[2024 Santa Cruz Attraction] Travel Guide for Natural Bridges State Beach (Updated Dec)

Travel through the redwood forest: A steam train journey in Santa Cruz.

🎢 Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk - Featured experience: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is one of the oldest amusement parks in California, featuring the famous Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster and Looff Carousel, both of which are National Historic Landmarks. The amusement park also has an arcade, mini golf course, and arena, offering delicious treats like corn dogs and fried artichokes. 🚂 Roaring Camp Steam Train - Adventure experience: Take a ride on the narrow-gauge steam train from the 1880s at Roaring Camp, travel through the redwood forest, and experience the weight of history. The train slowly climbs the 39-degree slope, with towering trees passing by on both sides, as if having a vivid conversation with the past. 📸 Shark Fin Cove - Photo spot: Located in Davenport, Shark Fin Cove is known for its unique shark fin-shaped sea stack, making it a great spot for photos and offering a view of the vast Pacific Ocean. 🌈 Colorful Town of Capitola - Town charm: Capitola is famous for its Mediterranean style and colorful houses, making it a popular spot for social media influencers in California. Capitola Beach and CityWalk are both worth a visit. 🌳 Natural Bridges State Beach - Natural scenery: This is a great place to observe intertidal creatures, birds, and whales. From late October to February, you can also see the migrating monarch butterflies. 🦞 Santa Cruz Wharf Cuisine - Seafood experience: Enjoy fresh seafood at Stagnaro Bros. Seafood on Santa Cruz Wharf, including crispy calamari, clam chowder, and various seafood sandwiches. 🏨 The Dream Inn Accommodation - Accommodation recommendation: The Dream Inn offers home-like comfort, with all rooms equipped with a kitchen and washing machine, making it suitable for family trips and business use. 🚗 Highway 101 Traffic Tips - Traffic advice: From San Francisco, drive south along Highway 101 for about 1 hour to reach Santa Cruz. Avoid peak tourist seasons and rainy seasons for a better experience.