Santa Cruz
IS
The Place To Be!

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Santa Cruz, CA - We all know that Jonathan just loves the beach.  Ever since his parents moved with him to California in 1998, he has always made the most of his day trips to the sandy coast.  And although he shies away from the rolling waves and cool waters of the Pacific, he finds plenty to do on the dunes.  This year of 2001, Jonathan left his footprints on three popular beaches: the first one in January was in Santa Barbara, then there was Pismo Beach in April and finally Santa Cruz in August.

With a pail and shovel at hand, Jonathan gets creative.  It might be that he's digging for gold, or some other exotic treasure.  It might be the creation of an elaborate castle, complete with flag poles and monsters.  It might be roads... lots of roads are needed to go from the beach towels to the "construction site"! 

Sometimes, he will find a friend.  There are many different kinds of friends at the beach.  There are those who dig with you, build and share sand toys with you.  Kids, like him, who enjoy the pleasures of sinking their fingers in mud and making sand pies.  Then there are the other friends... the winged ones... the ones which are such a thrill  to chase and run through.  Nothing is more beautiful than seeing a child take a run at the seagulls, arms out as if he is also soaring in the wind as the birds themselves.  And the other day, he found another type of friend: small shrimp like creatures which, as soon as they were exposed to the elements,  quickly dug themselves back into the sand.  A real treat for Jonathan the "excavator"!
 

Then not too long ago, Jonathan found out another reason he liked Santa Cruz beach so much... much more than any others:  The Boardwalk.  His memory of this beach will never be the same.  Everytime he sets foot in Santa Cruz, he must spend time at both the beach and then the rides.  Of course, the last few trips he went there, he was big enough to be able to take advantage of the fun rides, now that he is four years of age.  His favorite has to be the pirate ship as he still gets excited talking about it.  The whole experience also brought back childhood memories of Wildwood, New Jersey to Jonathan's Mom: the boardwalk, the rides and the beach always seem like the perfect trio.

Well, whatever it is that Jonathan works on, does or pretends, he puts his soul into it...  and all the while, his Mom and Dad are watching him in awe, dreaming of what it must be like to be a kid again, and Jonathan makes it seem like such a joy - to be a beach boy!

Want to feel like a kid again?  Plan your next trip and visit Santa Cruz, California - see for yourself how this beach town has it all but don't forget your own shovel and pail! 

The easiest way to get there is: From San Jose airport, follow directions for highway 280 north.  Take 17 south, direction Santa Cruz.  Highway 17 leads straight into the town via Beach Street and you're there.  There are plenty of parking facilities near the waterfront and boardwalk.  Many of the hotels offer discount prices for AAA members and groups of 10 or more.  Have a most pleasant vacation!