Santa Cruz, California , enjoys an enviable location on the Monterey Bay. Situated between the cities of San Francisco and San Jose, Santa Cruz maintains its own identity as the quintessential California beach town. And rightfully so--this is the birthplace of surfing in the mainland United States. Hawaiian Royalty introduced the sport to America right here in Santa Cruz. Residents were immediately taken in, and have been cruising the powerful waves here ever since.

Santa Cruz supports a population of approximately 55,000 residents. The presence of a major university skews the median age within the area to 32 years old. The average household income in Santa Cruz is around $60,000 per year. Home values reflect the desirability of the region, with the median listed at $795,000. Of course, it should be noted that homes located on or near the seashore tend to be dramatically higher. The main employment sectors in Santa Cruz are agriculture, tourism, food processing and high tech. With this diversity of income streams, the area maintains a healthy economy and strong standard of living.

Santa Cruz has committed approximately ten percent of its land to public parks and open spaces. With a mild year-round climate ranging from 44 to 69 degrees and an average rainfall of about 32 inches per year, residents here enjoy the outdoors. One of the biggest outdoor attractions is the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. This is the west coast's only remaining seaside amusement park. This 97 year old landmark contains the Loof Carousel, created in 1911, and the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster, dating back to 1924. The Boardwalk has its own bowling alley, arcade and two-story miniature golf course. There are special events and festivals held at this site all year long, and in the summer, locals enjoy the weekly free concerts held here.

Walking inland just a few blocks from the seashore, you will come across the newly renovated downtown area. This is truly the heart of Santa Cruz, with tree-lined streets designed for pedestrians. The boutiques, bistros and galleries here are as eclectic as the residents themselves. As a gathering point in the community, this is the spot to pick up information on annual events such as the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, the Santa Cruz Blues Festival, the Santa Cruz Film Festival, and Shakespeare Santa Cruz.

Of course, the area has its share of unique destinations. For pounding surf and spectacular sunsets, visit Natural Bridges State Beach, Lighthouse Field State Beach or Twin Lakes State Beach. For a greener setting, Wilder Ranch State Park or Big Basin Redwoods State Park will take your breath away. But Santa Cruz also has the Harley-Davidson Museum for bike enthusiasts. Budding marine biologists flock to the Seymour Marine Discovery Center. And of course, as a tribute to the early Hawaiian visitors, the Lighthouse Surfing Museum.

With all this to offer, it is not surprising that Santa Cruz is a popular vacation destination. It was also recently named as one of the "50 Best Places to Live" by Men's Journal Magazine. The scenery here is diverse and magnificent. Sandy beaches, coastal bluffs, windswept cliffs and the melodic roll of the tides are all an integral part of Santa Cruz. Residents here spend a great deal of time in the great outdoors, taking advantage of their unique town. But it's the residents that really create the feel of Santa Cruz. It is said that "There are more artists, musicians, historians and cultural event organizers in Santa Cruz than almost anywhere else on the planet." Simply said, folks here have passion. And whatever their interest, they love to share it with others. Because of this, locals find no shortage of festivals and fairs and enjoy meeting up with friends and neighbors to explore the latest that their town has to offer

Santa Cruz is Surf City, an artists colony, a family friendly seaside community, a popular vacation destination, one of the outdoor capitals of America, and a haven for anyone who wants to just get the most out of life.


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