I always like to preface my reviews with the fact that I grew up in the Bay Area, San Jose born and…read moreraised, and I'm an elder millennial, which means I remember life here before all the tech people invaded our Valley of the Heart's Delight. That said, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is STILL pure California magic, even if it's now overcrowded and overpriced. There's something so special about this place, from the old school rides like the Pirate Ship, the Giant Dipper, the arcade aka Casino, to the beach, the food, and that perfect mix of nostalgia and fun. It somehow still feels like stepping back in time, and experiencing it with my toddler recently made it even more memorable. We had the BEST day and will absolutely be back. My one complaint, aside from too many people: HOW are the Boardwalk and surrounding merch shops not fully stocked with The Lost Boys gear?! This is literally Santa Carla! Give us the T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, posters--all of it. The movie is such an iconic part of Santa Cruz pop culture, and they are seriously missing an opportunity here. What are you guys thinking at The Walk?! Otherwise, such a fantastic, nostalgic California experience.

Whenever I hear the name "Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk", the thought of the warm California sun,…read moreocean waves, deep-fried food, and happy kids on all the thrill rides enters my mind. This is not just an all-year amusement park; this place is an institution that is permanently part of the Santa Cruz culture and history. Since I spent my entire childhood as a kid growing up in the Bay Area, I frequented this place on multiple occasions. Ever since its historic grand opening back in 1907, it is currently California's oldest surviving amusement park and has undergone numerous changes over the decades. Getting here is fairly simple as it runs parallel to Highway 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) as well as Highway 9 and the more heavily traveled Highway 17. It is roughly 45 min to an hour south of San Jose and about an hour north of Monterey. Entrance into the boardwalk itself does not cost anything. However, parking rates range anywhere from $15 to $35 depending on the day of the week and time of year you plan on visiting. The boardwalk itself stretches roughly 1-mile long over 24 acres complete with 3 different rollercoasters (with the biggest being the Giant Dipper), a dedicated water ride, a merry-go-round, a ferris wheel, and a ton of rides for children younger than 12 years old. In addition to all the ride attractions, there are a ton of various food vendors. Everything ranging from hot dogs, burgers, seafood, Mexican food, and a ton of dessert stands. My lady and I decided on indulging in some smashburgers with fries & a drink which kept us full throughout the day (as we were here in between 11am-2:30pm on Saturday 9/5/2026). I think there's something special about enjoying comfort food and taking it down to the beach area while soaking up the sun. It absolutely brought back childhood memories for both of us. Some of the other major attractions include an arcade, bowling alley, and Cocoanut Grove which was a non-gambling casino back in the early 20th century. During the non-summer months, the boardwalk also hosts themed events for Halloween and Christmas. Additionally, they also show movies and even live music. Finally, they have a ton of vendors that sell merchandise (hats, t-shirts, magnets, bags, etc.) related to the boardwalk, Santa Cruz, and everything in between. And if you live close to here or plan on coming frequently, they sell season passes as well as wristbands for unlimited rides. My recommendation is when arriving here, dress accordingly. Santa Cruz has a climate where it could be 70°F, sunny and balmy in the middle of winter or 55°F, foggy and cold in the middle of summer. That's why bring a sweatshirt of flip-flops. And if you dare to go in the Pacific Ocean (which can be freezing), pack some swim attire. All in all, the "Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk" definitely has that nostalgic vibe to it; no matter what age you are. It may not be the prettiest place since it has shown its age, but it has a lot of charm. My rating, an above average four stars.

What an amazing experience! We took the kids for the Halloween event. We got to the park at opening…read moreand got to enjoy every ride multiple times with mostly zero wait time. After 5, the trick or treating started, with stations set up all over the park. The kids loved it. The thing that surprised me the most was how beautifully landscaped this park is, with loads of trees providing tons of shade, flowers everywhere, a body of water in the middle of the park. Even the kids commented on how nice it felt. My biggest complaint would be the cost of food items, but it's to be expected I guess. Either way, we hope to return soon.

Gilroy Gardens is a hidden gem. It is tucked far away from the freeways and there is nothing around…read moreit, not even shopping centers, hotels or even a gas station. Admission is quite steep but if you have a Great America gold pass, you can enter the park for free. Parking is $25 and up. Just as the name suggests, Gilroy Gardens is filled with beautiful gardens in every corner. You'll find the prettiest flowers, super tall trees, bamboo, a variety of plants, and so much more landscaping all around. And of course, there are the fun rides! I have gone to Gilroy Gardens a few times now and I enjoy the roller coasters, the ferris wheel, the train, and the paddle boat. However, the paddle boat moves painfully slow. A short line could be deceiving. It can take 1 hour or more. I wished they added more boats or make the process more efficient. The food at the park is delish! Head over to the grill restaurant near the water park for freshly grilled corn, chicken skewers and corn in a cup. I love the churros here more than at Great America. The churros are perfectly soft on the inside and lightly crispy on the outside. And you can't be hanging out in Gilroy without having some Gilroy garlic fries! The garlic fries right by the paddle boats is so good! The fries are crispy and are not soggy at all. If you ever want to enjoy a relaxing day on a train, lake, boat, eating delicious foods and snacks, I highly recommend Gilroy Gardens!

For anyone that is a fan of visual anomalies that simply defy the laws of physics and gravity, I…read morewould definitely put the "Mystery Spot" in Santa Cruz, CA on anyone's bucket list of quirky and interesting things to do. I am a science enthusiast as this attraction has been on my radar for quite some time. Located in a secluded redwood forest amongst the beautiful Santa Cruz mountains, this very popular tourist destination was discovered back in 1939 while being officially opened to the general public in 1940. Since then, this wildly popular destination has brought thousands of people over the years while it officially became a designated a California Historical Landmark in 2014. After making reservations online through their website, https://www.mysteryspot.com (which is highly recommended), I came here during the afternoon on Friday 9/4/2026 for a 12:00pm reservation. The drive in was absolutely breathtaking, serene, and tranquil as the bright sun was shining through the redwoods. In case you're wondering, it is about a 40-minute drive (roughly 30 miles) south from San Jose as you can arrive here north from Granite Creek Rd or south from Branciforte Dr. The signs leading here are clearly visible while the dedicated parking lot makes it simple for anyone who's never ventured here before. My lady and I arrived around 11:45am as we were able to park, take some photos of the exterior grounds, and even checked out their gift shop. If you do plan on purchasing same day tickets, they sell for $12 (as of late-2026) and are available in the gift shop. In addition to the tickets, this is where you can purchase Mystery Spot clothing, mugs, magnets, keychains, books, and other various gifts. If you do plan on arriving extra early, there is also a 30-minute self-guided hiking trail where you can see the vast plant and animal life. While on the trail, you are gifted with a variety of beautiful redwood, oak, and eucalyptus trees. Best of all, this trail is opened year-round and even better, dogs are welcome as much of the trail is fairly simple. When our tour officially began, a group of about 20 of us were all greeted by Bonnie, one of the staff members that told us about the history behind the Mystery Spot. We walked up a fairly steep trail while demonstrating visual illusions that included balls rolling uphill, water pouring at an upward angle and people leaning farther than normally possible without falling down. Once we made our way into the actual Mystery Spot house, we all tested ourselves on a balancing beam when visually, we were leaning forward when in reality, we were on a leveled surface. All in all, the "Mystery Spot" is absolutely worth checking out if you're into science and how visually distorted illusions are represented. Especially when our senses feel more heavy and weighed down. To be honest, I haven't been to a place like this since I was a kid visiting the Exploratorium in San Francisco. For some, this is something I do not recommend for the more sensitive groups that suffer from vertigo and dizziness. However, my experience was one that was absolutely fascinating. With the overall experience, amazing tour (which lasted around 45 minutes), and enjoying this history of this, I am giving the "Mystery Spot" in Santa Cruz a perfect five-star rating.

We visited during covid times and had made reservations in advance, it was fun to check out and…read morewalk the area plus hike nearby! if you wait the day of, it may be hard to get in as this place has gotten popular over the decades. Good for everyone to check out as its a fun little spot plenty of parking

This is the most thrilling attraction at Gilroy Gardens. We did have to wait almost an hour for it…read more(we went during holiday season), but since we're not locals it was a must to try at least once. It is themed after the mines, and you ride on a mine cart. When you're in the queue you can see pictures and some historical snippets, but not much to look at in general. The ride itself isn't super fast and doesn't go very high so the drops don't feel anything more than someone quickly going down a hill in a car. So when they say thrilling that may mean thrilling for kids, but as someone said, this is a great trainer coaster. Fun, but not something I'd wait over 30 minutes for. It is neat that it goes through the trees here and it's the only ride that has it's own separate check in on Yelp? I know Disney has separate check ins for everything, so maybe it is time to change that LOL.

The website boasts this "thrilling mine coaster speeds you through dips and turns surrounded by…read morenearly 600 trees!" Built in 2001 by DH Morgan Mfg, it's billed as the only "thrill ride" in Gilroy Gardens, although their wobbly Sky Trail Monorail ride makes my adrenaline rush because it feels like it's going to fall. The track is 2,139 feet with a top speed of 32 mph. The highest of the two lift-hills is 38 feet, which is about 7 yawning grandpas end to end. Basically, the smooth dips and turns of this two-lift steel coaster disguised as an abandoned cinnabar (mercury) mine train that is a very basic but enjoyable ride that's thrilling for someone barely reaching the height requirement (42" to ride with an adult, 48" to ride alone). It's a good training coaster. The cool thing is that they'll often let you stand by the exit wall for a chance at a second ride if they anticipate that the next train won't fill up. Think "Big Thunder" but not that big. Think "Small Thunder" but not that thunderous. Think "light rain", or "hummingbirds spitting on you".

Quick fun time with family. Can come back throughout the day to help break up the sore eyes of…read moreserving the same things at shops. No wait. Max was awesome and gave my family a great deal.

Took our 2 teen granddaughters here, only 1 wanted to go with me…read more We got stuck so many times, not sure we'd get out! Had a lot of laughs with a couple girls in there. Once we got out, the clerk gave us glasses to go do it again. It made it harder. This was a lot of fun and a break from just the same souvenir shops. The price is higher than we expected. I do wish they offered a senior discount. We really enjoyed it though.

Very cool boardwalk area and the Giant Dipper was a must. Built in 1924, it reminded me a lot of…read moreour Wildcat back home at Lake Compounce, built just three years later in 1927. Two old-school wooden coasters still doing their thing almost 100 years later. The Giant Dipper is loud, fast and has that classic wooden coaster feel, but having it right on the beach surrounded by the Santa Cruz Boardwalk makes the whole experience. Very cool piece of history.

My favorite ride at the boardwalk! When my cousins and I came here for a day trip, we rode this…read morelike eight times back to back! It was a slightly rainy day so there were no lines for a while. The ride may not seem like it's that exciting, but it definitely whips you around and if you ride it enough you will feel dizzy. Wouldn't recommend for super small kids or anyone with physical ailments or feeling already unwell.

My family & have been coming here since I was a kid. I am nearly 40 years old now & I STILL love…read morethis place! The roller coasters are top notch & the restaurants + shops are just so adorable! Very well curated with the items sold. I found food & beverage prices in the park to be reasonable as well. Of course the beautiful carousel that greets you as you enter the park is your sign that you are about to have a beautiful day of fun & adventure! I'd recommend riding in the tall rotating tower ride (to the direct right as you first enter the park) so you can get an overview of the entire park before you start your day. Another thing to mention are the carnival games. We have a lot of fun testing out our skills on these :-) I had a 2026 season pass & I already bought my 2027 season pass well. I sincerely hope they have many future seasons & since I never got to attend WinterFest, I'd just be thrilled if I got to experience that next year. I hope that returns, it looks so beautiful! Fingers crossed!

I used to own a season's pass every year since I was in sixth grade, so I wanted to bring my 20…read moremonth son before it permanently closes in 2028. I went for nostalgia. In 2028, Great America will be demolished and converted to office and commercial development. The parking lot attendants did little in directing us to the entrance after we asked where it was. I think the entrance moved. The entrance used to be on the left under the "Great America" sign so we stood in line next to the sign. I was confused why there were no children in line, the men were heavily tattooed and the women were scantily clothed; only to find out we were in line for a low rider car show. The Great America entrance was at the far right around the corner. Regarding the food court, I waited fifteen minutes in line. Then an old woman who spoke zero English cut in front of me and attempted to purchase the last pre-made California roll. I put a stop to it and questioned the cashier why he would allow her to cut in front of me after I had been waiting in line for fifteen minutes, and shooed the old lady away. The chicken teriyaki was the worst I've ever had but the California roll was surprisingly decent. There were five rides my son was able to ride on including two carousels. They had a decent outdoor gym for toddlers that included three slides.

For some reason, none of the operators of this ride can operate the trains at a constant speed. I'm…read morenot sure if something is wrong with the trains or if the drivers are just really bad at measuring their speed, but they go back and fourth between going really fast and then going incredibly slow. And the times that they go fast vs slow is different each ride. I should be able to enjoy each set equally. However, putting the speed problem aside, the ride still looks pretty good.

Fun and fancy harmless joyful ride of train transporting through the barriers of time into the fun…read moreloving days of the caveman meets dinosaur. Florescent colored scenery marks everything with a certain pizzazz. Not too long.

Saw the Circus in Portland. Fantastic. So much fun. Loved the beautiful tent. Food was good,…read moreportable toilets appeared brand new, everyone was appropriate, lots of families with kids having so much fun (and we enjoyed watching them). Perfect evening. And the price was great. All of the seats are excellent. Can't wait to go next year, too!

The performers were incredibly talented, and the show itself was fun and entertaining…read more Unfortunately, the seating setup made it difficult to fully enjoy the experience. All the seats were on one level, making it hard to see the acts, and a tent pole partially blocked our view. We also asked about upgrading to premium seating and received two different prices from two employees, which made it seem like there was some confusion about the pricing. Overall, the performers did a great job, but the seating and customer service issues took away from the experience. If we had been able to see the show better, it would have been much more enjoyable.