Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk – Santa Cruz, CA

#springitinerary Spring at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk was all fun and color without the summer frenzy. The rides were open, cotton candy was spinning, and the Pacific shimmered in the background. I rode the Giant Dipper with a cool breeze in my face, then walked the beach where wildflowers bloomed along the dunes. Sea lions barked beneath the pier, and everything smelled like salt and sunshine. #springitinerary tip: visit midweek for fewer lines and golden light. Santa Cruz in spring is classic California — playful, breezy, and just the right amount of wild.