Santa Cruz, CA: Surfing Hot Spot

I like the ocean. Let me rephrase this. I am an ocean addict. When I look back at my personal day trips around the San Francisco bay area, I find one trip that I frequent every few months, year after year.

What is my favorite region? Every trip is special. I always find one feature that pulls at me. There is one place I consistently return to every few months.

I like to walk and watch the surfers along Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz, CA

Reasons why I enjoy:

• Up close – I stand on the cliff edge (behind the fence) that is immediately above where the surfers gather in the water to practice. This is where the Monterey Bay reaches the Pacific Ocean.
• Easy access – I drive my own car and park in one the many parking areas on Cliff Drive. If I am lucky, I get a parking place by the Surfer Museum Lighthouse. I advise leaving before 8 am during the summer months to avoid traffic and leave early afternoon around 1 pm. (or make advance hotel reservations and spend the night)
• Free – So far, knock on wood, it is free to park and walk. 
• It is a great place to stop and talk with people. I find people from everywhere around the world because of the fabulous vista point. And, I like the fun stories from the local surfers too.

I know my family in Central USA might think I am nuts that I spend most of my leisure time watching these surfers at this vista point. Perhaps they tire of my surfers pictures that I keep posting every year. When I go I find something different - weather, people, events. The wind was blowing so much on this day I took the video that it was difficult to hold my camera.

This is where I relax and an escape. Is it because I grew up in the middle of USA without the ocean? I enjoyed going to lakes, the ocean is different. The vast, endless body of water without a shoreline across from you – the unknown surprise of what it brings to you.

I love watching this water sport. I admit I am not interested in participating, I am a spectator. Surfers are independent, they watch and decide which waves to ride and pass, yet they are social with their friends while they wait.

I share videos and pictures on Instagram, this video is one of my top two posts with views and likes.

What makes you want to engage with this video? 

Surf History

Wait for the Right Waves!

  
 This is a picture from my Instagram feed:

Santa Cruz, CA - Bay meets Ocean


Watching the surfers along Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz, CA, my favorite escape ~ The Fun Tour Guru

Chasing Mavericks, Santa Cruz CA - 5 Stars

Santa Cruz, CA:  I give Chasing Mavericks the movie - 5 stars.

I went to see the movie, Chasing Mavericks, that was released on Friday, Oct. 26.  It is the story of a local surfer legend in Santa Cruz, Jay Moriaty. I really enjoyed it and would like to see it again on the big screen!   

I talked with people as I was walking out after the movie who shared my enthusiasm.  This is rare for me to stop and talk to strangers about a movie as I leave. There is something about the movie which pulls at you.

Surfing in Santa Cruz - by DW

I was concerned after I watched this movie review by Don Sanchez (local ABC news - San Francisco) who gave it a "half a bucket of pop corn."  Sanchez mentioned the waves were the stars and said the remaining movie didn't have much dialogue and was slow moving.

I disagree.

I do agree about pictures of the huge waves were stars - the plus is that you become acquainted with a sample of people from this town which is so different from Silicon Valley, San Francisco, and Sacramento. 

I share many discoveries of this small beach town every chance I get. I escape the city-life and find places to relax and talk with the locals in Santa Cruz to learn about this "other life" that surrounds the world of surfing.  Everyone goes to work - there is always time to catch a few waves before going home.  And, the movie features recent events so many people remember.

This movie gives an in depth look at this simple, local community life in this favorite beach town which I am spellbound with each I visit.   It is fresh look showcasing the genuine life of people in Santa Cruz.  The story-telling of surfing life is one that has not been shown. 

Chasing Mavericks - Santa Cruz CA by DW

The Second Message 

The movie provides a lesson of how to stay focused, patient,  and resilient when your are enroute to accomplishing what you want to achieve.  Achievements are different for everyone.  Moriaty had many chances to drop his goal to ride the big one (wave) - he stayed on his path and achieved what he wanted to do in a short amount of time without a huge expense.  He found people who helped in their own ways along the path.

Santa Cruz is well known globally - as the town grows during the summer months with visitors - yet I find an unusual ambience with each visit. 

If you want to visit the same sights as you see in the movie - you may find information from Santa Cruz website.

Live Like Jay!

Be sure to go see this movie - and share your thoughts here! The Fun Tour Guru

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