The Looff carousel in Santa Cruz

In my book A Very Typical Family, which is set in Santa Cruz, CA, my characters don’t visit the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, but rest assured, Kit will be spending many happy summer days at the Boardwalk, and I see some romantic carousel rides in Natalie’s future. And what a unique carousel it is!

I’m covering the Looff carousel here because it is the soul of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk for me. Riding it is one of my earliest memories. Installed in 1911, it is considered a “pure” carousel in t...