Weirdly wonderful Santa Cruz

You don’t even need to scratch much below the surface to find that there’s much more to Santa Cruz than its laid-back culture.

Yes, there’s a lot there that’s weird, wonderful and wacky— it’s kind of a little sister to San Francisco in that regard. But Santa Cruz also is a culture built on outdoor pursuits and physical activity, so in this destination section we’ll let you in on some of the activities and icons that promote that culture.

We’ll start with the Giant Dipper, which celebrates its 90th year on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. While most of today’s thrill rides are hightech and made of metal, this one is built entirely of wood, and the upkeep is a story in itself.

Andas for the physical: Who knew that Santa Cruz is a hotbed of women’s roller derby? It supports three teams, andthe sport is becoming one of the fastest growing in the United States, or sowe’re told.

Surfing and Santa Cruz maybe a cliche, butwhy not put this sport in context and take a tour of the Surfing Museum? Or, if youwant todo, rather than see, we also have something for the adventure seekers: Checkout the Redwood Canopy Tours, one of only three ziplines that soar through California’s majestic forests.

And when it’s time to relax, we have a few wine-tasting rooms to visit, anda guide to some of the best outdoor dining in Santa Cruz.