h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I was searching for some information on Google and found this BBC web site with your input. After reading it, I thought you did a rather decent job for a one page review of the City and its highlights. A few things if you ever do an update: No fireworks on the 4th of July for many years now due to over-exhuberant and unruly crowds. The fireworks display was then set up to celebrate Santa Cruz' City birthday in October but lasted only a few years and was cancelled last year. It doesn't appear to be set for this year. For the snow in Santa Cruz, it snowed last year with about 2" accumulating at the beach. That lasted overnight but was melted off by a morning shower. And Pleasure Point surfing isn't a hushed secret. It is one of the most populated places along with Steamer Lane and Cowells. Many of the other areas to surf in Santa Cruz have been getting increasingly more crowded with the rise in popularity since the 1960's. The newest craze is kite surfing, mainly at locations north of Santa Cruz. Good restaurants come and go, but you're right about many of the other points regarding what to do and where. There are other mountain bike trails all over the place and the homeless folks in downtown are still there with no decrease in numbers what-so-ever.

The Darling House (on the web) for an inexpensive extended stay within walking distance to downtown and the beach area is great. Otherwise, stay away from the over-priced right-on-the-beach hotels and definately stay away from the Boardwalk, except during the summer on Monday and Tuesday nights when the rides are all $0.65 each (called locals night, but now you know) Roller coaster once or twice and go get some good food afterwards away from that area. Go downtown to Kianti's at -
(http://www.metroactive.com/papers/cruz/01.21.04/dining-0404.html)

or Nuevo Southwestern grill off East Cliff Drive at -
http://www.santacruzlive.com/ex/content/view/509/113/

or Avanti's on Mission Street at - (http://www.santacruzlive.com/ex/content/view/2784/113/.

Many other places are good if you ask around. Skip most of the places you mentioned.

Otherwise, I've lived in Santa Cruz for almost 50 years and it's not too bad a spot to visit. I personally think there are lots of very nice places to visit in the US and abroad, with Santa Cruz and southern France on the Med as personal favorites.

Thanks