Santa Cruz Archives - Jen is on a Journey

7 Reasons to Buy Season Passes to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk @BeachBoardwalk

May 27, 2015 by The Mom Jen 5 Comments

Lucky for me, Santa Cruz California is just a short drive up the coast and offers a variety of activity for the traveler like world-class surfing, golf, mountain biking, kayaking and sailing, amazing mountain parks filled with towering redwood trees, plus an attractive downtown with interesting shops, sidewalk cafes, and movie theaters. Lucky for my family of 5, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk theme park has been a place for friends and fun since 1907!

It includes two National Historic Landmarks, the 1924 Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster and the Looff Carousel that offer as much thrill and classic fun as it did 108 years ago! The Boardwalk’s mission is affordable fun for the family and we believe that they come through on that promise 10-fold! After visiting for my son’s birthday recently, we came up with a list of 7 reasons to buy season passes to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk for your whole family, and your friends too!

1. The Beach Some theme parks have areas with waterslides and water features, but this is California and the beaches of the Pacific Ocean are mere steps from the Boardwalk! Locals like me can make a day trip out of the area. Pack a picnic lunch, grab your beach toys for the kids, and a good book and feel the sand in your toes! Jump in the water while you’re at it, it’s brisk but on a hot summer day it’s refreshing and there’s nothing like breathing in the salty sea air!As the evening rolls in and the kids are on the rides, take a sunset walk along the water, can’t more romantic than that! Even visiting in late October will give you amazing nights (fog-free) only a theme park on the coast can offer

2. No Admission Fee! Yes, you read that right, it’s free to walk the Boardwalk and enjoy the oceanfront! It’s open even when the rides are not. This is such a deal for families that may have a parent, a baby, or a grandparent that don’t care for the rides but want to enjoy the park as a family How many times have you paid upwards of $50 just to follow the kids all day but never get on a ride or play a game? Save that money and put it towards a season pass for the kids! Kiosks are found all along the Boardwalk to purchase ride tickets, wristbands, and you can even purchase a season pass online. Beach goers that just want to be near all the excitement and maybe pick up a funnel cake treat have no problem enjoying the Boardwalk with no extra charge!

What’s even better? When you purchase a season pass, you get a one free wristband for unlimited rides for a friend! So essentially in ONE visit your wristband is paid for and your child has a ride partner for the day, easy peasy!

-Boardwalk rides are open for full operation from Memorial Day (late May) through Labor Day (early September) plus most weekends and holidays throughout the year. A limited number of rides are open daily in April and May. Rides are closed from December 1 through December 25 for winter maintenance.

3. Rides This year marked a milestone for our family. My 9 year old daughter hit a height where she can ride the big kid rides! That’s right, she took on Giant Dipper for the first time with dad, and also joined big brother and his pals on some other rides like Wipeout and the Space Race bumper cars!For me, I could ride the Sea Swings or the Sky Glider all day long, I love the sensation of flying and the ocean breeze in my hair! Good thing the kids love those too!Thrill rides, rides for kids, family rides, you can even find the height requirement list online before you go or grab a list at the ticket kiosks to plan your day!

4. Games My family is competitive. We love playing games and those big stuffed animals make all of us a little doe-eyed and excited at the chance to win one! Walking along the Boardwalk you can find games for all ages and skills like the Water Race that’s always been my favorite. Hearing that balloon pop at the end was so thrilling, did I win?! Break a Plate, Milk Bottles, Speed Pitch, and even some games where you win every time like Lucky Duck! We watched my daughter net fish for weight and then tried our luck at Long Shot Basketball. Needless to say, getting a basket was a long shot for us, but we did see some people make it. Oh that Minion would have been cute!

The fun doesn’t stop there, the Boardwalk has over 300 video games at Neptune’s Kingdom (next door), laser tag, a shooting gallery, air hockey, mini golf, pool tables, ping pong and so much more! Did I mention the Fright Walk, climbing wall, and bowling? When buying a season pass, you open the door to heading over for the day just for rides, the next trip just for bowling….the possibilities make for an endless summer!

5. FUN Food I’ve known friends who have season passes and just head over to Santa Cruz to get chocolate covered bananas and funnel cake to satisfy their sweet tooth. It’s true that the snacks and food are abundant and delicious! Over 2 dozen restaurants, 2 dozen snack stands, and a handful of food carts you can find just about any to satisfy your family’s hunger. When we picked up our season pass renewal, we were given a set of coupons for food throughout the Boardwalk and one deal that we loved was buying the big Pepsi bottle. Once gone, refills are just 99 cents…for the rest of your visits as in the rest of the year! It comes with a handy handle that my husband would hook on to his belt loop when empty. Kettle corn, churros, deep-fried Twinkies, pretzels, and smoothies. Pizza, Chinese food, wraps, burgers, burritos, hot dogs, fish and chips, and turkey legs…oh so much goodness! My favorite has got to be Dippin’ Dots!

6. Summer Concerts and Movies Last summer was our first time to make a Friday night concert on the Beach and we cannot wait to get back! We took blankets, snacks (though you can buy some on the Boardwalk as well) and enjoyed the Fixx a band we enjoyed from the 80’s. Though the kids didn’t know any of the songs, the atmosphere was fun on the beach and the rides are only steps away! Two concerts are held each Friday (for 2015: June 19-September 4) at 6:30pm and 8:30pm and this year’s lineup include great bands like Wang Chung, Y& T, Blue Oyster Cult, Smashmouth, and singers like Eddie Money and Macy Gray! Spend a summer Friday on the rides, then pull on a sweatshirt and rock out through the evening! The concerts are free to the public, but are just an extra bonus to season pass holders!

Something we haven’t done yet but looks like another great perk is the free movie nights in the sand! Movies are shown each Wednesday night at 9 pm (for 2015: June 24-August 12) and this year you can watch The Lost Boys, Breakfast Club, The Princess Bride, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and many more.

Are you sold yet?

7. Memories I’ve been coming to the Boardwalk since I was little. I have fond memories with my friends and family and even remember school field trips that had me fall in love with Santa Cruz a little more each visit. The games, the rides, the food, the beach, and the fun just has all of my kids so eager to come back and to share the fun with their friends. I think it’s the best gift you can give your family, we’re so lucky to live in such a beautiful place with attractions like the Boardwalk nearby!

My son and his friends had a great time at the park and whether it’s for a birthday or a summer Tuesday, fun can be had.

For more information, visit http://beachboardwalk.com/.

Family day passes were provided, season pass purchases and all opinions are 100% our own!

Santa Cruz, CA: Chaminade Resort and Spa Staycation

October 15, 2013 by The Mom Jen 9 Comments

With three children that often have us in different directions for school, sports, and scouts, my husband and I realize our kids have busier social lives than we do. Not only are our weekdays full through rushed dinners every night, but our weekends fill with even more hours of events and activities. If it means driving a half hour north up the coast, we will welcome a staycation that allows us to getaway and reconnect. Recharging our batteries was just what we needed when we visited the Chaminade Resort and Spa overnight in nearby Santa Cruz.Among the redwoods and eucalyptus groves, Chaminade is a premier resort location where you can experience both a lovely mountain retreat while being just minutes away from the Pacific Ocean! I’ve been visiting Santa Cruz since I was little, heading to the beach, the Boardwalk, and the malls. Little did I realize how much enjoyment I could get with an overnight just up the mountain! We arrived early in the day and our room wasn’t quite ready so we took some time to walk around the property. Trees galore, flowers in bloom, the surroundings were gorgeous, the view somewhat obscured by the afternoon fog and clouds. We received a map of the property that included three walking trails to explore ranging from .5-1.75 miles, the shortest encircling the main lodge. The property sits on 300 acres and is pet friendly for dogs 40lbs or less. Dogs are permitted to walk thru designated common areas while on a leash. No, we didn’t bring a pup with us, but I know some couples/families love to travel with theirs so it’s a great thing to know! Not properly shoed, hubby and I decided we’d stuck around the main lodge area and discovered Linwood’s Bar and Grill.Indoors or out, we had the choice of seating and with the temperature cool outside, pulling up to the bar near a fireplace sounded cozy and perfect. Cosmopolitans and beers were enjoyed while we caught our favorite baseball team on television, already relaxation was settling in! Again, for those who enjoy traveling with pets there’s even Linwood’s Pooch Patio Menu for the pampered pet!Around 4pm, I checked back in at the front desk and our room was ready. The chill in the air had me wanting to get into that heated pool and jacuzzi, so I was eager to change into my suit. We were thrilled to be greeted to a lovely treat compliments of the resort.Our room was cozy, we had a two-room suite with gorgeous views into the woods, fall colored-theme decor, and wonderful amenities including a turndown service and chocolate! I’ve been finding that coffee makers are not always the norm anymore in resort rooms (sometimes you just have to ask) but I love when they are there, they just make me smile!We changed and headed to the pool. With the opportunity to enjoy some food and cocktails, we passed since we just indulged at the bar, dinner was ahead of us, and we had more wine to enjoy later! But, the option is always a nice added touch.Families and couples alike surrounded the pool as the sun finally made it’s way from behind the clouds. When on a getaway, just the two of us, we really focus on eachother and you’d think the squeals and noise would bother us, but we can really tune it out. We joined a crowd in the jacuzzi and the heat warmed us through and the day just kept getting better! We cleaned up for dinner and headed back to Linwood’s. We started our meal with some local Monterey County wines, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay.My husband enjoyed a house salad and I had a soup that I’ve been dreaming about since our trip. Carrot ginger was bright and had such a comforting feel, that combined with some homemade bread could have been a meal alone. Alas, I ordered more comfort food in the house-made spinach and cheese ravioli with a toasted walnut creme. My husband ordered the Grilled Black Angus New York steak with bleu cheese crumbles that melted into every bite. I kicked myself for not ordering the same though I continued to pick at his plate and potato gratin! Never enough room for dessert, I promised the waiter I’d be back for the Lemon Curd Tart!

When I come back for that dessert, I’ll also love spending some time at the Spa at Chaminade, a complete day-spa destination. Our Santa Cruz getaway was a success, though it was hard to leave in the morning back to reality. It does make it nice that our travel back was short and we have the memories to remind us how important connecting as a couple is!

Our stay and meal was hosted, all opinions and gratuities our own.

Santa Cruz: The Train To Christmas Town Review

December 6, 2012 by The Mom Jen 6 Comments

Start a new tradition in your family and head over to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk now through December 28th and get your tickets for the Train to Christmas Town, a memorable slow ride with storytelling, elves, book characters, cocoa and cookies, and SANTA!

The Iowa Pacific pulls into the stop and right away you see elves in festive stripes green white and red dancing about the train and at the top of the steps to greet passengers. The conductor takes your tickets and as you board the hour-long ride to and from Christmastown, elves help you to your seat and you take in the holiday decor about the train.

As we leave music plays, dancing continues and the singing elves share a contagious joy. Over the speakers, the story of The Train to Christmas Town begins as the elves carry around books and share the story with the children and their families. No sooner you see the characters from the story come to life, like walking past you and giving the kids high-fives!

The gentle bump of the tracks is relaxing as hot cocoa and gingerbread cookies are delivered to passengers. A sweet treat and break in the festivities.

Soon we’re arriving to “Christmas Town,” a mock city where you see lights out the window and signs in holiday decor. The ficticious area is just where the train stops and reverses back, you don’t literally disembark. As we make our way back, a surprise visitor enters and the squeals of delight begin!Santa arrives and sits with children, picks them up for photo opportunities and the smiles can not be erased from faces for hours…behind Santa are the elves delivering the special present of the very book, “The Train to Christmas Town” for every child!

Santa departs and we are joined again by the story book characters, more singing and dancing and a very festive ride overall. Why not make a new tradition for your family like us? Each child receives a book with the ride, plus each ticket gives you one play of miniature golf or laser tag, or 12 arcade tokens at Neptune’s Kingdom and Casino Arcade at the Boardwalk!

Remaining dates for December: 6-9, 14-16, 19-23, 27-28 and times run at 1:00pm, 2:30pm, 4:15pm, 5:45pm, 7:15pm.

*Not all departure times are available on every running date, please check the calendar on the website, https://www.traintochristmastown.com/, for the complete schedule.

Tickets were given for honest review, all opinions are our own.