One of the best places to enjoy a beautiful beach and good old-fashioned fun on the Central California coast is the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. There is fun for people of all ages, since there is lots of great food, fun rides, and a warm, sunny beach where you can play volleyball or go swimming.

Though the city of San Francisco rarely gets much warmer that 80 degrees at any time of year, other Bay Area cities get much warmer temperatures in the summer, since it doesn't get the fog that the peninsula does. A favorite way to cool off and enjoy the sun is at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, which is popular in the summer, since it is only a short hour and a half drive from San Francisco.

One of the highlights of visiting the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is the Big Dipper, which is one of the oldest wooden roller coasters still in use. Although there is some fog hanging around in the morning, it usually burns off by noon. You'll want to wait until the afternoon to enjoy the views of the Pacific, the nearby mountains, and the Santa Cruz Boardwalk from the ferris wheel.

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If you are planning to spend a weekend in Santa Cruz, you should arrive early and buy a wristband that gives you access to the rides all day long, so you can go on your favorites over and over again. Check into a Santa Cruz hotel so you don't have to worry about wet bathing suits and sand in your car, and you can stay as late as you like.

On Sunday morning, there is a great brunch at the Coconut Grove. Whether you're a couple, or a family with young children, you can have a blast at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk on a summer weekend. There are often concerts on Friday and Saturday nights, and the Santa Cruz hotels fill with visitors who want to spend a weekend here without having to drive home after a long day of exhausting fun on the Santa Cruz Boardwalk.

From the carousel to the arcade, to the silly games like laser tag and mini golf, kids will not want to leave after just a day of fun, which is all the more reason to get a Santa Cruz hotel and take your time enjoying the beach and the boardwalk. Popular all summer long with tourists and visitors from the area, the Santa Cruz Boardwalk can have a lot of lines, but they move quickly, and overall, it doesn't take that long to travel from one end of the beach to the other.

The Central Coast has a relaxed, welcoming environment. Its not the like bustling, crowded California attractions to the south. So, check into a charming bed and breakfast or one of the comfortable Santa Cruz hotels, and prepare to emerge relaxed, tanned and happy after your trip to the boardwalk.