The best camping near Santa Cruz, California.

On the northern California coast, Santa Cruz is a city of redwoods, beaches, and winding mountains. Here, campers can sleep under ancient forest canopies or wake up to views of the Pacific ocean. On the main town beach, the boardwalk has amusement park rides and games for in-town thrills. Or you can stroll down the wharf to shop and dine on the water.

The ancient redwood forests are among the top-rated in the world. Santa Cruz has two protected groves--and you can even pitch a tent. The larger is the Big Basin Redwoods State Park, where a 2,000-year old redwood named Mother of the Forest stands 300 feet tall. In Felton, the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park covers 40 acres, with a trail just over a mile long.

Big Basin is the larger of the two camps and also has cabins for rent. Henry Cowell boasts a popular swimming hole known as the Garden of Eden. Next door is the Roaring Camp Railroads, where you can ride a steam train through the forest.

The shoreline varies from sandy beaches to dramatic cliffs and tidal pools. Santa Cruz is among California's top surfing spots, though the cold waters call for a wet suit. The Santa Cruz area has good kayaking. You can rent on the wharf, or take your own craft to the Elkhorn Slough estuary, about an hour south.

Camp overlooking Monterey Bay at New Brighton State Beach. Located in Capitola, the grounds sit on a bluff surrounded by eucalyptus. In addition to tent sites, the camp has RV sites with hook-ups. Further south, Sunset State Beach Campground overlooks a quiet, uncrowded beach. Trailers looking for an RV park should check Seacliff State Beach, which has plenty of sites with full hookups.