Nearest town: Santa Cruz, CA Region: Big Basin & Santa Cruz Park website: Link here Best time of year to visit: Year round Features of the park: Historic features like an early dairy ranch and a 19th-century Victorian home; and a variety of landscapes from the crest of Ben Lomond Mountain, ancient wave-cut terraces, marsh lands of a nature preserve, and the seashore. Fees: Day use fees charged; CA State Park Passes accepted