About Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz is a city on the northern edge of Monterey Bay in California, with a long surfing history: Hawaiian princes are reported to have surfed here in the late nineteenth century, which is often described as the first documented surfing in mainland America. Its best-known wave is Steamer Lane, which breaks along the cliffs at Lighthouse Point and runs to the right as a surfer rides it towards the shore, with several named sections along the point. A surfing museum stands in the lighthouse above it, and spectators generally watch from the clifftop path. The best surf commonly arrives in the northern winter, typically from around November to March. The water is cold through the year, so wetsuits are usual, and the spot is widely regarded as suited to experienced surfers.
This overview was written with AI and reviewed by a person. How these are written