Neptune's Kingdom

Right on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Neptune's Kingdom is the answer to every 'but what if it's foggy?' question. While the Boardwalk's outdoor rides are weather-dependent, Neptune's Kingdom is fully indoors and ready to entertain regardless of the coastal fog situation — which, in Santa Cruz, is a genuinely useful quality.

The centerpiece is an 18-hole indoor miniature golf course with a nautical and pirate theme, complete with blacklight effects that make the whole thing feel a little magical. It's the kind of mini golf course where kids want to go back and play it again immediately — the course design has enough creative obstacles and surprises to hold attention through all 18 holes. Parents will actually enjoy playing alongside the kids rather than just supervising.

Beyond mini golf, the space houses a large video arcade with the full range of redemption games, skill games, and classic arcade cabinets. Tokens flow freely and kids will want to spend every last one — set a token budget before you walk in. There are also pool tables, which tweens and teens tend to gravitate toward as a lower-stimulation alternative to the arcade buzz.

Neptune's Kingdom is part of the larger Beach Boardwalk complex, so on nice days you can seamlessly move between the indoor entertainment here and the outdoor thrill rides right outside. It's a genuinely useful pairing — start indoors if the morning is foggy, then head outside when the sun burns through.

Admission is pay-as-you-play. Budget realistically for tokens — kids will want more than you think.