Quick Take:
With temperatures in triple digits inland and seemingly headed that way even in more temperate parts of Santa Cruz County, thousands flocked to the beach Thursday in search of natural air conditioning.
With Santa Cruz County under a heat advisory and some areas farther inland under excessive heat warnings, Thursday was a day for locals and visitors alike to head to the shore to cool off.
Rian Bell came from Santa Cruz’s Westside to join the crowds at Main Beach, he told Lookout’s Kevin Painchaud, taking Thursday and Friday off to get some natural air conditioning.
“We found a spot finally where we can actually swim, and we can actually watch the waves, and then also go to the Boardwalk. And it’s beautiful and we have hot dogs and we just ordered some KFC to be delivered here, so it doesn’t get any better than this,” he told Painchaud. “Going to the beach instead of feeling the heat is pretty awesome — that’s the only option.”
San Jose’s Lyly Ho was among those escaping from temperatures forecast to break 100 over the hill, bringing her kids and meeting friends for some time in the sand and the water.
“Away from the heat, just taking the kids to the beach and enjoying ourselves,” she said of the day’s goals.
Here’s what Painchaud saw around the county Thursday:
Seven-year-old Noah Moralez came from San Jose to cool off in the lagoon at Main Beach in Santa Cruz. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
Main Beach was a popular spot Thursday as temperatures soared toward triple digits. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
The Chardonnay II sails past Main Beach as visitors seeking to beat the heat cooled off. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
Cameron Bell, 5, zeroes in on dad Rian as they cooled off at Main Beach in Santa Cruz. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
Meanwhille, it was a sweltering Thursday for agricultural workers in the fields of Watsonville. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
Shade was at a premium Thursday in downtown Santa Cruz as temperatures shot into the 90s. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
Lyly Ho brought son Noel Moralez, 1, from San Jose to enjoy a little dip in the San Lorenzo River at Main Beach in Santa Cruz. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
Heat wave 061721 Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
Keeping cool was all about making a splash at Main Beach in Santa Cruz on Thursday. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
Miguel Ruiz, 11, from San Jose found himself a chill spot at Main Beach in Santa Cruz on Thursday. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
Capitola Beach was the place to be Thursday for surfers of all ages. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
Capitola Beach lifeguard Ian Richardson, a recent transplant from Santa Monica, had plenty to keep an eye on Thursday as crowds flocked to the shore in search of relief from the heat. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
The heat wave sweeping California made Thursday a particularly good day for ice cream in Capitola Village for 6-year-old Daxton Marin of San Jose. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
Parrot Elvis was happy to have left his building Thursday, taking in the sights and sounds at cool Capitola Beach. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz 
With temperatures soaring Thursday in Santa Cruz, Jasper Zion rests in the shade in the San Lorenzo Park benchlands encampment.