Santa Cruz might be the quintessential coastal California city, with its Beach Boardwalk, artisanal food and drink producers, and laid-back surfer culture. With sports—including wetsuit and mountain bike companies—and marine research as two of the city’s major industries, it’s no wonder Santa Cruz ranks #10 for Parks and Outdoors. The city’s burgeoning tech sector is bolstered by easy proximity to Silicon Valley, and the presence of UC Santa Cruz has earned a tie place for #16 in our University ranking. This strong business climate, meanwhile, powers the city’s #3 Household Income and #11 People rankings. Downtown is already teeming with Banana Slugs—UC Santa Cruz students, that is—and it’s set to grow even further thanks to new zoning rules encouraging more apartments.