Santa Cruz highlight
Strong surf, progressive,
A city known for eleven world-class surf breaks and a progressive culture that has led California in social and environmental innovation.
Santa Cruz earned its nickname "Surf City" for good reason: the area features eleven world-class surf breaks, including the legendary Steamer Lane, where the modern surfing wetsuit and the leg leash were developed by local innovator Jack O'Neill. The Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, established in 1986 as the world's first museum dedicated entirely to surfing, documents the history of the sport from the Hawaiian princes who introduced surfing to the area in the 1880s through decades of local innovation and cultural impact. The museum houses historic surfboards, photographs, and archives of surf culture spanning over a century.
Beyond its role in surfing history, Santa Cruz has distinguished itself as a leader in social and environmental forward-thinking. The city was one of the first in California to approve medicinal marijuana, and its city council was the first in the United States to formally denounce the Iraq War. This progressive character extends through the community: downtown Pacific Avenue hosts street performers, musicians, and artists; the city hosts the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music and Santa Cruz Shakespeare; and an emphasis on outdoor recreation—surfing, skateboarding, cycling, and mountain biking—defines the local lifestyle.
Families in Santa Cruz, whether they are drawn by the beach culture, the activism, or the natural environment, are building their lives in a place that values innovation and community. Those families—whether they include young children, students, career-builders, or multi-generational households—need insurance protection that matches the length of time those plans require. A term policy that covers the years of peak financial obligation is the foundation of that protection.