Posted in Northern California Attractions, Day Trips, Explore, Nature, On The Water, Small Towns January 03, 2023 by

The Unassuming Town Of Capitola, California Is One Of America’s Best Hidden Gems For A Weekend Getaway

Capitola is a seaside resort town in Santa Cruz County. Not as famous as its neighbor city of Santa Cruz, Capitola is a quaint seaside town that is perfect for a Northern California weekend getaway. Capitola is just one town located on Monterey Bay, a designated marine sanctuary. The bay extends from Santa Cruz in the north to Monterey in the south.

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. The wharf is a great place to get a better view of the colorful town, or rest for a bit and watch the ocean.
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At the end of the Wharf is a boat rental shop as well as the Wharf House Restaurant that serves seafood favorites and has live music.
You can also rent kayaks at the wharf 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.
Squeeze some exercise into your visit by walking the Capitola Beach Steps. From there it’s a short walk to reach the Capitola Bluffs Walking Trail– a nearby three-mile trail that hugs the beach.
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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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The most popular 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.

Have you ever been to Capitola? What does your ideal day in Capitola look like? Tell us in the comments.

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Address: Capitola, CA, USA