OtterKnow Kids Encyclopedia

The most famous place in Santa Cruz is the Beach Boardwalk. It is the oldest amusement park in California, and it opened way back in 1907! The best ride is the Giant Dipper, a big wooden roller coaster that has been thrilling people since 1924. You can also ride a beautiful old carousel, play arcade games, and eat cotton candy. The beach right next to the Boardwalk is perfect for building sandcastles and splashing in the waves.

• The Giant Dipper roller coaster is over 100 years old and more than 68 million people have ridden it!
• Santa Cruz is one of the best places in the world for surfing. Surfers have been riding waves there since 1885.
• The University of California, Santa Cruz has a funny mascot — the banana slug! Banana slugs are bright yellow and live in the redwood forests nearby.
• Santa Cruz has huge redwood trees that can grow taller than a 25-story building. Some are over 1,000 years old!