The sixth annual Tour of California makes its second return to Santa Cruz in as many years, with one small change: the finish line shifted from downtown to the iconic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

Last week the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk signed on as the official sponsor of the third-stage finish for the Amgen Tour of California, affirming that the famous bike race will be making a return to the city in 2010. Organizers are hoping it will be an even bigger success than last year, with a larger venue for the finish line and a variety of local sponsors.

With cascading sunshine, crashing waves and summer tourists long gone, Saturday Oct. 3 marked a near flawless day at the Boardwalk, and a prime afternoon to introduce the park’s newest annual attraction. Under a rainbow flag waving in the beginning-of-fall breeze, local families and their supporters gathered for the Boardwalk’s first Gay Family Day.

Every year after Labor Day, the neighborhood surrounding the Boardwalk transforms from a bustling pool of congestion to a near ghost town. But even this year’s summer season — which traditionally brings with it lots of Boardwalk area bustle — was significantly more quiet than in previous years.

With Memorial Day weekend behind us, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk summer season has officially begun. And while our parents’ generation may fondly reminisce about the crowds, rides and bouts of childhood rebellion that took place at this local landmark, it seems that many UC Santa Cruz students have dismissed it as a congested tourist trap. However, the Boardwalk has lots of new and exciting features to discover as the summer months approach. This is your guide to the bustling and jubilant atmosphere that can be found this summer on Beach Street, for both tourists and natives alike.