Separated by Mission Street the upper and lower sides of West side Santa Cruz are distinctly different. The upper West side is home to U.C. Santa Cruz and is largely comprised of neightborhoods, some with magnificient views of the Monterey Bay.

Lower West Side includes West Cliff Drive, which runs from near the Santa Cruz Beach Wharf to Natural Bridges State Park. This is also home to one of the longest surf breaks and the Cold Water Classic.

Surf Links in Santa Cruz

• Surfing in Santa Cruz Mavericks Beach
• Steamer's (Surfline)
• iSurf Santa Cruz
• Santa Cruz Surf Museum

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Surf Museum at Lighthouse Point

Looking from Westcliff Drive over the Santa Cruz Wharf at the "Big Dipper" roller coaster at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.