Santa Cruz Named Among America's 50 Best Coastal Towns

SANTA CRUZ, CA — Santa Cruz was among six California cities that just ranked among America's 50 best coastal towns.

Big 7 Travel lauded the city for its stunning beaches and world-class waves, including Mavericks and Steamer Lane.

"You’ll also find countless secluded coves and endless expanses of white sand dotted with firepits waiting for sunset," Big 7 Travel wrote.

And, of course, the iconic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk got a nod. The boardwalk was built in 1907, and stands as California's oldest amusement park and one of America's last seaside amusement parks along the Pacific, according to the boardwalk.

Santa Cruz secured the #13 spot on the list.

No surprise here: Santa Cruz wasn't the only Central Coast gem that ranked on the list.

Carmel-by-the-Sea in neighboring Monterey County ranked at the top of the list for its European charm and pristine white sand beaches.

"Carmel-by-the-Sea is constantly hailed as California's most adorable town," the publication wrote.

Santa Barbara was ranked #5 and acclaimed by Big Travel 7 for its "Mediterranean charm meets SoCal glam." OK, so it's not technically Southern California, but the vibe is close enough.

Here are the other seaside California towns that made the cut:

42. San Clemente, Orange County

35. Mendocino, Mendocino County

34. Newport Beach, Orange County

See the full list here from Big 7 Travel.