In the northernmost region of California's Central Coast, Santa Cruz County beckons with warm, sandy beaches, redwood -covered mountains, rolling farm-land, world-class wine-tasting and spectacular attractions. Santa Cruz County's special ambiance has attracted visitors since the mid-1800s, when beachfront bathhouses catered to Victorian-era modesty. While much has changed since those early days, Santa Cruz County remains one of California's most popular seaside playgrounds. It also serves as the gateway to the New Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The city of Santa Cruz, the county seat, can be reached via Highway One from the north or south, or Highway 17, which winds through the Santa Cruz mountains, from the east. Santa Cruz is home to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, the city and county's best-known attraction since its opening in 1907. In 1989, the park was designated a California Historical Landmark. The award recognized the Boardwalk's statu...