Capitola, CA

Capitola is a small seaside city in Santa Cruz County, tucked onto Monterey Bay at the mouth of Soquel Creek. Capitola Village and the Esplanade are the heart of the city, with beach cottages, restaurants, shops, and a compact tourist district set below the surrounding bluffs. The place grew out of Soquel Landing, and beach tourism still defines much of its character. New Brighton Beach and nearby Santa Cruz give Capitola a strong coastal setting, but the city itself feels more intimate than its famous neighbor.