about the local area’s history and evolution.
The Seymour Marine Discovery Center 3
is also a place where sightseers can get up
close and personal with another whale
model — this time just a skeleton that
greets visitors outside. Touch a friendly
swell shark in the shark pool and see all
types of native sea creatures up close and
personal. Patrons of the center are contrib-
uting to conservation efforts at the center
while learning about their importance.UPON THE BOARDWALK
On the boardwalk is fun for the wholefamily, as well as a dose of history. The
Santa Cruz Boardwalk 4 is among the
last major seaside amusement parks
remaining on the West Coast of the United
States. It is the oldest amusement park in
California, operating since 1907. Relive the
retro heyday of a simpler time, with the
sights, sounds, smells and thrills that have
been there for more than a century.BUTTERFLIES
Between the months of October and
March, there’s a good chance butterfl ies
will be in the reserve. Monarch butterfl ies
migrate to Natural Bridges Beach 5 for
the winter and huddle together in the euca-
lyptus — a sight to behold. Natural Bridges
Beach is about three miles west of the
boardwalk, so folks arriving by boat will
need to fi nd a ride if they want to see the
monarchs. At Natural Bridges Beach, there
are plenty of tidepools to explore, so visitors
should check the tide charts before going
and bring a camera and some waterproof
shoes.BEACHIN’ EATS
There are a lot of great restaurants in
Santa Cruz, something for most anyculinary mood. Some of the most popular
restaurants near the marina include
Tramonti 6 , a casual dining Italian
restaurant that specializes in salads, pastas
and great pizzas. For a romantic evening,
Johnny’s Harborside 7 offers marina
views and Asian fusion food that is artfully
arranged on the plate. For something more
casual, The Dolphin Restaurant 8 — on
the Santa Cruz Pier since 1963 — is a great
place to get seafood fast. It even has a to-go
window, so a clam chowder bread bowl or a
burger can be ordered and delivered in a
hurry. While visiting the Santa Cruz pier,
visitors should keep an eye out on the
waves, because they will likely spot a play-
ful sea otter, a whale or a sea lion romping
in the bay.TO THE WEB
> BeachBoardwalk.com
> DolphinRestaurant.net
> JohnnysHarborside.com
> SantaCruz.org
> SantaCruzHarbor.org
> SantaCruzMuseum.org
> SantaCruzSurfi ngMuseum.org
> SeymourCenter.ucsc.eduThe Boardwalk is one of the last remaining seaside amusement parks on the West Coast and the oldest
in California, operating since 1907.CA-4 SEAMAGAZINE.COM MAY 2017