rides and carnival food are great!

They have an arcade there with many new games and pinball machines!

If you are in the area - definitely do not miss this!

Definitely will be back!

Thanks Doc!!

Lots of fun activities and food trippin. Place claims to be the best boardwalk in US. I dont believe so, i have been to other boardwalks which are more fun than this place. Beach is nice. It is also a stop for the roaring camp big trees and pacific train. See images for further reference.

Lots of good rides for all ages. Many food options (pricey) . Next to beach. Pleasant way to spend an afternoon . You can save $20 per wristband if you buy in advance.

Over crowded and overpriced, everytime I come here someone runs into me or gets something on me. No matter what filters I put up when looking for cheap things to do this over priced underwhelming theme park comes up. I don’t wan to go anywhere that I have to sit for longer than 10 minutes in line. If I wanted to stand around and talk to ppl I could of stayed at home for free…

Great place. Fun for the family rides for all ages. Good variety of food and snacks. A little pricey but thats as expected. Lines for rides go by fast. Tons to look at and do. If I would have to give a negative it would be the price of parking. Between $35 -$70

Absolutely wonderful. I love it. I go with my family at least once a year. Great rides, great food, pricey but it's worth it.

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, located at 400 Beach St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, EUA, is a traditional park of entertainment, a classic seaside amusement park.  Founded in 1907, it is Califonia's oldest surviving amusement park and one of the few seaside parks on the West Coast of the USA.
The admission-free attraction features thrill rides like the famous Giant Dipper roller. The 1924 Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster still thrills riders with its hair-raising dips and turns and the Looff Carousel's unique ring toss provides a surprising challenge.
This park is the best option for the entire family's entertainment that are near at the City of Santa Cruz, or around the bay area. If you are in doubt, don't hesitate. just Go! I recomend

We decided to take the family to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk on Sunday. I knew traffic would be bad and we were prepared for that. After waiting in line for a hour to enter the main parking lot across from the Boardwalk we arrived at the gate (although I could see at least 20 open parking spots along the back. The flunky “Kyle” (a Boardwalk employee) coned off the driveway saying the lot was full. I told him you can see open parking spots and he said my computer says the lot is full. There were four cars waiting to enter and they were entering pretty quickly. I asked if we could pull in and wait as the other cars were moving quickly and he was quite rude and told me to move along. I was highly disappointed and disgusted that after the four cars behind me drove past the driveway, he open the lot up and let about 20 cars in.

To make matters worse, he told me there were two lots down the street that were open and not full. After another 20 minutes in the lines to enter the next two parking lots, we arrived and they were full. Only to be told by the attendant to go back to the first lot we just waited an hour to get in. The Boardwalk is a fun place but the parking ruined our day. We ended up leaving and spending our money someplace else.

Spent a week in the Santa Cruz-Monterey area; our visit to the Beach Boardwalk was a surprising highlight. In an age where Disney is pushing visitors to program their visits in advance on their cellphones, what a delight to casually visit the boardwalk with no pre-planning - buy an "unlimited ride wristband" or a "Boardwalk Card" and jump into line where ever. On weekdays after August 15th the Boardwalk has limited hours and rides; which was a slight bummer - but there was still plenty to enjoy. Very chill vibe. Happy people, No long lines, even for the historic Giant Dipper roller coaster. The Haunted Castle is a great dark ride - and the Sky Glider is a thing of beauty - you slowly float above the boardwalk with views of the beach.

We did a day trip to Santa Cruz from Sacramento, it was 3 hours each way. It was nice to walk along the boardwalk and look at the many arcades, shops and rides. We didn't ride any of the rides, we mainly wanted to see the Pacific Ocean. At one end of the boardwalk we walked out onto the pier which has many seafood restaurants. We saw dozens of seals in the water under the end of the pier and the ocean views were fantastic. We also drove along W Cliff drive which is right next to the Pacific Ocean. There were a number of place to pull into (although it was crowded) and we could get great views of the ocean and boardwalk in the distance. You could also see dozens of surfers riding the waves. It was a great place to relax and enjoy views of the Pacific Ocean. Also, despite warnings of massive homeless people on the beach we didn't see very many and the area was clean and safe (at least during daytime, we weren't there after dark).

as it was my birthday, I went for an awesome night at the beach along with a movie. definitely worth it. first time watching movie on the beach, loved it

Got the bus from Funchal to Santa Cruz about 30 minutes pleasant little place with promenade walk. Small harbour and interesting view of aeroplanes taking off from edge of cliff. Had very nice fish soup and sardines sitting beside the church and small garden

Santa Cruz Beach boardwalk is a "classic" place to walk. It's a must-see for every northern Californian. If you're driving through Santa Cruz, it's worth a stop.

As amusement parks go, it's really old and might be fun once. For little kids, it might be worth a repeat.

The boardwalk was made famous in the movie The Lost boys, 1987. If no other reason, that's a good reason to come visit if you seen the movie. Be sure to go all the way to the South end of the beach boardwalk to see the old railroad bridge.

Tripping with tweens & teens is a challenge. Santa Cruz Warf appeals to all ages. Our eleven & fifteen year old BOTH loved the beach, the boardwalk, the seals the Jump Bikes & just the overall chill hipster vibe Santa Cruz exudes. A few Things to be aware of if driving :
1) Parking is annoyingly limited & expensive- $15 (for all day) at the biggest lot across from the boardwalk area. 2) Navigating in Santa Cruz, especially down by the warf can be confusing & try your patience. There are lots of one way streets. 3) If you can find less expensive parking further away there are tons of Jump Bikes you can ride closer to the Warf for about 15cents / minute (You will
need to download the Jump Bike app)

$1.50 rides are a great deal, when they normally go for lots more. We bought enough for whole family and the lines were relatively mild (5-10 mins max). Great little rides and a fun walk on the boardwalk.

Don’t miss Neptune’s kingdom which has awesome pinball machines too. We enjoyed that you don’t need to pay for admission.

We love the week day pass they offer 5-9 pm unlimited. Great for not wanting a all day pass . We could find rides for everyone .

I’ve been to quite a few “beach boardwalk” amusement parks throughout the country and this might be my favorite. It’s well maintained, well run and has a really good selection of rides including a well maintained classic wooden coaster and a brass ring carousel. Only negatives are the costs of the parking and the lack of food options besides normal “fair food”. If you want that classic boardwalk vibe and some great rides, you have to visit!

I have visited the boardwalk at least 5 times in the last year or so with my girlfriend. It never gets old we always love it and have a great time. Beautiful beach, the pier looks like a long walk but really its not bad at all. Great shops tons of good food to choose from. Fun rides, awesome arcades. Just so much to take in but not enough time. Even though we went on a Thursday in the end of August ( Labor Day weekend) I think the rides could have been running a little later than they where considering the far half of the park was already shut down. But nonetheless still a blast. Just have to go sooner in the summer next year. But oh yeah we will be back guaranteed.

This Boardwalk is small in comparison with others. The highlight is the Big Dipper rollercoaster. It was quite fun. There are other rides, but we paid the $7 for one ride on the BD. Some shops, souvenirs,candy, magic etc. standard fair. Beer fried foods. During the day you can use the beach. Two hours max here.

Excellent visit to the beach today. The weather was great. There was a volleyball tournament going on so that was fun too. The parking was a bit of a challenge with gated parking at 20dollars. There is also the street parking which is by meter.
The restaurants at the beach were good as well. Bit overpriced but guess that's ok cause of the venue and ambience.
Have a lovely day and visit.

Fun little place. There's seals resting on the docks somewhere there. Smelly but cute. Beautiful on a sunny day. Lots of different shops, plenty of food options.

Like your vintage boardwalk vibes. I grew up in NJ and this was close to our boardwalk. You can buy a ride card but it’s money based and can be used for food and other things

I’m from north cal and attended UCSC. I’ve graduated many years back but I always come back to SC and the broad walk is one of my reasons. I love this broad walk! I’ll take it over any down south. My boyfriend and I can spend hours on the rides and playing games as well as eating all the tasty food. Honestly one of our favorite and best dates to do.

Very, very crowded the day we visited. The wharf was wall to wall people and all of the parking areas were full so we were unable to enjoy all it had to offer. We rode around the area and took in all the beach sites. Would have loved to get on the wharf….maybe next time.

We were staying in Monterey and wanted to take a day trip up to Santa Cruz and check it out. It was Sunday afternoon and as soon as we got on the freeway I realized we'd made a mistake. We were stuck in bumper to bumper traffic the entire way, I kept saying it'll get better as soon as we get off the freeway. It didn't, the traffic continued through town and right down to the boardwalk/wharf area where we were totally stuck and not moving for about 15 minutes. We were finally able to manuver out of the mess, and return to Monterey in time for dinner. So much for Santa Cruz.

This is an absolutely disgusting and terrible place to visit. Dirty, packed with people, and trashed filled. If you wanted to take care of the wildlife and the beaches around you, you would have trashed cleaned up and the beaches would be clean. Customer service is not welcoming either as the people are very rude.

My family and I visited here. My son, 14-years-old, LOVED it and we bought him a bracelet for rides. There were lines, but nothing he couldn't wait through. My hubby and I strolled, took silly pictures and shopped. Food is typical fair fare - funnel cakes, fried foods, burgers. We do regret not planning better on parking - it was a distance away and costly - next time, we'd take the Roaring Camp train ride into the boardwalk.

Just like being in the UK except it’s sunny here. Most rides vary between $4-7 and are required to be pre-loaded before getting on the ride.

Parking consists of $1.50 per hour on the street meter or $15 all day until 2100hrs on the front.

We came for the sandy beach and access to the Pacific Ocean, which was great, and in the process discovered a really fun indoor mini-golf! The holes are challenging in inventive ways. We had a blast! Highly recommend. We were also pleasantly surprised at the variety of food available. Classic fried foods but also wraps and crepes (sweet or savory) and rice bowls.

What a blast. Good times, clean, felt safe security everywhere. No alchol allowed on the beach was kinda a bummer but it was nice not having to deal with drunks on the beach and the beach was clean.. The giant dipper was a blast

Fun and typical expensive carnival food and super expensive souvenirs. Vendors didn't accept any cash --only credit cards. Great weather and had birthday fun!!

The staff was great, the rides were great, and the kids had a great time. Only complaint was the food was not so great and expensive... the clam chowder (normally good) was a major disappointment and has been better in past years.

One of the oldest oceanside amusement parks left, seems to never get ild.no matter how young or old you may be. The beach is an added reward if you come prepared to be sociable and soak it all in. It was my first visits in 20 years. We had a ball. Be patient, lines are long.

We had a drink on the boardwalk and looked in some of the T-shirt shops but the highlight of the visit was watching the sea lions at the end of the boardwalk as they climbed on and fell off a wooden platform

The Santa Cruz beach is very nice. The sand gently slopes into the ocean. The ocean was calm the morning we went for a walk without any wind. We were looking for shells but there were very few. We got lucking and found an unbroken sand dollar. My only complaint is the number of homeless people camping on the beach

We came for their $1.00 Monday’s rides after 5pm but the price was raised to $1.50 per ride. There was no way that one can ride that many rides before closing so buy 7 rides x $1.50. The card doesn’t expire but I bought my kids too many rides. Lines weren’t too long so they able to ride 8 and get some food as well.
We ended our trip with one last ride on the Giant Dipper in the very first car! I kept flying side by side and up and down! The first time we rode it, we rode in the very last coaster car.
Both were wild experiences.
They did try to update some rides and could change a few old rides and games. The weather turned cold and foggy so good thing we had ridden the log ride earlier when it was sunny so we could dry off.

Boardwalk is unlike anything I’ve experienced. I could tell that prior to the pandemic the boardwalk would’ve been extremely fun. However the limitations associated with social distancing took away from the fun we could’ve had

Went to see last bandstand concert of PaPaDooRunRun as I do every year. So much fun! Beach balls flying over the crowd and kids playing in the sand next to their parents. People on boardwalk enjoying their kids and the rides.
The evening weather was terrific and clear. Fun evening!!!

This place is great for spending a day on the beach and have lots of fun. Expensive though. Must visit when in Santa Cruz!

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk never gets old! There is something for everyone at the Boardwalk. This is such a fun time right on the beach. Go in the water, eat some food, enjoy shopping for authentic beach attire, walk down the wharf nearby, enjoy awesome views from the rides, play video games or play mini golf at the indoor arcade, sip on a cold beer... everything you want in a vacation awaits you! This is perfect for couples, business, families, friends, heck even solo! Don't skip this! Suggestion is to spend a little extra and get the wristbands because it is well worth it!

Time at the beach and boardwalk was thrilling with mild to wild rides for all ages with a few shops and an arcade within the boardwalk. Parking is near impossible to find though with all the swarming crowds especially in the summer and most of the vacant parking spots were for locals with parking permits only. We parked at a paid public parking lot near a train tracks where we fortunately spotted someone leaving and quickly went to park there. Boardwalk had some great food such as the Cruzin Crepes where they serve sweet and savory crepes.

Typical beach boardwalk. Lots of rides and attractions. Relatively priced. You don't have to pay to get on the Boardwalk just the rides. Would definitely recommend if you have kids.

Seedy and filthy. Most of the "attractions" and "food" outlets close at dusk, and with good reason. If you're not back at your hotel by then you should probably take a cab.

We stopped here on our drive from SF to Monterey. I thought we'd get out, walk a little, look in shops, maybe grab a funnel cake. Nope. It was too chilly to lay out on the beach, and the only thing to do was eat or ride rides. There was an arcade at one end. But no little stores. I was picturing a lot more little shops. So on top of the expensive parking fee, I shelled out more money for some rides, otherwise it would have been a totally wasted stop. It was beautiful and well kept, just be prepared as to what you're getting yourself into. And bring $$

The miniature golf was fun for the kids. They played arcade games. They played on the beach. There were tables to enjoy your home brought lunch. The restrooms were clean.

Came here on a Saturday. Parking was $25 all day by the boardwalk. Would highly recommend coming earlier as we had to wait 30mins in bumper to bumper traffic just to get into the parking lots. There are three surface open-air parking lots, with the first two being full by the time we arrived (about 1-2pm).
Overall once we got to the boardwalk it was an enjoyable time. Plenty of rides, games, and two arcades. FYI looks like alcohol is not permitted on the boardwalk itself - saw some police officers reprimanding some visitors.

Santa Cruz Boardwalk is a classic seaside amusement and one of the best seaside parks out there. The admission is free and they have a solid collection of rides. The stand out attractions are the Giant Dipper, Cave Train, Haunted Castle, Carousel, and sky ride. There are unfortunately some downsides to this picturesque park. The ride band prices are high. At $70, you're pushing a price of some big amusement parks. It's worth doing, but still seems a little high. The second negative is slow load times. The Giant Dipper, for instance, always runs one train as far as I can tell. The haunt line moves at a slow creep at best. I guess if the price was lower, the waits would be unbearable, so it kind of keeps things manageable. This is definitely worth doing, but if you go on a particularly busy day, it's going to be a somewhat frustrating experience at times.

This place is a great combo of the beach and rides! Pack a lunch and lots of snacks. The pier food is expensive. We purchased wristbands for the teens online, and they ride rides several times. Lines were not too long. While we parents relaxed on the ⛱️!

Rides, games, food, and beach: perfect for all ages! Wooden roller coaster, antique carousel, modern rides, food, and beach. Perfect for all ages. We walked along the board walk every night just to watch.

If you get the chance to check out the boardwalk I highly recommend! So much to see and do, history and modern collide! Amazing!

So we stopped at Santa Cruz on our way to Santa Barbara and I was gutted that we never looked at this place prior to booking our road trip!! It was buzzing and I loved everything about the place… if we return to California’s coast i will go back here 💯

Spent a couple of days in Santa Cruz area - boardwalk is a must!
We went a few times week days very quiet and things are closed at this time of year - returned during the weekend - what a place! Lots to see - lots of people it was great!
Good places to get food of all kinds and favorite fair type food too!
Beach is very nice - good place for picnics and people watch !
Parking all around easy in and out !
Early in the morning is amazing to get glimpse of sunrise!
Hearing the sea lions is hilarious ! They are very cute!
Go - stay - enjoy!

The beaches are always clean, There are always plenty of exciting rides in operation. We came with kids from 2 to 20, and everyone wanted to stay longer. Friday night concerts on the beach are a lot of fun, too. The large arcade and indoor mini-golf also pleased everyone. The boardwalk gives the feeling of an old fashioned amusement park, still being well kept and in good order. We come back every year at least twice.

Just the smell in the air, the screams from the Giant Dipper over the hubbub of the crowds, the bells ringing announcing the beginning or ending of a ride.....all of this makes me smile as I walk onto the Boardwalk each and every time since i was a child of 6! I am now 56 and still ride the Giant Dipper every chance I come to Santa Cruz. I usually go on Retro Nights with my sisters and girl friends, and we relive the excitement of “running” from ride to ride trying to get either the front car or the back car! The Tilt-a-whirl makes us giggle like children, the Cave Train makes us nostalgic, and we are so happy that LEO the Lion is back in his special place sucking up pieces of small paper! We talk about how the Wild Mouse Ride used to scare the S*** out of us, and our favorite (besides the Giant Dipper) is the Carousel and grabbing the metal rings and launching them at the Clown Face. We have to constantly remind ourselves NOT to touch our faces each and every time after grabbing a ring, because of the black oil and dirt on the rings that leave smudges everywhere!!! Then we always have corn dogs and fried artichokes from the window near the bumper cars. Off to the arcade of a walk around, then out the Coconut Grove doors and onto the wharf we go. We walk it all in the mornings to get our exercise and enjoy the quiet peacefulness without the chaos, and then come back to enjoy it in the evenings! LOVE the Boardwalk!!!!

First off I had a great time coming here because I only do once every several years. The reason why I was disappointed this time around with the rides is because my kid and I was looking forward to riding the log flume which there is only one in nor cal now but no it was closed. I understand if it was one ride but I counted at least 4 rides down the whole day. On Cinco de mayo weekend on top of that. How can you have that many broke down already the beginning of the season unless they didnt have enough employees to operate them. Anyways, it wouldnt be a big deal if I lived close and then I would just get a season pass and go another day but I dont

There are a bunch of great rides there. I love the under td the giant dipper. Fireball is also fun. It can be expensive is the only issue unless you have a season pass.

19It was closed this time around but will definitely be back. I stayed at the Dream Inn and noticed the boardwalk was closed. More than likely because of Covid-

It had been years since I’d been to the boardwalk. I was happy to see that more rides had been added, areas had been updated over the years and the amazing carousel is still there! I was able to watch my children enjoy a place that I grew up loving.

My family and I visited this park for the first time in 12 years, and we noticed a lot of changes. The big arcade now features updated machines, and the classic carnival games and rides are still there. However, there are many more food stands than I remembered. We visited in mid-July, and the park was quite crowded, with long lines for the rides in the evening. The only downside was the parking fee, which was a steep $30 flat rate for the entire day. Despite this, it's still the best beach boardwalk I've ever been to.

A beautiful early morning stroll along the beach following a drive down from San Francisco the day before. The amusements were slowly opening up and it was the first day I really felt rested and "on holiday" Jetlag from our flight from London was diseappearing and this sea air was just what I needed. A great shame we were only here for one night and half a day as I would have loved to stay longer and explore further.

I wanted to give this a 5 but even though they said they were open, the rides were not and half the stores. What was open was great thus the stars. Now only on weekend is the rest pf the park open

We stopped here while driving through on our first visit to Santa Cruz after a friends recommendation.It bypassed any expectations we had.Parking was $15 and then you proceed to the ticket gate.We luckily walked to the other side and there wasn't a line there.You could buy an armband to ride all day or purchase tickets per ride[6-8 dollars per ride]I rode the Giant Dipper and OMG what a rush.Next we rode the carousel.I know that sounds lame but did you know about the rings?I had never heard of this.So get on an outside horse and when the carousel goes around there is a contraption that holds rings out.You grab one if you can and then throw it in a clowns mouth.If you succeed the lights light up and everyone cheers.It was a lot of fun.There is also a beautiful beach right next to the boardwalk and a chairlift that runs the length of the boardwalk.

Great family place. Beach, amusement park, food, weather, all great. The town has good shopping, food and ocean walk. Traffic can be very heavy so don’t plan to drive around. Day trips to Monterey south, and San Francisco north are possible. Weather good. Ocean side walks are abundant. Also trip to the Redwood forest is good.

All a bit tacky and felt sketchy. Not many families around,m;more late teenagers. Expensive and some long lines. Would not recommend

After being immortalised in the lost boys, it was a must see. It didn't disappoint. It was everything I could expect. Classic American boardwalk, i loved it.

If you want to have great views of the ocean, experience some thrill, go mini golfing, have fun in an arcade, or just go for a nice walk with some classic American bites, the boardwalk is the place for you. It really exemplifies the classic American amusement park with its old fashioned rides, but also some newer ones that are sure to satisfy even the hardest thrill seekers. Throughout the boardwalk are countless little stands with so many different cuisines. There are many indoor areas to stay warm or just to take a break and also many hidden gems if you look around. For ride recommendations, I would never ever miss a nice ride on the Giant Dipper for a nice thrill. The carousel is fun for everyone with its unique ring feature where you grab a ring and toss it into a clown's mouth. Bumper cars, ghost busters, and the drop tower are also some other great ones, drop tower especially fi you are looking for an astounding view. There is a great section on the left part of the park for younger kids to go on some nice rides.

Boardwalk- simply a must have while in Santa Cruz. I liked the giant dipper most. This is one of the oldest dollar coasters- and made out of lots of wood. Perfect evening with my family.

Great fun. Kids loved the rides. Beautiful beach. Great weather. Parking tricky.😊 we did a day trip. Ate on the boardwalk. Kids rode on all the rides that they were tall enough for. Lots to choose from. Looking from where we parked the lights from the boardwalk on the water were beautiful.

We just went here on a whim and rode a few rides (Giant dipper)and we’re only here for a few hours. We had a great time being tourists.

It’s half open and even less full but well worth the trip. Corn dogs, people smiling (under the masks) and the giant dipper never fails to thrill! Happy we came.

Wonderful walk along the beach and Pier. If you are lucky you can see quite a few seals berthed at the lower levels of the pier.

Ideal place for surfing and are for newbie surfers.

Great food choices on the Pier and a beach

Heaps of rides geared at kids and teenagers. Free entry to walk along. You just pay for each ride you want to go on

The boardwalk is wonderful because everything is free and who doesn't love the beach? It's free to get in with free concerts and free movies for those of us that are not interested in all the rides - most of which you see in a fair. The arcade is big with every game you can imagine and then some. My biggest complaint is the taffic getting there...bumper to bumper. The parking is 20.00 IF the lost isn't full. If it is you have to either fight for a meter on the streets (which are heavily watched) or park a quarter of a mile down the street in their overflow parking. Once you get onto the boardwalk be prepared for shoulder to shoulder suffocating crowds...especially on a Saturday. My advice is if you want to relax and enjoy yourself....do not go on a Saturday. Better yet, do not go in June, July or especially August.

Have been going there since I was only 6. That was such a long time ago.... always looking forward to spending a couple of days there. The area around the boardwalk is always kept clean, and the mountains close to the boardwalk are beautiful. Great swimming in the ocean is always a welcome respite. Always look forward to a trip down there. Enjoy the rides, especially the roller coaster. If you go there it’s well worth the trip! The penny arcade is fun as well. No matter what age you are, there’s always something for your age group to enjoy. Make sure you’ve got something with you to take pictures, phone or camera! That way, the fun memories will always remain in print. Well worth going to. And don’t forget to get on the carousel so you can grab a ring off the ride and try tossing it into the clowns mouth. Have fun!!!

For the brits, it's an American version of Skegness!! But it was entertaining to walk the Boardwalk. We parked some way out from town and walked in which was nice. The boardwalk is lovely, and full of the typical seaside entertainments and rides. Ineterstingly my Queen who always says she does not want to go on rides was fully up for the wooden rollercoastare - $14 for two single rides. But the ride was absolutely brilliant, not like the newer metal monsters, but exillerating and a giggle fest. Highly recommended.

First time visiting, got the kids the daily wrist bands and for us knowing we were not planning to go on many rides one of the passes. Prices were a little steep but compared to other places about right. Spent a Saturday there. The morning was not too busy. Spent a few hours in the afternoon on the beach, crowded at the water but we found room to swim. Then back onto the boardwalk for a few more rides before finally heading home. We all had a blast and looking forward to going again.

When we arrived at the front counter the price is for both attractions and rides armbands were reasonable. myself my wife and grandson had a great time there the lines were not long at all to wait, the max we waited in line was 20 minutes.All the staff were pleasant and kind.if you have young kids they have a lot of rides for them and teenagers they have a lot of rides,for adults too.It’s worth the money

Fun place to hang out if you have kids. The turkey leg was good too. Lots of places to eat. It was also nice to lay on the beach all day. The $15 parking was fair considering you can park there from 11am to 7pm.and after 7pm that time its free to park.

I think COVID has not been kind to the boardwalk. Went both in November 2021 and March 2022 and both times most things were closed. There were a few shops and restaurants open but none of the rides. Overall felt kind of deserted and sad. Parking was $5 but was mostly empty. Spent a little time there, but found there wasn't much to do.

Great place for all ages . Fun, fun and fun! You feel there like in a movie set. Delicious food, drinks and amazing selection. Don’t spend money for tickets to Disneyland! Come here.

I went on July 3rd. It was amazing, packed, full of life, completely family friendly. And they were having at the sand a movie night as well, streaming a kids movie. I reminds me my country Brazil, always with a lot of people outside, instead of being inside of their homes or using only cars. I took pictures in key spots where the flick Us takes place, including closer to the Natural History Museum (5 min walking from the boardwalk) where they have the daytime fire scene.

One of the oldest Beach Boardwalks. The wooden roller coaster and antique carousel are a must ride here. In the summer there are great bands that play on the stage in the sand. Admitance is free so strolling and people watching is romantic and fun. There is lots of great treats for sale and one of the best known is their salt water taffy.

If its rides you like there at plenty to choose from. Best of all Santa Cruz is know for its long sandy beaches. Since the city is in what is known as the "banana belt", it is usually bright and sunny here.

We arrive after route one and stayed for a night in santa Cruz.
We got surprised cause the city is really great.
We really enjoyed been there. It's fun also for old people and you can spend there a few hours just by walking and enjoying the place and the view.
You need to pay every ride but the entrance is free

WOW! We were here on a Saturday and I think everybody from LA, San Francisco, and Santa Cruz happened to come at the same time! It was packed with people doing the rides, eating, and just walking the long Boardwalk area. Many people were also out on the sand close to the water. It was a LOT of fun to watch some of the rides and the people on them! Great people watching area! Parking wasn't cheap, but it was sure close!

Another great place to stroll and take in the scene and you have to ride the Giant Dipper. It is 95 years young and still gives a fun 2 minute ride. The dips keep coming right up to the end.

My family enjoyed an iconic summer day here at the Boardwalk. Get here early to find parking. We got here around 11:30 am (half an hour after opening) and paid $25 for an all-day lot. As we were leaving around 3:30 pm, most of the $25 lots and all of the meter parking were full.

We ate some chocolate, pulled pork tater tots, bacon-topped hot dog, and fried zucchini hearts. After that, we bought a $100 pass (115 tickets) and this was enough for 4 people to get on 3 rides, and 3 people to ride one additional ride. We had fun on the carousel, free fall, log ride, and sidewinder coaster. My older daughter was thrilled when she successfully tossed a ring into the clown's mouth on the unique carousel, always a highlight of a visit here.

After the rides, we walked down to the sandy beach and enjoyed the waves (along with throngs of other beach goers). Fun times!

My first mother’s day celebration and the destination was: Sc boardwalk! What an amazing time to spend there with my son and husband. We had our potrait done , did small rides and had amazing food. An excellent amusement park. We spend around 2 hours and it was awesome! One of my best days!

This is a fun place to visit. It is like going back in time for a simpler fun experience. Here you pay for the fun you want - video games, arcade games, putt putt golf, boardwalk rides, & food. Parking is their big lot or on the street. In the summer, it can be very busy here. I have generally spent a few hours here but could spend a whole day.

The Santa Cruz beach boardwalk is still in shape, with lots of interesting amusement and funny things to do.
The bad thing on it is about the food. We decided to eat there and the offer is only fast-food with very low quality. we had bad experience in almost all the places that we tried. Dirty and with very low quality.

Maybe because of the excessive heat I couldn't enjoy the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. It is a park by the sea with several attractions, but nothing too much! What I really liked was the scratch!

Our family visited the boardwalk during our summer vacation and had a lot of fun. We have elementary age children and younger and there was plenty for us to do. One thing we wished we would have known was on Mondays and Tuesdays after 5pm, during the summer, all rides are $1.50 per person, which is a steal considering many of the major attractions cost the equivalent of $7 during the day.

Warm weekends - get there early for beach space and parking. Traffic picks up and driving around town is a zoo. We got to the beach about 11:15 am and many of the activities were closed. The bathroom was open and so was the beach! Our young children played at the beach for 2 hours before we decided to walk the pier. The sea lions were out in droves calling for feeding. Fisher-people had their lines in the water from the pier and a few had caught fish. We did not go into the boardwalk (mall) area. The kids had lots of fun. By the time we left the beach, traffic was snarled, parking was at a premium, a sand volleyball tournament was underway, and street vendors were everywhere.

We enjoyed the game room! Lots of places to shop and eat.
I guess the meter people watch them very carefully so make sure to put in enough quarters. Did not do the rides.

This place is great for kids. Loads of rides and other little stands to play. The Giant Dipper must be ridden! Lovely setting by a beautiful beach. Would be a five it were a bit more authentic old school Americana but the tack wins out.

Walked the boardwalk and had fun people watching and visiting a couple of the vendors who were open. The salt water taffy is delicious. The ice cream was tasty but pricey. NIce to have the smell of popcorn. Certainly missed the rides but still a good place to visit.

This was our family's first time visiting Santa Cruz so we weren't quite sure what to expect other than what we had read online.

Being from Vegas, the weather was absolutely perfect! Upper 60's to low 70's with a nice ocean breeze...definitely a nice break from the Vegas heat!

So first off, parking. There were lots located in front of the park...all looked to be about 20.00 for the whole day so make sure to add that to the budget unless you're within walking distance.

We had purchased the all day ride bands for about 55.00 a person I believe and we were able to ride a lot of rides during the day, some even 2 or 3 times. Since the park is cashless, we also purchased a "fun" card with 200.00 to spend later ...turned out to be a fiasco but more on that later...

Rides: they ranged from kid friendly to high adrenalin which was nice since we had a 9 and 12 year old with us. Lines were doable, longest wait for us was about 15 minutes. Not too bad when compared to places like Disney or Legoland.

Food: your average boardwalk fare... deep fried everything, ice cream, hot dogs, burgers, etc.... They had a "special" on their plastic souvenir cup for 11.99, with 99 cent refills all day.... normally I would pass but since I had trouble with that "fun" card, I purchased one... its a tourist spot so highway robbery is to be expected.

As for the downfalls, there were a few unfortunately... We went on a Friday when its normally expected to stay open until about 9pm but we had gone a night designated for grad night so they closed at 6 instead so that was disappointing.

As for that "fun" card that was purchased... we weren't able to use it all
on food so we were under the impression that we could use the rest to buy souvenirs at the gift shop. Sadly, this was not the case so just be advised that when purchasing the card, you can only use on food and arcade. I ended up going back and buying one of those ridiculously expensive souvenir cups just to burn through some of the remaining funds.

Overall, minus the few hiccups, it was a good experience and a great way to spend the day with kids. Would recommend to anyone visiting the area!

Make sure to check the website directly for details. We went on a Friday expecting the place to be quite busy, but found it to be very empty. On the day we went nothing was available as far as rides. The only attraction open was mini golf. Do note you can pay $5 to park in the lot or use metered parking.

We absolutely loved our time on the boardwalk. The rides were full sized rides like you would see at big amusement parks, without the long lines. It was beautiful and fun! We highly recommend it!

It's been over 30 years but we're back. We checked it out to see if any changes, and to introduce the iconic landmark to the grandchildren.
Parking is a hassle. After we found a space on the street we had to find the coin changer machine. Put in paper currency and get a $1 token (s). Then queue up to the entry. We found several entries besides the main one which should be avoided.
The major rides, eg, Giant Dipper, are expensive. One ride per person is $8, but the kids felt it was worthwhile albeit scary. They claim they raised their arms on the decline -- if but a few seconds.
The food is pretty bad at the boardwalk vendors. I settled for a chili dog. I suggest you bring your own picnic meal.
The kids will want to remember the best memories of the SCB Boardwalk and return again and again.

Went on a Thurs and half of it was closed. Went back on Fri and everything was open and it was a completely different atmosphere. Would be really fun for young kids tall enough to ride everything. The mini golf was surprisingly fun, and a nice way to warm up if it's cold out. 18 holes for $7.
The homeless are no where to be seen - family friendly environment. No charge to get in, and you can pay per ride with a reloadable card or buy a wristband. Plenty of options for food and snacks.

We had the experience on a Wednesday afternoon. We opted for the $50 for 55 points package. They had wristband packages available.
My 8 y/o and I loved it. There were a lot of people there, but the lines were not too long. That is probably because the rides were also not too long. The crowds kept moving. The food and drink choices were horribly expensive. No surprise. It was worse than buying food at an airport.
This is a fun experience for children of all ages.

Great place to walk and take a look. If you have kids and they are itching for some "action" this is a great place to go. We were impressed with how updated and clean it was for such an old boardwalk. We did the walking haunted house (not the sit-down ride) and it was very good. It is kind of tucked away in a corner so look for it if you are so inclined. We greatly enjoyed it. Twelve and sixteen year olds thought it was pretty cool.

We had an amazing, fun, and relaxing family time at the beach and boardwalk! The hotel was close within the boardwalk (Solares) and it was a breeze in terms of convenience, especially if you have kids!

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is a clean and maintained amusement park.
At the Boardwalk, you will find carnival rides, games and food vendors with many restaurants located within walking distance. It can be a great place to spend a few hours away from the beach or out of the sun....
From June through August, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk also presents a FREE music on the beach concert series on Friday nights (at 6:30 and 8:30 PM).
Parking in the area is metered or can be found in one of several pay parking lots. Once the lots and spaces are filled, parking can be a challenge.... so plan to arrive early during the busy season and weekends.... or you should expect to park and hike a little bit.

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk combines thrilling rides, arcade games, and oceanfront views for a fun-filled day. My family and I love the nostalgic charm of the Giant Dipper roller coaster and the variety of food options. The lively atmosphere makes it perfect for families, though weekends can get crowded. Plan ahead for parking and enjoy the vibrant energy of this iconic seaside amusement park.

We went to the Boardwalk everyday on a three day weekend. Grandma, Mom and Dad plus 2 kids 2.5 and 9. Road the carousel, played games, won prizes, split up to do age appropriate rides, and arcade games, watched beach volleyball, did parcour (kids not grandma). Met for boardwalk vittles and really had fun. Don’t expect too much, just let the magic happen and I guarantee you can make a memory.

We walked through the Boardwalk almost at closing time so unfortunately we didn't have the opportunity to experience everything. However, the amusement arcade stayed open late and our 2 teenage boys had an absolute blast. There are so many different games, from old school to super modern. The swipe card system is really good, and you can win prizes by playing well. A highlight of our Santa Cruz trip (well, more for the kids than me!).

If you want to have a pleasant atmosphere, interesting things to see, with great views of the Pacific Ocean, take a walk on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk before 11 am! Stores, rides and concessions open at 11am, and then you will encounter large crowds! Parking on the street, near the entrance is plentiful if you arrive before 11 am.

If you like being in a huge circus that’s where you want to be..... tasteless and rather crass.... it’s ok for kids as the rides make it fun for them .... the kiddie casino is ok for kids too, but why an adult would go here is a mystery

Unfortunately we were just out of season but it looked as if it would be worth a visit on season. The amusement arcade was open and there was an ATM located inside the amusement arcade.

We walked down to the boardwalk from our hotel. It was nostalgic, but very crowded and lots of day drinkers, so maybe not the best place for families.

One of a handful of old school boardwalks. Be prepared to spend some money - entry is free but rides and games are $4 and up if you pay per-ride using a card purchased at the ticket stand. There is also an option of one-day all-you-can-ride arm bands and season tickets. It's a carnival/fair atmosphere, which can be interspersed with beach time. My daughter loved it. Parking was a nightmare, but we ultimately got a spot in a lot for $20.

Something for everyone!!! I visit with my grandchildren (youngest is seven and oldest is twenty( at least once a year!!!!

Spend a fun day walking the boardwalk, laying on the beach , swim, have a thrill on the rides, play games, eat , shop.. something for everyone to have a great time.

There is just something magical about eating some beach food on a amusement park/pier with family and friends surrounded by you this place is forever etched into my mind. I could not recommend more if just want to Kill some time or hang out on the beach 20 feet away.

We've been to Santa Cruz several times but saved the trip to the Boardwalk to enjoy with my sisters and their young children. Yes, it is noisy, crowded, and over-stimulating, but the kids loved it. And we loved seeing their faces light up on the rides and watching the many young families out enjoying a day in the sun at the beach.

If you don’t mind crowds and noise you’ll enjoy the Boardwalk. Make certain you don’t try and park close by. Your better off parking in the almost empty town and walking there

I thought during our road trip we could ride some rides and eat some food at night but it was a ghost town. Still a nice stroll along the pier and the beach front.

Glad that I went to experience the boardwalk, but it was way too crowded when we went and I didn't enjoy that. If you don't want the heavy crowds, going on a weekday would probably be better. Loved the views from the ride areas. The kids really enjoyed it.