Today I want to share my itinerary for Capitola and Santa Cruz, California with you. These beachfront towns in Northern California have everything from great surfing to beautiful coastline and fun shops and restaurants to discover. If you’re curious, read on for my Santa Cruz and Capitola itinerary for 2 days by the Pacific Ocean.
Capitola and Santa Cruz
I’m home in San Francisco, and one of my friends has planned us a trip to Capitola and Santa Cruz for a couple days.
These neighboring places are some of my favorite beach spots in California, and their proximity to the City by the Bay makes them an easy day trip or weekend getaway.
I’m spending 2 days in Capitola and Santa Cruz with my friend and their adorable dog, and we’re excited to see what our California road trip has in store for us.
If it’s anywhere near as good as the trip I took to Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay a while back, it’s going to be a great time.
Day 1: Capitola
We start our trip in Capitola. This gem in Santa Cruz County is known for being the oldest seaside resort town on the Pacific coast. It’s loved by locals and visitors for its golden sand beaches, colorful waterfront, and fun restaurants and shops.
Monarch Cove Inn, Capitola
We arrive in Capitola in the early afternoon and check into our room at the Monarch Cove Inn. This dog-friendly hotel in Capitola is situated right on the cliff on historic Depot Hill.
It’s in a great location in a residential neighborhood, and it makes us feel like locals. It’s also ideally situated for walking to Capitola Village and two sunny beaches on Monterey Bay.
The guest accommodations at the Monarch Cove Inn are nestled among flower gardens and a monarch butterfly habitat, making us feel connected to nature as soon as we arrive.
Our room is a stand-alone Victorian cottage with a kitchen and a huge back garden for the dog to run around in. It’s perfect for our stay.
New Brighton State Beach
After getting settled in at the hotel, we walk along a trail through the trees to get to New Brighton State Beach, a dog-friendly beach in Capitola.
This place is named after the famous seaside resort city in England, which makes me feel right at home. New Brighton Beach is known for its forested bluffs, sandy shoreline, and oceanfront houses. You can see all the way to Monterey from here, too.
We meet friends at the beach, setting up our chairs and towels so we can soak up the California sunshine. We’re lucky enough to spot dolphins off the coast, not to mention lots of pelicans fishing in the ocean.
Dinner in Capitola
In the evening we have dinner at My Thai Beach in Capitola. It’s right on the waterfront, and everything from classic pad thai to fat summer rolls goes down a treat.
Day 2: Capitola and Santa Cruz
The next morning our 2 days in Capitola and Santa Cruz continue with a walk along the cliffs from the Monarch Cove Inn to Capitola Village. We take the Grand Avenue walking trail, which runs atop the Capitola Bluffs.
Along the way we take in the colorful houses on Depot Hill and the surfers in the water below. We even spot a whale breaching off the coast.
Capitola Village
When we arrive in Capitola Village we walk through the streets, window shopping as we go. There’s everything from clothing stores to gift shops and art galleries here.
We also stop to admire the Historic Lawn Way Cottages. These early 20th-century beauties are set on a pedestrianized street that’s said to be the site of holiday tents that formed the start of Camp Capitola on July 4, 1874 by Samuel Hall, the town’s founder.
Eventually we make our way to the waterfront, where we take in the colorful buildings of the Capitola Venetian Hotel on Capitola Beach. There’s a historic wharf here, too, and we walk out to the end of the pier for sweeping views of the town.
Back on land, we walk up Wharf Road along Soquel Creek. It’s lined with vibrant murals on one side and views of colorful waterfront houses and a railroad bridge on the other.
After taking in the scene, we head to Zelda’s, a beachfront restaurant in Capitola, for brunch. We sit outside on the dog-friendly deck, enjoying ocean views as we tuck into heaping plates of chilaquiles and huevos rancheros.
Downtown Santa Cruz
After eating, we walk back to the Monarch Cove Inn and hop in the car for the next leg of our Capitola and Santa Cruz itinerary: downtown Santa Cruz.
It’s a short drive to Santa Cruz, a city known throughout the world for iconic surfing spots like Pleasure Point and Steamer Lane.
This place is also famous for its hippie culture and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk amusement park. I grew up sailing here almost every weekend with my family, and I love the city.
We head straight downtown, an area beloved for its shops, restaurants, and cafes. With one day in Santa Cruz, it’s a must.
We walk up and down Pacific Avenue, the main street in this part of the city. As we go, we pop into famous surf shops like Berdels and O’Neill. We can’t resist the cookies from the famous Pacific Cookie Company, either.
We also pick up a scented candle at the Homeless Garden Project Store. It’s a shop run by an organization that provides job training, transitional employment, and support services to individuals experiencing homelessness. We’re happy to support a good cause.
Wine Tasting in Santa Cruz County
After exploring downtown Santa Cruz, we hop in the car for the 15-minute drive to a dog-friendly winery called Hallcrest Vineyards.
Located in Felton in the Santa Cruz Mountains, this historic winery has a sunny outdoor tasting area with views over golden fields and dense forests.
A family-owned operation, the winery produces everything from Cabernet Sauvignon to Riesling. We taste a flight of red wines ranging from Pinot Noir to Petite Sirah while we soak up the peaceful atmosphere around us.
Capitola and Santa Cruz
After the tasting, we head out to the famous Highway 1 for the coastal drive back to San Francisco.
We thoroughly enjoyed our Capitola and Santa Cruz itinerary and the 2 days we spent on the California coast.
From the world-class beaches to the picturesque towns and delicious wines, it’s been a great reminder of how much there is to see and do in this part of my home state, with or without a dog (but preferably with…he’s adorable!).
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