SEASIDE AMUSEMENT PARK CELEBRATES MILESTONE

And this year, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is celebrating its 100th anniversary with special events, including free performances by the famed Moscow Circus from July 8 to Aug. 28 and 1907 ride prices on certain evenings.

As the last remaining seaside amusement park on the Pacific Coast, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk occupies a special place in the hearts of Californians. And it is enjoyed by all ages.

"We've been there many times with our kids, but it doesn't matter how old you are -- young or old," says Wendy McAndrews, who lives in Prunedale, about 35 miles from Santa Cruz. "It's nice, and it's free, except for the rides."

Her favorite ride is the 1924 Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster, the most popular of the park's 35 rides. It will host its 55 millionth rider this year. A National Historic Landmark, the coaster has been seen in many movies and television commercials and was once characterized by legendary San Francisco columnist Herb Caen as "a tooth-loosener, eyeball-popper and one long shriek."

While it's a venerable attraction, that coaster isn't the boardwalk's oldest ride. That honor belongs to the Looff Carousel, also a National Historic Landmark. It has been twirling visitors since 1911. Each of the merry-go-round's hand-carved horses is unique, their tails made of real horse hair. Some have a serious look with swords at their sides, while others wear smiles and garlands of flowers.

The carousel also possesses a rare working ring dispenser. As they move around, riders on the outside horses can grab a steel ring and try to toss it into the mouth of a huge clown figure, setting off a light display. And in mid-April, the park installed another uncommon feature at the carousel, a 1918 Wurlitzer band organ that once charmed visitors to San Francisco's long-closed Playland seaside amusement park.

Vying in popularity with the carousel and Giant Dipper is Double Shot, an attraction added in 2005 that blasts strapped-in riders up and down a 125-foot-high column. It's not for the faint of heart.

The seaside park also has a log flume and two other coasters, one made of steel, the other for kids. But perhaps the happiest attraction is Laffing Sal, a life-sized comic figure that constantly laughs, often triggering a similar response from mesmerized viewers.

More than 3 million people visit the boardwalk annually. The park, which is 75 minutes south of San Francisco and 45 minutes north of Monterey, also stages free band concerts on its broad beach on summer Friday nights.

Santa Cruz's beach is home to another important recreation -- surfing. It was here in 1885 that surfing got its start in North America when three Hawaiian princes used locally milled redwood boards to ride the Pacific waves.

Today, surfing is a major sport here, with riders testing such venues as Cowell's Beach, Pleasure Point and the famous but dangerous Steamer Lane. The nation's first surfing museum is situated in a former lighthouse overlooking Steamer Lane, and 15 surf shops are located in Santa Cruz, including four founded by surfing legend Jack O'Neill.

On land, athletic young visitors head for Derby Skate Park, the first skateboard park in the country, or the brand new Mike Fox Park with its full pipe, several bowls and street course. It opened earlier this year.

Santa Cruz's downtown, centered on tree-lined Pacific Avenue, is a treat for strollers and shoppers. More than 200 stores, lounges, coffeehouses and restaurants are located here, along with the historic Del Mar Theater and Palomar Inn. For a dessert treat, head to Marianne's, a family-operated shop that offers 72 flavors of homemade ice cream.

Another popular shopping and dining venue is the Santa Cruz Wharf, home to dozens of gift and apparel shops, water-sport outfitters and restaurants. And if you're looking for a flea market, there's one at the Skyview Drive-In, the Central Coast's only remaining drive-in movie theater.

Six miles north of town are two sites well worth visiting, Roaring Camp Railroads and Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. Roaring Camp operates two steam railway lines that run through the redwood forest. One goes to Bear Mountain, the other to the boardwalk in Santa Cruz.

Also of interest is the adjacent city of Capitola, the Pacific Coast's oldest seaside resort town, with its Mediterranean ambience and begonia-scented streets.

Information: Santa Cruz County Conference and Visitors Council, (831) 425-1234 or www.santacruzca.org. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, (831) 423-5590 or www.beachboardwalk.com.

PHOTO CAPTION AND CREDIT

BTW: The Looff Carousel, a National Historic Landmark, is the oldest ride at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. It has been twirling visitors since 1911. CREDIT: c. Jay Clarke

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