Santa Cruz Main Beach is in the middle of all the action. A beautiful beach with easy access to the Boardwalk, restaurants, volleyball and the warf. If you want to be in the middle of all the action Main Beach is where you should be.

Nice beach to spend time soaking up the sun, can be windy at times, but worth the trip to lay out and enjoy the sun. Best place is to lay in front of the boardwalk about mid point, and half way between the boardwalk and water. Typically people are either staying close to the boardwalk to use the restrooms, and... More

The beach is almost always busy, but it is worth it to go just because of the location and things to do around the beach.

There is plenty of room to find your own. The middle of the summer it gets a little packed, but the people watching is great.

The beach was beautiful, well kept and clean, the Boardwalk looked very spruce and well maintained although we did not go on any of the rides. However we were warned that at night it can be a little unsafe!

If you go to Santa Cruz, head for Natural Bridge State Park. They have a wonderful view of the ocean and rock formations. For a few months from October through January you can get to see the migration of the Monarch Butterfly in the grove within the park. The also have picnic areas and restrooms. There is an admission fee... More

This is not a nice beach most of the time. It is often littered with garbage and there is a bacteria problem fairly frequently.....but...you probably won't be attacked by a shark.....maybe.

Santa Cruz Beach has always been a favorite Northern California beach for me. I've been going there for many, many years.

Amazing for it's diversity - we saw everything from wildlife - birds in particular and great activity in the water, to a wedding and along West Cliff surfers. The dedicated seating bench in memory of surfers who had perished in the waters was particularly poignant as we met a young girl whose partner had succumbed to the waves!