This quaint coastal town is situated in Santa Cruz County, California. Capitola boasts a popular beach as well as a variety of dining and shopping options.
Additionally, it is home to hundreds of brightly colored houses, giving it the characteristic appearance it’s famous for. There are also a number of parks and trails nearby, so you can get out and enjoy the beautiful area.
Other attractions in Capitola include the Capitola Historical Museum, where visitors can learn more about local history. There is also the Sante Adairius Rustic Ales brewery, which is ideal for beer lovers who want to stop for lunch. And if you’d like to go shopping, why not stop by Capitola Mall?
Read on for our list of the best and most fun things to do in Capitola, California
The 60 Most Popular Things To Do In Capitola, California
60. Trees Beach
3.0 (2 reviews)
Credit: Rennett Stowe, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Capitola CA
59. Moran Lake
5.0 (2 reviews)
Credit: Sasa Hasid RA, Google Maps
58. Six Sisters
4.3 (3 reviews)
Credit: W Nowicki, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Esplanade Between San Jose Ave and Lawn Way Capitola CA
57. Corcoran Lagoon
4.0 (3 reviews)
56. East Cliff Drive County Parkway
5.0 (4 reviews)
Credit: Avinash Salgam, Google Maps
Location: E Cliff Dr Santa Cruz CA
Web Address: http://scparks.com/
55. Poetic Cellars
4.0 (4 reviews)
Location: 5000 N Rodeo Gulch Road Soquel CA
Tel: 831 462 3478
Web Address: https://poeticcellars.com/
54. Black’s Beach
4.9 (7 reviews)
53. Hooper Beach
3.6 (8 reviews)
52. Vern Hart Park
4.1 (9 reviews)
Location: 3475 Glen Canyon Road Scotts Valley CA
Web Address: http://scottsvalley.org/200/Vern-Hart-Fishing-Park
51. Capitola By The Sea
4.6 (10 reviews)
Credit: Captain Albert E., License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Esplanade Capitola CA
50. Seascape Park Beach
4.7 (12 reviews)
Credit: Karen Desouza, Google Maps
49. Corcoran Beach
3.6 (14 reviews)
48. Tony Pagliaro Gallery
5.0 (15 reviews)
Credit: Tony Pagliaro Gallery, Google Maps
Location: 121 San Jose Ave Capitola CA
Tel: 831 854 2428
Web Address: http://tonypagliarogallery.com/
47. Hidden Beach
5.0 (15 reviews)
Credit: Harold Litwiler, License, Flickr
46. Capitola Wharf
4.5 (19 reviews)
Credit: Naotake Murayama, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1400 Wharf Road Capitola CA
Web Address: https://californiabeaches.com/attraction/capitola-wharf/
45. Richard Vessey County Park
4.1 (19 reviews)
Credit: Santa Cruz County Parks, Google Maps
Location: 3129 Maplethorpe Ln Soquel CA
44. Floral County Park
4.0 (21 reviews)
Credit: Floral County Park, Google Maps
Location: 656 38th Ave Santa Cruz CA
Tel: 831 454 7901
43. Santa Cruz Gardens County Park
4.4 (25 reviews)
Credit: Kurt Schwehr, Google Maps
Location: 113 Katherine Ln Santa Cruz CA
Tel: 831 454 7901
Web Address: http://scparks.com/
42. Maple Falls
4.8 (25 reviews)
Credit: Arjun Hariharan, Google Maps
41. Armida Winery Tasting Room
4.4 (28 reviews)
Credit: Elizabeth Liza, Google Maps
Location: 103 Streetockton Ave Capitola CA
Tel: 831 462 1065
Web Address: http://armida.com/
40. Sumner Beach
4.3 (34 reviews)
39. Moran Lake Beach
4.5 (36 reviews)
Credit: Naveen Nagaraja, Google Maps
38. Soquel Vineyards
4.7 (41 reviews)
Credit: Soquel Vineyards, Google Maps
Location: 8063 Glen Haven Road Soquel CA
Tel: 831 462 9045
Web Address: https://soquelvineyards.com/
37. Twin Lakes County Park
4.5 (43 reviews)
Credit: Max Barbosa, Google Maps
Location: 520 7th Ave Santa Cruz CA
Tel: 831 454 7901
Web Address: http://scparks.com/
36. Sunny Cove Beach
4.6 (46 reviews)
Credit: izzy izzy, Google Maps
35. New Brighton State Park
4.6 (65 reviews)
Location: Parking lot 1598 1500 Park Ave Capitola CA
Web Address: https://parks.ca.gov/
34. Simpkins Family Swim Center & Live Oak Community Center
4.6 (69 reviews)
Location: 979 17th Ave Santa Cruz CA
Tel: 831 454 7960
Web Address: http://scparks.com/
33. Willowbrook County Park
4.4 (69 reviews)
Credit: Philippe Molson, Google Maps
Location: 2950 Willowbrook Ln Aptos CA
Tel: 831 454 7901
Web Address: https://scparks.com/Home/ExploreOurParksBeaches/AllCountyParks/WillowbrookCountyPark.aspx
32. Twin Lakes State Beach
4.6 (78 reviews)
Credit: Gemsofthewild, Google Maps
Location: 995 Live Oak Ave Santa Cruz CA
Tel: 831 427 4868
Web Address: https://parks.ca.gov/
31. Pleasure Point
4.8 (100 reviews)
Credit: Grmc922, License, Wikimedia commons
30. Winkle Farm County Park
4.1 (104 reviews)
Credit: Santa Cruz County Parks, Google Maps
Location: 3201 Winkle Ave Santa Cruz CA
Tel: 831 454 7938
Web Address: http://scparks.com/
29. Privates Beach
4.5 (108 reviews)
Credit: Kate Rancourt, Google Maps
28. Mercantile Capitola
4.3 (117 reviews)
Credit: George Kelly, Google Maps
Location: 115 San Jose Ave Capitola CA
Tel: 831 818 9593
Web Address: http://capitolamercantile.com/
27. Land of Medicine Buddha
4.8 (121 reviews)
Credit: Land of Medicine Buddha, Google Maps
Location: 5800 Prescott Road Soquel CA
Tel: 831 462 8383
Web Address: http://landofmedicinebuddha.org/
26. Seascape County Park
4.6 (124 reviews)
Credit: Jesse Garner, Google Maps
Location: Sumner Ave Aptos CA
Tel: 831 454 7938
Web Address: http://scparks.com/Home/Parks/ListofAllCountyParks/SeascapePark.aspx
25. Jose Avenue County Park
4.4 (159 reviews)
Credit: Luke Ballmer, Google Maps
Location: Jose Ave Santa Cruz CA
Tel: 831 454 7501
Web Address: http://scparks.com/Home/Parks/ListofAllCountyParks/JoseAvenuePark.aspx
24. Chanticleer County Park
4.8 (172 reviews)
Credit: Alison Shearman, Google Maps
Location: 1975 Chanticleer Ave Santa Cruz CA
Tel: 831 454 7901
Web Address: http://scparks.com/
23. Hidden Beach County Park
4.6 (184 reviews)
Credit: Lucy Freedman, Google Maps
Location: 660 Cliff Dr Aptos CA
Tel: 831 454 7901
Web Address: http://scparks.com/Home/Parks/ListofAllCountyParks/HiddenBeachPark.aspx
22. Rockview Drive County Park
4.6 (222 reviews)
Credit: Ben Adventure, Google Maps
Location: Santa Cruz CA
21. Pasatiempo Golf Course
4.6 (276 reviews)
Credit: Pasatiempo Golf Course, Google Maps
Location: 20 Clubhouse Road Santa Cruz CA
Tel: 831 459 9155
Web Address: https://pasatiempo.com/
20. Seascape Golf Club
4.3 (301 reviews)
Credit: Seascape Golf Club, Google Maps
Location: 610 Clubhouse Dr Aptos CA
Tel: 831 688 3213
Web Address: http://seascapegc.com/
19. Blacks Beach
4.5 (314 reviews)
Location: 180 14th Ave Santa Cruz CA
18. Esplanade Park
4.6 (388 reviews)
Credit: Dicklyon, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 120 Monterey Ave Capitola CA
Tel: 831 475 7300
Web Address: http://cityofcapitola.org/acc/page/art-cultural-commission-events
17. Jade Street Park
4.5 (399 reviews)
Credit: Json Salas, Google Maps
Location: 4400 Jade Street Capitola CA
Tel: 831 475 5935
Web Address: http://cityofcapitola.org/publicworks/page/parks
16. Pogonip
4.6 (402 reviews)
Credit: Joshua Fletcher, Google Maps
Location: 333 Golf Club Dr Santa Cruz CA
Tel: 831 420 5270
Web Address: http://cityofsantacruz.com/government/city-departments/parks-recreation/parks-beaches-open-spaces/open-spaces/pogonip
15. The Hook County Park
4.4 (430 reviews)
Location: 511 41st Ave Santa Cruz CA
Tel: 831 454 7901
Web Address: https://scparks.com/Home/ExploreOurParksBeaches/AllCountyParks/TheHookCountyPark.aspx
14. Moran Lake County Park
4.5 (442 reviews)
Location: 22775 E Cliff Dr Santa Cruz CA
Tel: 831 454 7901
Web Address: http://scparks.com/Home/Parks/ListofAllCountyParks/MoranLakePark.aspx
13. Anna Jean Cummings County Park
4.6 (445 reviews)
Credit: Anna Jean Cummings Park, Google Maps
Location: 461 Soquel San Jose Road Soquel CA
Tel: 831 454 7938
Web Address: http://scparks.com/Home/Parks/ListofAllCountyParks/AnnaJeanCummingsPark.aspx
12. Pleasure Point County Park
4.7 (520 reviews)
Location: E Cliff Dr Santa Cruz CA
Tel: 831 454 7901
Web Address: http://santacruz.org/destinations/pleasure-point
11. Sunny Cove
4.6 (588 reviews)
Credit: Theresa Wells, Google Maps
Location: Sunny Cove Dr Santa Cruz CA
Tel: 831 420 5270
Web Address: http://scparks.com/
10. Rio Del Mar Beach
4.6 (1,743 reviews)
Web Address: http://delmar.ca.us/faqs/Pages/BeachesParks.aspx
Our Top picks
9. Capitola Historical Museum
4.6 (44 reviews)
Credit: Henry Zbyszynski, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 410 Capitola Ave Capitola CA
Tel: 831 464 0322
Web Address: http://capitolamuseum.org/
8. New Brighton State Beach
4.5 (79 reviews)
7. The Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery
4.6 (121 reviews)
Credit: The Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery, Google Maps
Location: 1855 41st Ave #10 Capitola CA
Tel: 888 424 8035
Web Address: https://sccmod.org/
6. Capitola Beach
4.6 (527 reviews)
Credit: Dicklyon, License, Wikimedia commons
5. Twin Lakes State Beach
4.6 (841 reviews)
4. The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
4.8 (1,185 reviews)
Location: Aptos Creek Road Aptos CA
Tel: 831 763 7063
Web Address: https://parks.ca.gov/
3. New Brighton State Beach
4.6 (1,843 reviews)
Location: 1500 Park Ave Capitola CA
Tel: 831 464 6329
Web Address: http://parks.ca.gov/
2. Seacliff State Beach
4.6 (3,885 reviews)
Credit: Eugene Zelenko, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: State Park Dr Aptos CA
Tel: 831 685 6442
Web Address: http://parks.ca.gov/
1. The Mystery Spot
4.5 (6,360 reviews)
Location: 465 Mystery Spot Road Santa Cruz CA
Tel: 831 423 8897
Web Address: https://mysteryspot.com/
Final Words:
Thank you for reading our list of the best things to do in Capitola, California! We hope it helped you plan the perfect itinerary for your next trip to this fantastic destination. Happy travels!
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