Santa Cruz is a city, the county seat, of the Santa Cruz County of California, USA. It is also the largest city of Santa Cruz county. The city was developed from the original Native American settlement on the same spot during the ancient times. The city is also known as "Surf City" due to its beaches being ideal for surfing.

Although Santa Cruz has a mild climate and is near the beach, it is prone to fogs and low overcast due to its proximity to the Monterey Bay. A large majority of the year - about 300 days - are sunny, making the city more ideal for surfing and vacationing.

There are several attractions in Santa Cruz including the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, Seymour Marine Discovery Center, Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park, Santa Cruz Mystery Spot, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and of course, the beaches. Beaches in the city include Main Beach, Natural Bridges State Beach, Twin Lakes State Beach, and Lighthouse Field State Beach.