The weatherman said it was going to be HOT this weekend so Lauren and I headed to the beach on Saturday morning because it's usually cooler over there. Since we know on hot days like this there is usually bumper to bumper traffic going to the beach which can turn a 30 minute trip into an hour long (or more) drive we left at 10:00 am. We still hit a little traffic but it wasn't too bad.
We found our place in the sand and laid out our blankets and then I walked down the beach alone...Lauren thought lying on the beach sounded like a better idea. Flocks of these big birds kept going by. They were so pretty! I saw more of these than I saw seagulls which was unusual.
It was HOT on the beach so we decided to go up to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and walk around. I love the Boardwalk food but I was good and didn't eat any this time, not even the deep fried cheesecake....(yuck)
We never go to the beach without going on our favorite ride, the Giant Dipper! I grew up riding this roller coaster and now so has Lauren. She loves it as much as I do! This weekend was it's 85th Birthday. I've been riding it over 40 years! When I was a kid, my best friend and I rode it 21 times in a row!
I took my camera with me on the roller coaster. Here is a picture looking back as we are going up the big hill...
Here's a shot to my right at the beach...I guess I wasn't holding the camera very straight! lol
I wanted to get a shot of the huge drop but the guy in front of me blocked my view...
After we left the Boardwalk we had lunch and then drove around to look at the pretty homes. This one is right on the edge of a cliff. This photo was taken looking out the car windshield so it's not very good...
That house is right on the road but look at their backyard...
Here's a better shot of the great view they have...
This is a little further down the road...
This house is amazing. I got out of the car to take some pictures of this closer up...
I'm snapping away and as I get a little closer I see something move and realize there is someone sitting under that umbrella watching me! OH NO! I was so embarrassed. You can barely see him, he's behind the bush (click on the photo to enlarge it). I still wanted to get some more pictures so I got behind a bush to take pictures of the side of the house so you could see how huge it is...
This is just down the street, that house above is on the left, they have such a great view...
Here's another pretty house with a great ocean view. I would love to sit out on that top balcony and have my coffee every morning! Dreaming...
Here are some pretty ocean shots from further up the road...
I hope you enjoyed your visit to Santa Cruz, California!
72 comments:
Wow!!!! That sure was a trip down memory lane....I love Santa Cruz....and the Giant Dipper....sooooo much fun...My hubby will not go on it....but me..now that is another story....so much fun....and it sure was a great day to go....weather was fantastic.....home are great and what a view they have...
That's were I was talking to my girlfriend about yesterday, going to Santa Cruz, now it makes me want to go more.
Those birds were Pelicans in flight, they look different in flight than sitting.
Love the Big Dipper, use to go down there with a boyfriend and ride it.
Just a beautiful day you had.
Ciao
Ahh, a mini beach vacation and I didn't have to leave my desk!
Brings back a lot of memories. Would love a ride on the Giant Dipper then go have a corn dog and a "sandae" on the beach. Love the houses and can almost smell the salt air ~ thanks, Cindy!
The views of the water take my breath away! Why am I still in OHIO!!??
karen
I could feel the sea breeze from here..love all your pixs! You two look like you had a great time. I'd do all but the coaster..I don't do those. I went on one when I was in high school and I could barely walk when I got off! Never again! But love the beach and all the sun and lovely weather.
Sandy
We are so blessed living in California.
I can go outside at night in my nightgown and not be cold (in my backyard of course).
Wendy
e visited the area a couple of summers ago, and enjoyed it very much. You certainly had the perfect weather!
Hi Cindy!
I used to live in Los Gatos and went on my first date with my hubby to Santa Cruz! Wow did your photos bring back some memories! Beautiful!
We are heading down to Mexico this coming week end cause we needed some beach time too. For us here in Arizona, to get beach time we either have to drive to San Diego CA. or Puerto Penasco Mexico. Both about a 4 to 5 hour drive. So we rented a condo right on the beach in Rocky Point (Puerto Penasco). I'll take pix and post them for sure! Its beautiful there! I hope you feel rejuvenated after your lovely beach time!
~Really Rainey~
Wow, I absolutely did love the trip to Santa Cruz! Thank you.
The picture with the man looking at you is priceless.
Lisa
www.palepinkandroses.com
I could just feel the ocean breeze while viewing your photos. And I could use a cool breeze. I live in SoCal so it's been about 100 degrees. I grew up in San Diego & they have a roller coaster at Belmont Park that is probably as old as the one in Santa Cruz.
What a great day! I would love to have that kind of day with my daughter.
Oh, girl - you killed me on this one! You know that I am a Cali girl and spent lots of time hanging in Santa Cruz! Makes me homesick! Glad you and your daughter had such a good day - so very important!
It looks like you and Lauren had a lovely day. I would have enjoyed it all except the coaster. I can get motion sickness just driving over a high bridge. Once again, your photographs are spectacular!
When I was 15, my aunt and uncle moved to Santa Cruz..My cousin and I rode the train from Amarillo, Tx to Santa Cruz for a weeks stay with them. We had such a good time. My aunt took us to the beach and lots of other places. Have you heard of the Winchester House? She took us there, too.
Cindy, looks like great fun. Looks like a gorgeous place.
I know what you mean about hot. I just posted some "summer" pics on my blog. It comes early and stays late in Southeast Texas.
It's been 30yrs since I was in Santa Cruz - thansk for the memory......Jo
I enjoyed seeing all your pictures of Santa Cruz. I was there with my parents when I was in Jr. High school. I thought it was the neatest town ever!!
Beautiful homes there.
Oh, we used to love to go to Santa Cruz, and even 30 years ago you had to leave pretty early in the morning to beat traffic! Back then hubby and I would stop and get breakfast to eat in the car on the way. Those were good times. Thanks for the trip down memory lane, Cindy!... Donna @ An Enchanted Cottage
Oh how I love Santa Cruz. I used to take care of the Canfields that owned the boardwalk. It was my job to take Mrs Canfield to the boardwalk to check up on everything. She was in a wheelchair and wanted to ride the pirate ship the year it was installed. They were fine people and so is their son Charlie. Beautiful shots!! Lucy
I've never been to California but now I'm just going to have to visit! Florida beaches are flat and beautiful in their own way but these are priceless! Great photos!
Thanks for sharing them.
of my favorite places! I knew it was going to be gorgeous...but i had too much yard work!:(
Santa Cruz is gorgeous. I havn't been there in years, but you brought back lots of memories. Thanks for the trip. Hugs, Marty
It looks like a wonderful day. I hope you didn't get sunburned! Sadly, I had no time to go to the beach. It was a perfect day for it. At work on Sunday, I met someone who lives at the beach (OC) and drove inland to get some sunshine because our beaches were overcast. That pesky marine layer.
So many of us have such fond memories of Santa Cruz! I grew up going there all the time. I also went to college there. I met my husband while in college, so Santa Cruz was our dating stomping ground! I think my record for the Giant Dipper was only eight times in a row, though. You have me beat!
I'm so happy this post brought back good memories for so many of you!!!
Wow - great photos. Thanks so much for sharing your trip.
What a wonderful trip!! I love to walk the beach also! And peeking looks at houses... What fun!
Hugs,
yvette
the view is simply marvelous!
someday, i'l be there..*dreaming..*
I have never been to California so this was a nice tour of the beach! Beautiful homes!
~Patti
This looks like a GREAT day at the beach!
I wanna go to the ocean!!! (can ya hear me jumping up and down??)
Those houses are amazing!!!
I Love Santa Cruz! Looks like you had a great time, isn't it so very pretty there? :)
Lidy
Thanks for the trip. I needed to get out of town for a bit. Even though I grew up on the beach (Long Beach and the Pike), I never tire of seeing other areas. The cliffs make it so interesting and the houses-well we can dream, can't we.
Glad you two got a get-a-way.
Beverly
Living in the valley you would think I'd have been to Santa Cruz, but not yet. I'm thinking this summer for our 25th anniversary, just me and DH.Thanks for sharing all the beautiful pics.
DUCK! He'll see us again! Whew, you dragged us down to the beach, then up on the roller coaster and then down to see houses...okay, I forgive you...does make me want to go there! And the colors of the water...gorgeous!
Remember to go vote tomorrow, you Californies~!!
I've never been to CaliforniA before, but now I want to go there! I love that white house! I could just dream about it too!
Living on Long Isalnd, we do have pretty beaches. However, your beautiful shots really make me want to see the west coast! Someday!
~Nancy
Ah,memories... We used to rent a condo at the Venetian (in Capitola) every year for 20+ years, so this made me very melancholy - so many happy memories there! It's truly a magical place.
Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos.
Wow Cindy,what a great day in beautiful scenery!
Thanks for sharing the sun and beach with us.
Linda
I love your pictures. Santa Cruz is one of the most beautiful places in Northern Cal.
I love how the second house looks like a little cottage, until you see the side view. Very good idea.
~elaine~
All of us are taking a walk down memory lane with you. I miss going to Santa Cruz and the Big Dipper. I used to drive to SC alot from San Jose. When I do make it back home, we go and enjoy the day.
Thank you for the trip :)
Debra
I've been there! I've been there! AND I rode the dipper too! LOL! One summer I drove the kids all up and down CA. From L.A. to Santa Cruz, to Sacramento, and back down we hit lots of farm communities (down the 5) back to L.A. then on to San Diego. This is one beautiful state we live in. Those homes are fantastic!
Great trip, lot of fun! Love your photos , the beach is fantastic.
Suzy
love the look of it...and I would, of course love to come for a little trip down to your beach with you...
Sarah
ABeachCottage
Thanks for taking us along Cindy.
The area is beautiful. Sounds like you had a wonderful time on your trip. Wish we had your weather.
Thankyou for warming me up on this cool autumn evening, its getting quite cool here now in this part of australia. Fantastic photos!! You always inspire me !
Vicki
see also http://passion4pinkblog.blogspot.com
Looks like fun!! You all have such pretty scenery there(;
Hugs~Kelly
Simply put, wish I were there....:>)
Cindy,
I'm a beach person, so I'm really swooning over these pictures. How lucky you are to live near such natural beauty!
Marilyn (in Dallas)
Beautiful!!!
Beautiful pictures!! I love the ocean so much! I lived on the coast of BC for 18 years and visited the coast often. I miss it. The houses are gorgeous, I would love to sit and look out at the ocean every morning! Thanks for the look today. Hugs, ~CINDY S~
Oh, how I miss the ocean. I grew up on the water but now live in Phoenix. So, I'm far from the ocean. But CA isn't very far away. I love your photos. I have to laugh because I love to take pictures of homes and I'm always afraid someone will come out and tell me to leave. LOL. But thank you for sharing your day with us. It looked like a fun and also peaceful time.
Cindy, your blog is absolutely beautiful! These pictures are just breathtaking!
Kim (A new follower:)
Heyyy....great minds do think alike. Thanks for the sweet words. You had a much more scenic trip than I did. Give me the beach and those jetties anyday over the carnival. That little cottage is so sweet too. Glad you got that shot. Too bad we don't live closer.
Drag me around ANYTIME...it's just gorgeous! I miss the beach.
I don't think we always appreicate our California coastline. I just returned from Maui. It is beautiful but I have to say that our coastline is by far much prettier and more interesting. For many of us Californians enjoying our coastline is just a short day trip away. We are blessed. I love your pictures! I think a day trip is my near future.
Susan
your trip looks divine! I can't wait to come back out to California. I have been hearing how hot it is! Jain says she is cooking in her area with over 100 degree heat! YUCK & here in Texas... it has been coller than normal. And we are so happy about that! Have a great week. Thanks for sharing the photos & I did think it was funny that guy saw you with the camera.
You just made me VERY VERY homesick.
Heather, who is now stuck living in Las Vegas
the pictures are stunning! what lovely homes! I know you had a relaxing time.
Fabulous pictures! Thanks for sharing. Blessings, Celene
I for sure want to come to Santa Cruz!! How beautiful!!
What a lovely trip! Great summer memories for you and your daughter. I loved seeing the blooming "pickle weed" at the beach. We don't get THAT in Missouri! LOL
rosie
My favorite kind of post, it is such a treat when you do this! I recognized all the places you were, out on west cliff dr?
this white house is my dream, I think this house would be exactly right for you!! And for me too...
Thank you for taking us to the beach. Your pics make me want to be in Santa Cruz this morning... so very pretty! Love the houses. I saw the man's head above the bushes - too funny!
Oh my goodness !! that brings back such precious memories ~ I grew up in California and we spent a week every summer at Mount Hermon ~ so of course we always made a trip down the mountain to Santa Cruz ~
hmmmmm just beautiful !
xoxo,
Lori
We go to Santa Cruz often. My husband tries to drag us there every weekend. He claims one of the reasons he moved from Paris to the Bay Area was because of Santa Cruz.
I haven't been on the dipper for years. Thanks for the memories :-)
These past few weekends we've escaped to Pacific Grove to escape the heat. It's even cooler there.
GREAT pictures!
What a beautiful area! I am so eager to go to the beach. We usually go down this time of year, but have to wait nearly two months to go. I'm ready for sun, sand and seafood!
What a great trip and such nice photos to share our beloved Santa Cruz with everyone! And while you were over there we were on this side of the hill watching a little bride wither in the heat while the wedding cake actually started to tilt! It made the frosting all melty and warm and good though!
Lately there have been a lot more pelicans than seagulls in Santa Cruz and Capitola than usual. The seagulls give them a wide birth.
Robin
Wow, this post was a wonderful gift! Thank you!!!
sheri
Hey thank you so much Cindy for sharing....this can help me in future plans for vaccation:)
charu
www.womenlines.om
Post a Comment