Day Trip Guide to Capitola, California
The rainbow Venetian Seaside Cottages in Capitola Village.
The colorful little beach town of Capitola is located at the north end of the Monterey Bay in Santa Cruz County. To reach Capitola it’s about a 2 hour drive south of San Francisco or a 45 minute drive from San Jose.
As you can see from the pictures in this blog post, the sandy beaches are perfect to lay out a blanket and enjoy a summer picnic. Capitola is a popular day trip destination because it really delivers those California beach town vibes. Also, the weather is often warmer in the Santa Cruz area than the San Francisco Bay Area. Locals have been known to make the weekend trip to escape the fog and catch some sun.
Feeling adventurous? Take a walk under the pier or grab your surf board and catch some waves. The local Esplanade is full of great eats and shops to explore, you can watch the sunset on the dock while enjoying fresh caught seafood. Yum!
If you decide to stay overnight, these adorable colorful beach cottages are rental homes and for a long time it’s been a mystery on how to book one. But I did all the work for you and linked to the actual booking website below. Scroll down to browse the Venetian Beach Cottages!
The rainbow Venetian Seaside Cottages in Capitola Village.
Best Beaches in Capitola
Capitola Beach
All the photos in this blog were taken at Capitola Beach. This is were you’ll find the colorful Venetian Beach Cottage Condos inside Capitola Village. The sandy beach is perfect for picnics and playing in the wave surf.
New Brighton State Beach
New Brighton State Beach is a 95 acre nature preserve where you can go camping, hiking, enjoy beach days on the sandy shore and even a skate park.
Seacliff State Beach
Heading down Highway 1 you’ll find the beach town Aptos just south of Capitola. Seacliff State Beach is very popular for several reasons. There’s a wide sandy shore with soft white sand, perfect for a beach picnic. To access the beach from the top of the cliff there’s a well-maintained wooden staircase. In the water there’s a long wooden pier and at the end of the dock you’ll see the sunken remains of the the concrete ship SS Palo Alto protruding from the water. Very cool sightseeing!
China Beach
At China Beach there’s a scenic beach trail with panoramic ocean views. This walking trail loops around the cliffs and is a great spot to watch the sunset.
Dog-Friendly Hopper Beach
While technically no dogs are allowed at Capitola Beach, Hopper Beach is a small section where local dog owners have carved out a spot for their canines to play. According to my online research, if your dog is under control and you are diligently picking up after your pet, the local authorities won’t issue a citation if you remain in the Hopper Beach area.
The rainbow Venetian Seaside Cottages in Capitola Village.
Best Restaurants, Wineries & Breweries in Capitola
Paradise Beach Grille
My husband and I had a romantic date night at the Paradise Beach Grille. We sat on the outdoor patio with views of the creek and the beach. They have a lot of. lights that twinkle and sparkle of the water at night, and of course it’s an excellent vantage point to see the sunset. On their menu they have seafood, sandwiches, salads, steak, burgers and cocktails.
The Sand Bar
The Sand Bar restaurant is located in the Esplanade and from the outdoor patio you get excellent views of Capitola Beach and the Soquel Creek. They have a very large menu with American food, seafood and cocktails. They also serve a full breakfast menu if you happen to spend the night Capitola. At The Sand Bar the decor is simple and no frills, so just be aware that you’re going for the view and not the ambiance.
My Thai Beach Restaurant Capitola
If you’re looking to diversify from all the American and seafood eatery options during your stay in Capitola, the My Thai Beach restaurant is walking distance from Capitola Beach. The menu serves all your traditional Thai favorites along with a large selection of boba teas. If you’re not hungry but looking to satisfy a sweet tooth craving, you can enjoy a boba tea on the outdoor patio and enjoy the beach views. Try the Brown Sugar Milk Tea Boba!
Pizza My Heart
Pizza My Heart is a local California pizza chain with cool surfer vibes and fresh takes on pizza with a wide variety of toppings. This location is counter serve and you take your pizza to-go. You can order by the slice or an entire pizza. This is a great food option for a beach picnic, fresh pizza on a blanket on the beach! The location is walking distance to Capitola Beach.
Tacos Moreno
Another great beach picnic food option is Tacos Moreno Mexican Food. They serve all your favorites such as tacos, nachos, burritos, quesadillas, chips and guacamole. If you decide to dine-in they have both indoor seating and an outdoor patio with ocean views.
Sante Adairius Rustic Ales
Beer enthusiasts will love a visit to the Sante Adairius Rustic Ales Brewery and Taproom. Located just a quick 5 minute drive from Capitola Beach, this brewery has an extensive list of brews they make in-house. The taproom is dog-friendly and has a modern rustic atmosphere.
Armida Winery
Right across the street from the Esplanade you’ll find the Armida Winery Tasting Room. While their main winery is in Headsburg, they have a beachfront tasting room in Capitola. Wine lovers can sip their pinot noir, zinfandel, cabernet and white wines. They are most known for their PoiZin zinfandel wine.
Capitola Wharf Pier entrance.
The rainbow Venetian Seaside Cottages in Capitola Village.
More Things to Do in Capitola
Capitola Village
Capitola Village is where you’ll find all the colorful little beach cottages known as the Venetians. They’re located right next to Capitola Beach just a few steps away from the white sand. These rainbow condos are actually beach rentals and you can find the links to book your stay at the bottom of this blog post.
Capitola Wharf
The Capitola Wharf is located adjacent to the rainbow Venetian Village and it’s a beautiful spot to take a leisurely stroll. You can go fishing off the pier and there’s even a Boat and Bait store to pick up fishing supplies.
Esplanade in Capitola
The Esplanade is located right next to Capitola Beach and it’s the main area where visitors go to find food and shopping. The restaurants on the Esplanade have outdoor patios where you can enjoy a meal with scenic ocean views.
Paddle Boarding at Soquel Creek
Soquel Creek is the river-like body of water that flows from Capitola Beach down through the Esplanade. Creek is a deceiving name for the Soquel Creek because it’s fairly large stream and it can support sports such as paddle boarding and kayaking.
Surfing Lessons
For the adventurous Californias, it wouldn’t be a proper beach trip without some surfing. The Santa Cruz area is world famous for surfing and there’s plenty of spots to catch a wave. If you’re new to the sport, you can take some beginner surfing lessons.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
A quick 15 minute drive from Capitola will lead you north up the coast to the world famous Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Growing up in Half Moon Bay we would visit the Boardwalk in the summer. You can ride rollercoasters, eat junk food and enjoy all those favorite carnival highlights. The Boardwalk is located right next to the beach so you can make it a beach day too.
Pastel pink Venetian vacation rental condo in Capitola Village.
Pink Venetian vacation rental with contrast blue trim in Capitola Village.
Playing in the surf at Capitola Beach.
I love using my serape blanket for beach picnics. See shopping link below!
Capitola Wharf Pier and panoramic ocean views from Capitola Beach.
Bright blue Venetian vacation rental in Capitola Village.
My comfortable beach outfit for our day trip to Capitola.
The Instagram famous pink and purple Venetian staircase in Capitola Village.
The walking trail that connects the Venetian Village to the Esplanade where you’ll find restaurants and shops.
The colorful Venetian Seaside Cottages in Capitola Village.
Rainbow flags on the sand for beach games at Capitola Beach.
I love using my serape blanket for beach picnics. See shopping link below!
Rainbow flags on the sand for beach games at Capitola Beach.
Bright turquoise Venetian vacation rental in Capitola Village.
Ocean views from under the Capitola Wharf Pier at Capitola Beach.
View of Soquel Creek from the bridge connecting Capitola Village to the Esplanade.
The colorful Venetian Seaside Cottages in Capitola Village.
Bright blue Venetian vacation rental in Capitola Village.
Sweeping ocean views from the coastal walking trail at China Beach.
The colorful Venetian Seaside Cottages in Capitola Village.
See More Northern California Travel Guides:
Capitola Village Venetian Beach Cottages & Hotels:
Located in the Heart of Capitola Village.
This beach rental is just steps away from Capitola Beach.
Another colorful front row beachside condo in Capitola Village.
This adorable green beach condo is a front row Venetian. The perfect place for an epic beach vacation!
This modern boutique hotel is walking distance to the beach, restaurants and shops.
Shop Beach Day Essentials:
The cutest and most functional beach tote! You can be hands-free while searching for the perfect picnic spot.
Etsy is the best spot online to shop for adorable vintage picnic baskets.
Serapes are traditional handmade Mexican blankets and they are excellent for beach picnics.
