I grew up in San Jose, and going to the Boardwalk was always a treat. When I graduated high school, I worked summers at a camp above Corralitos, and me and a few other camp workers would pile into my station wagon to go to the Boardwalk on the cheap nights after work. I would discover other places in Santa Cruz, like Cafe Zinho, Atlantis FantasyWorld (pre and post Loma Prieta), and Saturn Cafe for a chocolate madness.
Fast forward to July of 2015, my wife and I got married. We spent the initial honeymoon weekend in Santa Cruz, staying at the wonderful Babbling Brook Inn.
We spent the 2nd day of wedded bliss at the Boardwalk.