Guide to Travel Capitola
Capitola, California
About Capitola, California
If quaint and charming checks your list then Santa Cruz’s small neighboring beach town Capitola might just be perfect for your next vacation. Capitola is what California beach cities used to be and provides its residents and visitors with a quiet laid-back lifestyle that is hard to find on the California Coast these days. It is slightly quirky with its colorful Venetian-style beachfront condos and tends to conjure up a warm welcoming feel as you meander through its carless back streets.
Capitola has around 10,000 residents and is essentially straddled by Santa Cruz on all sides, except for the one that overlooks the Pacific Ocean. With that Capitola is a great place for a stroll, but if you want to do some real hiking you’ll have to head over to the next town.
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History of Capitola
Capitola got its start as what was essentially a tent camp located on the shores of the bountiful Monterey Bay. It was known at this time as Camp Capitola and was eventually opened up to tourism in 1874 thus becoming California’s very first beach resort. Several years went by and eventually, a gorgeous resort was built known as the Hotel Capitola. Unfortunately in 1929, the hotel was accidentally burnt to the ground. Still to this day Capitola is an idyllic tourist destination but stays much quieter than its busier counterparts.
Capitola, California
How to Get to Capitola
Capitola is situated on the coast of Monterey Bay in California and lies around 6 miles east of its neighboring city of Santa Cruz. Capitola is an excellent place to stop on your road trip heading up or down the Pacific Coast Highway.
Map of Capitola
Capitola, California
Capitola Wharf
The Capitola Wharf is 855 feet long and provides visitors with an excellent place for a nice peaceful stroll looking out on the ocean. You can also rent a kayak, paddleboard, or boat at Capitola Boat and Bait. Or check out an incredible sunset dolphin-watching excursion that cruises around Monterey Bay.
The wharf also features the Wharf House, which is a restaurant that serves delicious seafood with lovely views looking back at the colorful village Capitola.
Beaches in Capitola
New Brighton State Beach
New Brighton Beach is named after the popular coastal area in England as the bluffs in both places draw resemblances to each other. The beach features beautiful forested bluffs, a campground, hiking trails, and the spectacular scenery of Monterey Bay.The New Brighton State Beach campground offers 100 campsites that include 11 RV hookups.
Capitola State Beach
Capitola State Beach is a popular beach recreation area in the northern part of Monterey Bay. This beach can get fairly busy at times and features many of Capitola’s events. It features Soquel Creek which empties out into the Pacific during the winter, but in the summer it becomes a beautiful sandbar and lagoon.Hooper Beach
Named after the 1900s MLB Red Sox player Harry Hooper, Hooper Beach is a smaller and less busy beach that is dog-friendly.Trees Beach
Capitola, California
Where to Eat in Capitola
Shadowbrook Restaurant - American
Paradise Beach Grille - American/Bar
Caruso’s Tuscan Cuisine - Italian
Cafe Cruz - American/International
Margaritaville - Bar/Seafood
East End Gastropub - American
Cafe Sparrow - French/American
Dharma’s Restaurant - Asian
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