Santa Cruz, CA Beach Boardwalk

The drive up to Santa Cruz on Highway 17 from San Jose, CA is a Bay Area tradition. My friends and I meet up on Saturday mornings, outside of any Safeway grocery store to buy food for the beach. The drive is about 45 minutes of windy road that can be challenging for drivers. We usually jam out to Pretty Ricky, Tupac or electronic dance music/house music on the way up.

I do not recommend driving home at night because it gets pitch black. There are also deer warning signs, along the highway driving back down.

Highway 17 South will eventually lead into an Ocean Street/Beaches exit to the right. You’ll then take Ocean St. straight down.

Along the way you should see a Little Caesar’s Pizza parlor and a 7-11 store for buying booze. That’s where we stock up before kickin’ it at the beach for the day.

Keep following the signs that will point you toward Beach Boardwalk, that’s where the actions at. Park anywhere along the side of the street but make sure you have coins ready. You’re going to see rollercoasters and an arcade game room walking there. Feel free to explore and walk around because drinking is permitted on the boardwalk!

However, once you see the Pacific Ocean do not expect to get in it. It’s cold as hell. I can barely stick my toes in the water. It always looks murky just like in Galveston, TX and their beaches.

You see, the beach over in Santa Cruz isn’t the best. The water looks dirty with the reflection of gold flakes in it. I prefer to just stare at it and get my tan on. Mainly, I play football with my friends and try to pick-up girls.

Growing up in the Bay Area, I would always watch the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk T.V. commercials. It went like this, “Well, I’m going to the beach where I belong.”

My dad used to drive the family up there in his ‘92 red Geo Metro when we were kids. The engine always sounded like it was going to give out.