Visitors Guide to Capitola, California
Capitola, California is located about 75 miles south of San Francisco, in Santa Cruz County. Capitola offers sandy beaches, beachfront shops and restaurants, and breathtaking views of cliffs and the Monterey Bay. It is a quaint old historic town that has a slightly European feel to it. There is a lot to do in Capitola, including surfing, shopping, boating, beach volleyball, and dining out. Capitola also hosts many festivals and events every year. Capitola has a mild climate with summer temperatures in the mid 70’s and 50’s in the winter.
Capitola Village is the heart of Capitola, California. The village is a small area with several beachfront shops and restaurants that are best explored by foot. There is a variety of restaurants to choose from, no matter what you crave. If you are in the mood for pizza, grab a slice from Pizza My Heart, which is located just steps away from the beach at 209 The Esplanade. For al fresco dining, Zelda’s on the beach is a great choice. Zelda’s serves a wide variety of salads, sandwiches, steaks, pastas, and seafood. Zelda’s is located at 203 The Esplanade, right on the beach, and has a giant outdoor patio. Not far from Zelda’s, you can find the Beach House restaurant at 207 the Esplanade. The Beach House serves great omelets and breakfast, in addition to their tasty seafood, salads, and sandwiches. The Beach House always seems to be busy, but the food is worth the wait. If you have a taste for authentic Mexican food, El Toro Bravo is a good choice. El Toro Bravo is a family operated restaurant, located at 123 Monterey Avenue, which has been serving delicious Mexican food since 1967.
Each year, Capitola hosts the Capitola Art and Wine Festival and the Capitola Begonia Festival. The Capitola Art and Wine Festival offers live music and food, in addition to the wide variety of art and wine. The Art and Wine Festival takes place every year in September. For more information, you can go to http://www.capitolachamber.com/artwine.html. The Capitola Begonia Festival celebrates the Pacific Begonia, which is a beautiful flower that blooms every year in Capitola, California. The Begonia Festival takes place on Labor Day and features a parade, concerts, and the wildly popular sand castle contest. You can find information on the Begonia Festival at http://www.begoniafestival.com/.
For a list of places to stay in Capitola, this is a good link: http://www.capitolachamber.com/categ/accommodations.html. You can also get more information online from the Capitola Chamber of Commerce’s website, which is located at http://www.capitolachamber.com/. If you are looking for even more entertainment, Capitola is located just six miles from the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. The Santa Cruz Boardwalk offers amusement park rides, games, and more surf and sand. In addition, San Francisco, San Jose, and the Monterey Peninsula are all just a short drive away. So, if you are planning a visit to northern California, remember to pay a visit to Capitola.
