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Capitola & Soquel Village
Timeless gems of the Central Coast
Capitola’s seaside charm, combined with the rural feel of nearby Soquel oftentimes leave visitors longing for a more relaxed way of life in these small towns just south of Santa Cruz. Capitola Village, the Pacific coast’s oldest seaside resort town, retains the feel of a vintage beachside town, where galleries and boutiques decorate quaint streets as the lazy afternoon sun paints the colorful Venetian buildings in golden yellow light. Founded over 135 years ago, Capitola Village was once home to a 160-room hotel, salt-water baths and trolley service from Santa Cruz. The esplanade curves alongside a row of seaside restaurants, bursting open into a magnificent view of the sea. A Mediterranean essence flavors the air of this treasured town. Summertime twilight concerts at Esplanade Park’s outdoor bandstand adjacent to the beach serve as the perfect setting for a picnic dinner while relaxing on a blanket. View a sunset from the Capitola Wharf nearby, where the sounds of the concert drift above the waves. A Labor Day Weekend tradition in Capitola for nearly six decades, the annual Begonia Festival, celebrates a time when the Pacific Begonia, as it is known, was hybridized in Capitola. In fact, from the 1930’s to the 1970’s, approximately 90% of the world’s Begonias came from the Brown Bulb Ranch in Capitola. The highlight of the festival is the parade of begonia-covered barges floating down Soquel Creek to the beach. The festival also features a sand sculpture contest, a fishing derby and other events honoring the heritage of this lovely blossom. The Capitola Historical Museum — housed inside a quaint schoolhouse in the village — features changing exhibits and offers maps for self-guided walking tours. Beyond the village, Capitola boasts a day spa, tea room and endless shopping. Other year-round crowd pleasers include the Capitola Art and Wine Festival, “Surfin’ Santa” and the Capitola Rod and Custom Classic Car Show. Inland from Capitola, the 165-year-old town of Soquel Village features antique shops where everything from heirloom jewelry to early American furniture can be found at Center Street Antiques. Bargetto Winery serves as an ideal starting point for self-guided wine tasting tours where the hills above town are draped with vineyards. Visitors will be filled with enchantment while exploring the timeless lure of Capitola and Soquel.
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Photo: Kate McCarthy
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Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013
Contents
Welcome to Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz
Whale Watching and More
Find Your Perfect Beach
Play Around in Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County Has Taste
2013 Events Calendar
Maps
Raise a Glass to County Wine
Monterey Bay
Capitola and Soquel
Live Creatively
San Lorenzo Valley
Scotts Valley
From the Mountains to the Sea
Pleasure Point
Make a Play Date
Aptos
Davenport
Watsonville and Pajaro Valley
Restaurant Guide
Lodging Guide
Visitor Activities
Free Things To Do
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Intro
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Cover2
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 1
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 2
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 3
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 4
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 5
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 6
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Contents
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 8
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Welcome to Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 10
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 11
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 13
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 14
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 15
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 16
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Whale Watching and More
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 18
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Find Your Perfect Beach
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 20
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Play Around in Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 22
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Santa Cruz County Has Taste
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 24
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 25
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 26
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 2013 Events Calendar
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 28
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 29
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 30
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 31
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Maps
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 33
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 36
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 37
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 38
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Raise a Glass to County Wine
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 40
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Monterey Bay
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 42
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Capitola and Soquel
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 44
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 45
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Live Creatively
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 47
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 48
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - San Lorenzo Valley
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 50
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Scotts Valley
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - From the Mountains to the Sea
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 53
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 54
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Pleasure Point
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Make a Play Date
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 57
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 58
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Aptos
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 60
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Davenport
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Watsonville and Pajaro Valley
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 63
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Restaurant Guide
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Lodging Guide
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 66
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 67
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 68
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 69
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Visitor Activities
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 71
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 72
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 73
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 74
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 75
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Free Things To Do
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Cover3
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Cover4
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