Seventy-five miles south of San Francisco, a quintessential California beach town stirs nostalgic memories of summer. Santa Cruz. A town with low-key charm, where there always seems to be sunshine and surf.
It’s where surfing in America started in 1833 when three Hawaiian Princes visiting the mainland had surfboards carved from local redwood and introduced surfing to the locals.
126 years later, a man, who would become the most famous local surfer of all time, Jack O’Neill, would move to Santa Cruz and change surfing forever. It’s the heart of what this ocean town is about–surfing.
O’Neill wasn’t always acquainted with the ocean. He was born in Denver, Colorado. As a small child, his family moved to Long Beach, California, and his love affair with the ocean was born.
In the early 1950s, O’Neill married Marjorie Bennett and moved to Ocean Beach in San Francisco. Their newlywed years found O’Neill conducting experiments on the kitchen table to find something to protect the human body from the frigid ocean, so he could “surf longer.”
Jack O’Neill, surfer, ocean lover, and wetsuit pioneer, became the founder of the iconic worldwide surf company O’Neill. From a garage in San Francisco, “Surf Shop” was born, the business grew, and O’Neill moved the shop to surf central Santa Cruz, a plaque marking this historic spot as part of the Dream Inn.
The Santa Cruz Dream Inn is near Jack O’Neill’s original Santa Cruz Surf Shop.
The Dream Inn has a central place in Santa Cruz, right in the middle of the action. It’s just a short walk to the beach town’s center.
The hotel is two sections, a tower and a lower building with original rooms. The tower features larger, newly remodeled rooms with king-size beds.
The views from the rooms are breathtaking, highlighting Monterey Bay.
There are also views of the historic Santa Cruz Wharf, the longest wooden pier at one-half mile, in the United States.
There are restaurants and shops along the wharf, with a cacophony of sea lions at the end.
Walking into the lobby of the Dream Inn, homage is paid to the Surf Co. founded by O’Neill, whose brand was established on this exact spot.
Even the name tags made from locally recycled surfboards pay tribute to the history where surfboards were made, the first surf movies from Bruce Brown were promoted, and wetsuits were produced for the growing population of Santa Cruz surfers and other surfers throughout California.
Borrow a retro beach cruiser from the Dream Inn and cruise along the boardwalk, one of the nation’s few remaining seaside amusement parks. Free movies and music on the beach are available during the summer months. Ride the Giant Dipper, is a large wooden roller coaster that’s been in operation for more than 90 years.
Cruise along West Cliff Drive, a three-mile scenic path between Natural Bridge State Park and Santa Cruz Wharf.
West Cliff Drive is home to “Millionaire’s Row,” incredible panoramic views, Cowell Beach, where the Dream Inn is a backdrop, and a stunning view of the Santa Cruz pier jutting out into the Santa Cruz Harbor.
Steamer Lane is the famous expert surf spot between Point Santa Cruz and Cowell Beach. It’s a surfing spot for experienced surfers.
The shoreline is primarily cliffs and boulders. It’s a great place to watch the riders.
The Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, which chronicles more than 120 years of surfing and includes a shark-chomped surfboard, is located inside the lighthouse in the park on the point. (Santa Cruz Sentinel)
The Surfer Statue, an iconic bronze statue by artist Paul Topp is a Santa Cruz Surfing Club member standing guard over the swelling waves of Steamer Lane. “To Honor Surfing,” a plaque reads.
Follow the train tracks to the harbor for a glimpse at Jack O’Neill’s 65-foot catamaran sailing the Monterey Bay, where 4th-6th-grade students throughout Central California learn about marine habitat and the importance of the relationship between the living sea and the environment as part of the O’Neill Sea Odyssey (OSO).
Trade the beach cruiser in and find the coffee cart pulled by a beach cruiser and grab yourself a cup of award-winning Verve, a Santa Cruz based coffee.
Enjoy Happy Hour or stroll through surfing memorabilia at the Jack O’Neill Lounge, the approximate site of the world’s most famous surf shop, located beach level within the Dream Inn. The view here is breathtaking and easy to take in with the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the beach.
It’s a place that makes you feel at home with cushy window seating stuffed with cushions and a wonderful ambiance.
The walls showcase pictures and memorabilia of surfing.
There’s a ceiling of surfboards with an O’Neill brand surfboard hanging above the bar.
A glass case encloses an original O’Neill wetsuit.
Browse the menu.
There is a gigantic headshot with a patch over the eye of Jack O’Neill that looks on while you sip.
The patch results from a surfboard hitting his eye while riding a wave.
It’s like sharing a drink with the legend.
Freshen up and head to Aquarius, the luxurious beachfront restaurant and Santa Cruz staple. It’s the perfect way to taste what Santa Cruz has to offer.
Aquarius showcases the bounty of California’s Central Coast with seafood from the Monterey Bay, meat and produces from small, local organic farms, and local wine and craft beers.
Aquarius is a proud supporter of Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program, promoting sustainable seafood and clean oceans.
Aquarius is right on the beach with incomparable views of Monterey Bay.
There are plenty of options on the Aquarius Menu.
New Dinner Menu August 17-59baedb641527We recommend starting with the Jalapeno Shrimp Appetizer. It’ll be gone before you can snap a picture.
Follow the appetizer with the Grilled New York Steak, with mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables.
Another excellent choice is the Grilled Halibut with Castroville artichoke salsa, braised greens, and burgundy fumé.
Take in the view, watch the water as the current emanates from the North, and feast on the entrees created by Aquarius executive chef Kenneth Drew.
Enjoy the sunset on the beach, and celebrate the day with dessert!
Celebrate the life of the legendary Jack O’Neill, the world’s largest recreation wetsuit designer and manufacturer who introduced the surf craze worldwide.
Be part of his Santa Cruz and stay where it all started, at the Dream Inn.
This post is dedicated to Jack O’Neill.
*This post is brought to you by the Santa Cruz Dream Inn. My opinions and love affair with Jack O’Neill’s Santa Cruz remain my own.