[Pictures] Top 10 Reasons to visit the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz

[ralfrick]

There are, however, a few worth singling out.



3)Cave Train Adventure: Around the Boardwalk you see these folks that appear to have traveled here from the past.

The Cave Train is a way for us to travel back to their time. After the simple but effective trip through the time tunnel (think Mummy from the USH Tram) riders are at the prehistoric boardwalk complete with food, games and a ball with live music. Plus a few creatures that are now extinct.


But this organ is the original which has been playing at the Boardwalk for more than a century.



Anticipation mounts for experienced riders as the grease scent fills your nostrils before the reemergence into open air, tilted back, approaching the flags flapping in the ocean breeze above you.


A bientot.

[sir clinksalot]

Re: Top 10 Reasons to visit the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz

Great thread. I'm a HUGE fan of the SCBB and try to go at least once when we are up in the Bay Area.

I haven't been since they re-did the Haunted House but I'm looking forward to trying it when we head up there next.

And the Cave Train ... not to be missed. Such a fun ride.

[lazyboy97O]

Re: Top 10 Reasons to visit the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz

Great points! I used to live in Monterey and we would go up to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk for day trips. Always a blast. I might even have tickets from Neptune's Arcade stashed away somewhere.

[ralfrick]

Re: Top 10 Reasons to visit the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz

Yeah, the Castle is much less random now. The vehicles even rotate like the Doombuggies now.

A bientot.

[JesterMn]

Re: Top 10 Reasons to visit the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz

I love SCBB. Heading up there next week to visit, in fact. Been wanting to do the new Haunted Castle for quite some time now.

It's also one of the few places left that still have a Rock-o-plane. The only one in California that I know of (not counting traveling fairs).



Also being the location of The Lost Boys movie helps a lot, too.

[johnnylv]

I second the Carousel. We stopped in Santa Cruz for a night two years ago and we specifically rode the carousel so I could grab some brass rings....for my son too lol

[ralfrick]

Re: Top 10 Reasons to visit the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz

I second the Carousel. We stopped in Santa Cruz for a night two years ago and we specifically rode the carousel so I could grab some brass rings....for my son too lol

I've finally gotten a couple into the clown's mouth this year. Since they're shaped like frisbees, I quit throwing them like balls.

A bientot.

[lctom1]

Re: Top 10 Reasons to visit the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz

Great post! I have been going to the Boardwalk since the early '60s and still love it. I was glad that two of my favorites are on your list: the Giant Dipper (still my favorite roller coaster anywhere) and the Loof Carousel (I also would ride it over and over ... and over, just for the rings). But I really miss the Fun House where I spent much time as a child. Also miss the old Tunnel of Love where I spent some time as a teen-ager looking for a different kind of fun...

[Sheriff Lightyear]

Re: Top 10 Reasons to visit the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz

ah, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. I'm a fan for the fact it was featured in the "Lost Boys" movie. I love the atmosphere, especially at night. I've only ridden any rides on my most recent trip but your thread has inspired me to go for another day trip before my upcoming trip to Disney! Seems there's a lot I've been missing out on!

[RegionsBeyond]

Re: Top 10 Reasons to visit the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz

Great thread and photos! I personally love the new Haunted Castle, Cave Train, and Ghost Blasters: always worth a visit for those. You can also take a train from the Roaring Camp railroad park through the redwoods to get there.

Plus, there is a walk through haunt/horror attraction (Fright Walk), but extra admission for that.

[Deanna]

Re: Top 10 Reasons to visit the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz

About a year after Lost Boys came out, Mom & I went up to Placerville to go rafting, and on our way back, had planned a stop in SC, just to see the carousel. That was about '88, I still have the ring on my keys. I love Loof carousels, there's one in the city I was born in. It still has rings, but they've been colored plastic since I was a kid.

[HighLeveller]

Re: Top 10 Reasons to visit the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz

Nice write-up on SCBB. Living in Watsonville, I go there fairly often, mainly for the Friday-night shows in the summer. A couple things worth mentioning are Neptune's Kingdom (indoor miniature golf and more) and the Casino Arcade. Also worth mentioning is that although most of the rides are off-the-shelf carnival-style flat rides, they're maintained much better than your average fair's rides will be.

Compared to Disneyland, it isn't. Don't expect the employees or anyone to see that you or your kids have a magical and memorable experience. Whether you do or not is up to you. But on the flip side, there's much less of the overbearing heavy-handedness you have to deal with at Disneyland and the like.

A note on the Carousel organs: It's awesome that all three are up and running now. (The small Wurlie by the door was in limited operation beginning last year and seems to be in full operation now.) Unfortunately, beginning this summer, only one is played at a time, on a rotating basis. Plus they're miked and played over speakers just outside the front door, which isn't a big deal but is a bit inauthentic. I wish tracks would be re-orchestrated for all three organs, both in antiphonal and simultaneously, like they were when just the two large organs were there. With all three you'd be able to send sound bouncing all around the room and other neat techniques.