Santa Cruz keeps popping up in conversations this week. Whether you grew up there or just passed through, for many of us in Northern California, summertime means Santa Cruz.

A recent essay by Manjula Martin explores the unique push and pull of Santa Cruz. This excerpt sums up my topophilia for Santa Cruz perfectly:

“I wanted to be able to access all the hometowns of my past, the secret beaches and the famous ones, the soundtracks and the summer songs. I resented Santa Cruz for moving beyond my nostalgic vision of itself, and I treasured it, too, for still feeling like home despite the passage of eras.” Manjula Martin, Under the Boardwalk