Reminiscent of a European village on the Mediterranean with its pastel buildings and shoreline dotted with café patio umbrellas, Capitola in Santa Cruz County feels like a special hideaway. Despite being only 855 feet in length, the pier is rarely crowded, leaving plenty of privacy for a peaceful stroll or picnic lunch on one of the wooden benches.
Rent a kayak at the pier’s base for a sunset dolphin-spotting excursion in Monterey Bay and then grab an outside table at the Wharf House for a fresh, seasonal seafood dinner with panoramic views of Capitola, one of the oldest resort towns on the West Coast. Music lovers take note: Capitola’s Art and Cultural Commission hosts twilight concerts in the village every Wednesday evening, June through August.
