Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/410603
O n California's scenic coast, only a handful of hotels are situat- ed directly on the beach. The Santa Cruz Dream Inn of the Joie de Vivre brand is one of those lucky gems and is located across from the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf. The hotel sits on the sands of Cowell Beach and boasts ocean-facing rooms for the entire proper ty. Guests can sip cocktails like the Dream Inn margarita on the deck of the beachfront swimming pool (which will soon be conver ted into an infinity pool), enjoy poolside yoga, barbecue fare like sliders and shrimp skewers, warm up by the firepits or in the hot tub, or simply walk right onto the sand and join a game of beach volleyball. Weddings and other events take place frequently on the soft sands or in the hotel's banquet rooms, and guests often book an annual family vacation at the proper ty. "Joie de Vivre believes in creating oppor tunities to celebrate the joy of life," says Sales and Catering Manager Aurora Smith. Gentle waves make the sheltered waters across from the Dream Inn ideal for stand-up paddle boarding and beginning surf lessons, both of which can be arranged through nearby rental shops. More aggressive surfers can take on famous Steamer Lane just around the bend, named for the steam- powered boats of the past. The 107-year-old Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk attraction is just down the street, with miniature golf, arcades, bowling, laser tag, and rides ranging from rollercoasters to free fall towers to log rides to kiddie boats. A circa-1911, hand-carved merry-go-round with antique band organs harkens back to the original days of the "Coney Island of the West," and is a National Historic Landmark. Spectacular views of the Monterey Bay can be had from the Boardwalk's famous wooden coaster, the Giant Dipper, which opened in 1924, DREAM INN S a n t a C r u z , C a l i f o r n i a B Y S A B R I N A S P E I D E L D E S T I N A T I O N S C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • H O L I D A Y 2 0 1 4 149 Photos: Santa Cruz Dream Inn