The historic steam engines of Roaring Camp Railroads follow the old train tracks that were laid in the 1800's when the logging industry boomed in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
My one criticism you will discover as soon as you arrive. You have to pay to park in their parking lot! But that aside, I'm willing to ignore the fee because the rest of what they have to offer is SO worth it!!
I highly recommend taking the longer excursion they offer to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Plan for the entire day and catch the early train. That way you can spend about four hours enjoying the boardwalk and enjoy a beautiful train ride through the forest on your way to and from the Boardwalk.
Along the way, the engineer points out features and gives passengers a little history of the local area.
There can hardly be a more perfect way to travel, sitting in the wood and velvet luxury of the enclosed car, with the windows open in the summer and enjoying the cool shade of the forest.
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