The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is the last great old-school seaside amusement park on the West Coast and the most fun a family can have on the north end of Monterey Bay: a mile of rides, arcades, games and snack stands running along the sand of Main Beach, open since the early 1900s and still owned and run as a beach park rather than a corporate theme park. Two rides carry the history and both are National Historic Landmarks: the Giant Dipper, the wooden roller coaster that opened in 1924 and still rattles riders through its dark tunnel and over the beach, and the Looff Carousel from 1911, with its hand-carved horses and the brass-ring toss that has outlasted almost every other carousel in the country. Around them sit a few dozen modern rides (spinning coasters, drop towers, a log flume and the gentle kiddie rides that make it a top pick for small children), plus the Casino Arcade, mini golf and bowling. Entry is free, so grandparents and non-riders can stroll, people-watch and eat corn dogs and saltwater taffy without paying; riders buy an all-day wristband (cheaper online and on weekdays) or load points onto a ride card for a few rides. The beach is the other half of the attraction: wide, sandy and lifeguarded in season, with Cowell Beach surfers and the wharf just to the west. Fit: families above all, teens and thrill-seekers, couples chasing nostalgia, and anyone who wants Santa Cruz at its most cheerful.
The Boardwalk grew out of the bathhouses and casino that made Santa Cruz a seaside resort at the turn of the twentieth century, and what is remarkable is how much of that era survives in working order. The Giant Dipper, built in 1924 and celebrated with a centennial summer in 2024, is consistently ranked among the great wooden coasters in the world, and the Looff Carousel still runs with its original band organ. Riding both back to back is the essential Boardwalk ritual; the rest of the park keeps adding new rides (a new thrill ride arrived for 2026) so teenagers have plenty to chase.
The visit craft
Check the ride calendar before you go, because the park runs daily in summer but mostly on weekends and holidays the rest of the year, and some rides close for weather or maintenance. If you plan to ride more than a handful of times, buy the all-day wristband online in advance; for a few rides, the points card is cheaper. Parking in the main lots fills on sunny weekends, so arrive early or use downtown parking and walk. Bring a layer: the afternoon sea breeze cools things down fast.
Practicals and fit
400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz, about 45 minutes to an hour north of Monterey depending on traffic. Combine it with Natural Bridges State Beach for tide pools and monarch butterflies, or the Seymour Marine Discovery Center for the blue whale skeleton. Fit: families with kids of any age, teens, and adults who want a sunny beach day with a roller coaster attached.
What to expect
The experience
A free-entry seaside amusement park on the beach: the 1924 Giant Dipper and 1911 Looff Carousel, a few dozen modern and kiddie rides, the Casino Arcade, games and classic beach food.
Best time
Summer for daily operation and beach weather; spring and fall weekends for shorter lines. Weekday mornings in season are the quietest.
How long
Three to five hours for rides and beach; a full day with lunch and a swim.
Tips
Check the operating calendar first, since the off-season is mostly weekends. Buy wristbands online in advance if you will ride a lot; use the points card for a few rides. Ride the Giant Dipper early before lines build, and catch the carousel brass-ring toss.
Quick picks
- Best for
- The classic California beach-and-roller-coaster day.
- Families
- Top pick: kiddie rides, arcades, a lifeguarded beach and free entry for non-riders.
- Couples
- Nostalgia date: the Giant Dipper at dusk, then dinner downtown.
- Pair with
- Natural Bridges State Beach for tide pools and monarchs, or Roaring Camp's train down to the beach.
- Time needed
- A half to full day, plus about an hour each way from Monterey.
Good questions
Does it cost money to get in?+
No. Admission is free; you pay only for rides and attractions, either with an all-day wristband or by loading points onto a ride card for individual rides.
Is the Boardwalk open all year?+
The rides operate daily in summer and mostly on weekends and holidays the rest of the year, with some rides closed for weather or maintenance. Check the ride calendar before you drive up.
Is the Giant Dipper scary for kids?+
It is a genuine wooden coaster with a dark tunnel and strong drops, and riders must meet a height requirement. Younger children usually start on the carousel and the kiddie rides, which are among the best on the coast.
How far is it from Monterey?+
About 45 minutes to an hour north on Highway 1, more on summer weekends. Many visitors pair it with a stop at Moss Landing on the way.
Can we swim at the beach there?+
Yes. Main Beach in front of the Boardwalk is wide and sandy and lifeguarded in season. The water is cold year-round, so most people wade, boogie-board or swim briefly.
