Capitola, CA
You know me at the beach. We are like two peas in a pod.
Growing up, Santa Cruz was always a popular destination for our family getaways. I remember growing up, most summers, my parents would take us to the boardwalk for a weekend typically, right before the new school year. Nowadays, as an adult, I am often searching for a new beach town to venture into. Finally, after all of these years, I went to Capitola.
This beach town is only 4 miles away, approximately 10 minutes, East of Santa Cruz, tucked away nicely along the inner bend.
Now when I say this town is small, I quite literally mean that the entire seaside city is less than 2 square miles; you blink, you may miss it.
The iconic strip of colored beachfront homes has always appealed to me, which made this one of those "must-see" places. Once I arrived, I noticed, not only is the town small most of the buildings are unusually small as well. Use the photo above as a reference photo. Do you not see how tall these homes are?
Capitola is the oldest seaside resort town on the Pacific Coast, making this a popular destination. My suggestion is to arrive here early in the day to secure a street parking spot. There are a few public parking spots available to purchase by the hour. These parking spots are off of the main city roads, which will require walking a few blocks. If you are going for the whole beach experience, it may be tough to carry anything heavy that distance.
Once you’re in town, stroll along to visit all the little beachfront shops and boutiques. I am all about supporting small local businesses whenever I have a chance to, and since this town is filled with many vintage spots, it is easy to find unique pieces to pick up as souvenirs.
When we saw this restaurant it was an absolute no brainer for us to grab lunch here!!
In honor of the famous Jimmy Buffet song, Margaritaville, this fantastic restaurant sits right along the water.
Baja Fish Taco Plate
Shrimp Nachos
Blackened Shrimp Taco Plate
The view from the restaurant Margaritaville
Things to do in Capitola:
Watch the sunrise or sunset
Stroll the palm tree strip of boutiques and food spots
The Capitola Art & Wine festival - usually is hosted mid-September where local artists and wine counisours set up their booths in order to showcase their products.
Wine tasting at the Armida Winery
Surfing
Fish off the Capitola Wharf
Sailing
Head to New Brighton Beach
Stay at the Venetian Hotel. This is the name of the famous colored hotels and long stay rentals pictured above.
Visit Gayle’s Pasteries for some signature cakes
Stop at Mr. Toot’s Coffeehouse for a fresh latte, a great read for their library and a nice game of chess
