Resting on the coast of central California, the bustling seaside city of Santa Cruz is a well-known surfing hub, boasting the famous Steamer Lane surf site, as well as the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum. The sun-drenched beaches provide perfect opportunities for a variety of other outdoor activities from stand-up paddleboarding to sunbathing and volleyball. Along the wharf, visitors can find many eateries and shops as well as the Seymour Marine Discovery Centre, where you will find a blue whale skeleton on display. Visitors can also look forward to exploring the many parks, wineries, farmers’ markets and hiking trails in the area. Not-to-be-missed are the giant redwoods in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, where visitors can experience the impressive landscape while enjoying mountain biking or canopy tours.