Attractions

Santa Cruz is well-known for watersports such as sailing, diving, swimming, paddling, and is regarded as one of the best spots in the world for surfing.

It is the home of O'Neill Wetsuits and Santa Cruz Surfboards, as well as Santa Cruz Skateboards and Santa Cruz Bicycles. Santa Cruz also houses Derby skate park.

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is California's oldest amusement park and a designated State Historic Landmark. Home to a National Historic Landmark, a 1911 Charles I. D. Looff Carousel and 1924 Giant Dipper roller coaster, the Boardwalk has been owned and operated by the Santa Cruz Seaside Company since 1915.

In one of the first published descriptions of surfing in California, three Hawaiian princes, Prince Edward Keliʻiahonui, Prince David Kawānanakoa and Prince Jonah Kalanianaʻole, surfed on locally milled redwood boards at the mouth of the San Lorenzo River in July 1885.

Santa Cruz has 11 world-class surf breaks, including the point breaks over rock bottoms near Steamer Lane and Pleasure Point, which create some of the best surfing waves in the world. The Santa Cruz Surfing Museum at Steamer Lane is staffed by docents from the Santa Cruz Surfing Club who have surfed Santa Cruz waves since the 1930s.

Santa Cruz hosts several surf contests drawing international participants each year, including the O'Neill Cold Water Classic, the International Longboard Association contest, and many others.

The Santa Cruz Wharf is known for fishing, viewing marine mammals and other recreation. Local parks offer many opportunities for birding and butterfly watching, as well as outdoor sports such as skateboarding, cycling, camping, hiking, and rock climbing.

In addition to its reputation in surfing and skateboarding, Santa Cruz is known for other alternative sports such as disc golf. The Santa Cruz Skatepark is open to the public 7 days a week and is free.

The De Laveaga Disc Golf Course hosts PDGA tournaments, including the annual Masters Cup.

De Laveaga was the disc golf and discathon venue for the WFDF-sanctioned World Disc Games overall event held in Santa Cruz in July 2005.

Parks and Recreation Employment

Beach Captain
Assists in the planning, scheduling and supervision of the Public Safety Programs in the Marine Safety Division, including Beach Lifeguard, Marine Rescue, Junior Lifeguard, Beach Ranger and related services.

Aquatics Instructor/Coach
Under supervision, instructs pool swim classes, assists with the planning and organizing of swim team programs,coaches and supervises teams and leads organized work-outs. Applications are accepted from January through May for summer and on a continuous basis throughout the year.

Recreation Coordinator
Under supervision of the Recreation Supervisor, assists with administering summer programs; responsible for supplies; acts as liaison between Recreation Leaders and Recreation Supervisor. Must maintain flexibility and be available to Recreation Supervisors as needed. Develops, implements, supervises and evaluates the summer teen volunteer work experience program. Applications are accepted between January and March for summer programs.

Harvey West Park

Harvey West Park is a 50-acre municipal park. Located just off the intersection of Highways 1, 9, and 17 and is truly Santa Cruz ' most complete central park complex. The park includes hiking trails, swimming pools, ball fields, play equipment, clubhouses, barbecue pits, picnic areas and more. It's the perfect place for team sports, a Sunday picnic, an evening swim or just a walk on the trails.

Museums

Natural History Museum

The City's Museum of Natural History is in Tyrell Park above Seabright State Beach. Museum exhibits and programs are displayed in the modified 1915 Carnegie Library that sits on the park's southern edge, overlooking Monterey Bay. The Museum provides interesting exhibits and programs on the diverse cultural and natural history of the Santa Cruz region.

Surfing Museum

The Santa Cruz Surfing Museum is housed in the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse at Lighthouse Point on West Cliff Drive. Overlooking internationally renowned surfing hot spot Steamer Lane, this little gem of a museum has photographs, surfboards, and other interesting items tracing over 100 years of surfing history in Santa Cruz .

Parks and Open Spaces

DeLaveaga Golf Course

Carved in the hills overlooking Santa Cruz and the Monterey Bay, DeLaveaga Golf Course is a championship par 72 course known for its natural beauty, challenging layout and full range of services. DeLaveaga offers a lighted driving range, a comprehensive lesson program, men's and women's playing clubs and year-round tournaments

Loch Lomond Recreational Area

Loch Lomond Recreation Area offers fishing, boating, picnicking, and hiking. As a City of Santa Cruz drinking water reservoir, swimming and other body-contact water sports are not permitted. Please help keep the Recreation Area clean and sanitary.

Harvey West Park

Harvey West Park is a 50-acre municipal park. Located just off the intersection of Highways 1, 9, and 17 and is truly Santa Cruz ' most complete central park complex. The park includes hiking trails, swimming pools, ball fields, play equipment, clubhouses, barbecue pits, picnic areas and more. It's the perfect place for team sports, a Sunday picnic, an evening swim or just a walk on the trails.

Lighthouse Field

Point Santa Cruz , locally known as Lighthouse Field State Park, forms the northern boundary of Monterey Bay. It is one of the last open headlands in any California urban area.

Neary Lagoon

Neary Lagoon is an important part of the urban watershed for the west side of the city of Santa Cruz . A drainage area of approximately 850 acres emptys into the lagoon, and from there, out to the ocean.

Pogonip

A scenic 640-acre expanse of open meadows, woodlands and creeks, Pogonip features over nine miles of trails open to hikers. Dogs on leash are permitted on designated trails; dogs are not allowed in sensitive wildlife areas.

Pogonip

A scenic 640-acre expanse of open meadows, woodlands and creeks, Pogonip features over nine miles of trails open to hikers. Dogs on leash are permitted on designated trails; dogs are not allowed in sensitive wildlife areas.

Arana Gulch

Arana Gulch is a 63-acre greenbelt land, featuring open meadows, oak woodland, and Arana Creek. Visitors are responsible to know and comply with all park regulations.

Neighborhood Parks Around Santa Cruz

Maps and descriptions of the over 25 parks around Santa Cruz

Waterfront and Beaches

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

Located on a mile-long beach between Monterey and San Francisco, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is your admission-free hot spot for beach vibes and classic rides!

Wastewater Pollution Control Facility

The City of Santa Cruz has been treating sewage at the wastewater treatment facility near Neary Lagoon and disposing of the effluent in the ocean since 1928.