Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

So you know how sometimes really lame people say things on their blogs like we did this really fun thing and/or went to this really fun place, but I forgot my camera/my batteries were dead or some other such nonsense. I really am irritated when lame people do that. But now for the first time in "thelifeofbrittcallaway" I went to/and did fun stuff and my camera battery was dead. The girls and I went down to Santa Cruz with a bunch of Edgren's and Porter's for a beach day. I even remembered to bring clean semi-coordinating clothing for my kids to try and take some beachy portraits of them. I also remembered the snacks, towels, sand toys and sunscreen AND camera. Just forgot to check the battery. So instead of darling shots of the day and night, you just get this shot of me at the same Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk circa 1993 with my sister and baby brother.



First we went to Live Oak, the Porter's favorite beach down that way. It was a beautiful secluded spot and the kids had classic beach fun and the adults chatted the afternoon away. Later we met up with the dad's and the Blatters for 75 cent night at the Santa Cruz Beach boardwalk. That place has such fond memories for me. We went there at least once every summer grown up with the family, and sometimes Kir and I would go there on our own (shoot did I just let the secret out? hi mom). It was a little scummy back then and Kir and I always got hit on by shirtless young men with scumstaches. Oh who am I kidding, it is a little scummy now, but I was not hit on once by and shirtless young hooligans this trip. hmmmm.

The boardwalk is such a beachy amusement park summer cliche. There are the trashy folk, the smell of all things fried (although, they've not NOTHING on the classic fair food of the South, pork butt on a stick anyone?), ocean views from the heights of the twirly ferris wheel and the big old wooded roller coaster "The Giant Dipper", big crowds for the cheap tickets, cool sea night air and wet sandy muck on the floor of the bathroom stalls. And I love it all.



This was our kid's third trip to the boardwalk and they love it too. Actually, Maren and Kiera really loved it this trip. Neve is too old and wise for the kiddie rides and too short for the big ones. She was such a good sport about it, but if anyone knows some way to boost her height about 4 inches between now and the next trip, please contact me asap.

Not all involved are as hard core, or thrifty as the case may truly be, as the Callaway's and Blatter's. I guess we just wanted to get all the fun we could get for our 75 cents per ticket. We closed the place down. The kids were all still kickin' it at 11:15 when we headed out to the cars for the hour and fifteen minute drive home. Sure am glad it's summer.



Yes, I borrowed that last shot from the nice folks at the internet.