One of the things that we love about Northern California is all of its hidden gems. Among them is Capitola Village, a quaint seaside resort town in Santa Cruz County. that although not as famous as its neighbor city of Santa Cruz, is still perfect for a day or weekend getaway. Part of its charm is that it is located on Monterey Bay, which is a designated marine sanctuary that extends from Santa Cruz in the north to Monterey in the south. Come along as we show off our little slice of heaven along the Northern California coast.

Wander through Capitola Village, right near the beach, and visit the local shops and restaurants. Many of the colorful buildings are private homes; however, the neighborhood is accessible to the public.
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Some of the colorful cottage homes are available for rent on sites like VRBO. You could also stay at the Capitola Venetian Hotel, a colorful 1920s Mediterranean-style hotel with beach views.
Check out the historic Capitola Wharf. It’s not as large as Santa Cruz Wharf but it’s also not as crowded.
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The wharf is a great place to get a better view of the colorful town, which is one of the best beach towns in America. Or, you can rest for a bit and watch the ocean or stop by the boat rental shop at the end of the pier.
You can also rent kayaks and launch them from steps on the wharf that lead to the water.
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Just a short walk into town from the Wharf is Capitola Beach Company where you can rent various boards and take stand-up paddle boarding lessons as well as surfing lessons.

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Squeeze some exercise into your visit by walking the Capitola Beach Steps.
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From there it’s a short walk to reach the Capitola Bluffs Walking Trail – a nearby three-mile trail that hugs the beach. From the bluffs, you can watch the surfers and capture some great photos of the ocean and shoreline of Capitola.
To reach Capitola you’ll drive through the lush and green Santa Cruz Mountains and the town of Soquel.
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Soquel Creek runs through Capitola but stops before the ocean. Use the beach to cross to the other side.
In addition to the beautiful beach and the cute town, Capitola hosts many yearly events that draw visitors from all over the state.
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Those most popular annual events include the Capitola Art and Wine Festival, the Capitola Beach Festival, Holiday Open House and Tree Lighting, Wharf to Wharf Race, and the Hot Rod and Custom Car Show.
These views never get old!
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From almost anywhere in town along the coast you can take in these spectacular views that will keep you coming back for more!

For more information, check out the City of Capitola website, as well as the City of Capitola Facebook page.

Have you ever been to Capitola? If so, what was your favorite part? What are some other things to do in Capitola? We’d love to read about your experience in the comments section below!

If you’d like to explore hikes around the Capitola and Santa Cruz area, you can find some great trails by going to the AllTrails website.

Sill in the mood for more California adventures? Take a look at this video:

 

 

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Adventures in Northern California

Lysa Allman-Baldwin | September 29, 2023

Where can we find haunted cemeteries in Northern California?

  • Mare Island Cemetery in Vallejo – The cemetery is named after General Vallejo, leader of the Mexican army, and the site of the first naval base on the west coast.
  • Hills of Eternity Memorial Park in Colma – Multifaceted and well-known personality Wyatt Earp was laid to rest here.
  • Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland – A lot of early Northern California pioneers have been buried in this cemetery since the late 1800s.

Read on to learn more about some of the many other creepy haunted cemeteries in Northern California.

Where can we find railway adventures in Northern California?

  • The Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad is a historic, open-air railroad that operates steam train locomotives.
  • The Niles Canyon Railway makes several stops between San Francisco and Santa Clara and features themed rides throughout the year.
  • The Napa Valley Wine Train is very popular with those who want to stop at several of this region’s major wineries.

Read on to learn more about some of the many other fun railway adventures in Northern California.

Where can we find museums in Northern California?

  • The Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum in Nevada City encompasses a rail yard and restoration shop.
  • The Willow Creek-China Flat Museum & Bigfoot Collection houses some the most sought-after Bigfoot photos and footprint casts.
  • The Aerospace Museum of California in North Highlands was originally founded as part of McClellan Air Force Base and remains as a repository of air and space exploration.

Read on to learn more about some of the many other wonderful museums in Northern California.

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