It’s Summer!
Watch out North Coast...
Here we come!
by Sari Mitchell

You’re in or very close to Santa Cruz County, a vacation destination, and it’s a “no brainer” that you can reacquaint yourself and your family with the rollicking excitement of The Boardwalk, classic charm of Roaring Camp, awe of the 2000-year-old sequoias at Big Basin State Park. In fact, for not much more then a few bucks you can explore the wonders of all the state, county and city parks, many on a bicycle.
Motoring up Highway l from Santa Cruz to Rancho del Oso State Park north of Davenport, blue sky can’t compete with the ever changing shades of indigo to turquoise in the dancing water. Crashing waves cool the senses before the gentle sea breeze touches the skin. Clouds are as fascinating as the creamy white crests on the sea. If this isn’t a far better view then a gameboy, then the kiteboarders catching air at Waddell Beach surely are.
After a walk along a rare coastal freshwater marsh enjoying the chorus of frogs, the beach beckons. Sunscreen for everyone who wants to play in the sun, build a castle, splash and wade and then let the surf’s lullabye send cares flying. Note the interesting rock formations, and watch for sea lions or a whale!
Lucky for you, Swanton Berry Farms is just down the road and still has berries! U-pick strawberries are sweet and delicious, especially when heated by the sun right in the field. Or, you can buy a basket or a carton to bring home.
Snacks aside, it’s time for lunch. And the old Cash Store, newly owned and christened The Davenport Roadhouse has a new chef, menu and promises of a fabulous culinary experience. Community involvement is key to the Davenport Roadhouse. Santa Cruz Mountain Vintners are invited to demonstrate their wonderful and unique wines at a dinner and “pour” once a month. Invite the artists and you have paintings of the sea, butterflies, wildflowers—all local to the north coast—plus sculptures, jewelry, wood carvings to add a bright touch to the wood and brick interior. Josh Buchanan, supervisor, is proud to present an organic menu with most of the vegetables obtained from local north coast farmers. A terrific example of nutrition and taste is the fresh romaine with shaved parmesan cheese, chipotle Caesar dressing and black olive tapenade crostini for $l0. For a few dollars more you can add wood grilled chicken, salmon or prawns.
Kids, too, can enjoy the wood-fired taste with cheese pizza ($5), plus many other choices.
A fifteen minute snooze on the road to the famous Santa Cruz Boardwalk, and sleepyheads awake refreshed for the kalidescope of color, scents and fun that await all ages here, from the breathtaking thrill of the classic wooden roller coaster, the Giant Dipper, to the Carousel with each hand-painted horse a collectible antique moving gently to the haunting melodies of the 342-pipe band organ, to the bumper cars and the Sky Glider ride, and more. Cotton candy, caramel apples, and ice cream… dessert comes first! Off to the arcade for the older kids and miniature golf for the rest of the family. Plus waves and sand just yards away! Magic!
Special “summer savings” at the Boardwalk: Wednesday and Thursday after 5, enjoy l907 prices of just $9.95 for a wristband to all rides. And, Wednesday and Thursday, are Pepsi nights. Bring in a can for recycling and each ride is 75 cents! Another freebie, until August 2l, there are two free shows daily by the amazing Chinese Acrobats. On the bandstand, Monday thru Thursday, l2 noon and three; Sunday thru Thursday ,l2 noon and six.
A visit to the Boardwalk would not be complete without mention of the Free Friday Night Bands on the Beach with two free live concerts every Friday with stars of the 60s, 70s and 80s beginning at 6:30 and 8:30pm. And only yards away, at the Santa Cruz Wharf, some of the finest seafood restaurants are back to back or side by side, with accent on the freshest meals in the bay area. Even the most energetic of families would happily call this vacation-at-home adventure “a wrap.”