Few places in this country offer the best of all geographical worlds: beaches, mountains and magnificent trees. Santa Cruz, California, is one of the United States' rare spots that caters to every whim. Bordered on one side by tall redwoods, and on the other side by the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Santa Cruz is a place where Mother Nature has chosen to display all of her talents. Add to that 29 miles of beaches, a position on the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountain range, and a climate that boasts sunshine for an average of 300 days each year, and it's not hard to understand why Sunset magazine dubbed Santa Cruz Northern California's "Best Beach Town."

Santa Cruz, located 60 miles south of San Francisco, is a recreational lover's paradise. In addition to its miles of beaches, the county's state parks offer an abundance of historic redwoods, which provide shade for campers, hikers and bikers. The mountains of Santa Cruz County are traversed by railroad tracks; visitors may take a leisurely ride on a steam-driven train that winds throughout all of the area's geographical diversity. Local wineries, located on the surrounding mountains, invite visitors to sample their products. Tourists travel from winery to winery by bike or by car. Serving as testimony to Santa Cruz's more relaxed lifestyle, the town offers a variety of farmers' markets, where visitors may select fresh, organic produce (artichokes and Brussels sprouts are locally grown specialties). Monterey Bay offers whale watching -- an experience not to be missed. And an eclectic mix of retail shops and galleries line the coast, inviting visitors to explore the work of local artists.

A trip to Santa Cruz resembles an episode of "Wild Kingdom." You'll get the opportunity to see a wide variety of unusual wildlife. At the Ano Nuevo State Reserve, visitors can take a guided walk to view northern elephant seals, followed by a trip to Natural Bridges for a look at bridge created entirely from the whims of nature. Climb to the top of the cliff, and you'll enjoy a bird's eye view of the region's birds, whales, seals and otters.

At Lighthouse Field State Beach, you can tour an historic lighthouse which is still partially operational. Then head to Santa Cruz's Beach Boardwalk, reminiscent of the good old days. The adventurous sorts in your group will want to take a once-in-a-lifetime thrill ride on the boardwalk's 1924 Giant Dipper roller coaster. Those who prefer a slower pace will elect to take a spin around the 1911 Looff carousel. You'll also want to visit the University of California at Santa Cruz campus, which overlooks Monetrey Bay and the Pacific Ocean, and is revered for its "bohemian" attitudes.

It's no secret that residential real estate in California isn't cheap, and San ta Cruz is no exception. However, being a college town, Santa Cruz does offer a wide variety of housing that fits nearly every budget. Condominiums are plentiful, and many properties are either beachfront (more expensive, of course) or within close proximity to the ocean, so the advantages of living here are clear. You can find both single-family homes and condominiums here for less than $175,000, or -- if the budget allows -- you'll find plenty of homes priced at $500,000 and up, as well as homes priced somewhere in between. Local architecture is extremely diverse, ranging from modern to Victorian-style to Classic Grecian to farms with adjacent orchards. That variety truly reflects the Santa Cruz attitude: Anything and everything goes.

Downtown Santa Cruz has officially recovered from the effects of the 1989 earthquake. Today, you'll find live performers here nearly every night, as well as frequent street festivals and a variety of outdoor cafes. With its abundance of sunny weather and magnificent scenery, there's little reason to stay indoors. This town of approximately 240,000 residents offers easy access to San Francisco when they begin to crave a taste of the urban lifestyle. Given Santa Cruz's endowment of natural beauty and wildlife, however, it's easy to see why residents would be quite content to stay just where they are.

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Published: February 1, 1999

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