This is our family's favorite beach. It's very kid friendly with proximity to restaurants, outdoor showers and bathrooms. The city has two huge parking lots with free shuttle so you don't have to worry about lugging the beach gear all the way. If you don't want to wait for the ride, it's just a short walk so it's no big deal. Parking tends to get tight as you get closer to noon, but still not as crazy as the Santa Cruz beach. We always find a nice place to pitch a tent and spend some quality family time, no awkward situations sitting too close to other beach goers since it's not too crowded and hope it stays that way. The town itself is adorable with many cute shops and eateries by the water. Kids love the rock pool, less intimidating low tides and easy access to frozen yogurt :) Capitola hosts annual art and wine festival around end of summer which is fun for the whole family. Bonus if you can make it. read more

Came on Monday, not too crowded which is great. Really nice beach to hangout. Capitola Beach has a traditional look to it. I like how most of the building and business is very old fashion, but colorful at the same time. They also have plenty of mom and pop stores here. Plenty of places to go out to eat and have deserts. Thumbs up read more

Capitola State Beach - Beaches Near Me - Capitola, California

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A great beach for your friends and family! We originally were planning to go to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk but decided to come here instead because it would be less crowded, had better partying and not as many annoying teen agers. We arrived around 11:30, stopped off at Pizza My Heart to pick up some lunch and walked over to the beach. Laid out our blanket, put some sun screen on and enjoyed our lunch with the sun shinning on us. The weather was a bit chilly about 64 degrees but it was a very sunny day. The bathrooms are surprisingly clean and its a very family oriented beach. There are plenty of shops and eateries near by. read more

Capitola is a textbook example of what I mean when I say that Santa Cruz county has all the SoCal you'll ever need. Indeed, it reminds me a lot of my favorite beach from the old days, Laguna Beach--right down to the distant parking lots and shuttle buses. There's an extremely cute little village and a lagoon, (which several of the restaurant patios look out on), and a wharf with a beer-and-burger type place at the end. There's also a set of brightly-colored cabanas that look airlifted from the Caribbean (and yes, you can rent some of them). The beach itself is pretty compact, and is hemmed in by bluffs at either end. It's also got one thing that SoCal hasn't got: a great view across to the Monterey Peninsula. When I look out at them it's almost like being up in Seattle again--except for the whole weather thing. Insider's tip: If you're not up for one of the lagoon-side eateries, grab a picnic lunch from Gayle's on your way in and eat it on the beach. read more

This is my FAVORITE place to Stand Up paddle.... -small sandy beach with nearby pier, typically has small rolling waves for easy beach entry -Dolphins frequently spotted here -Seaweed is cleared out every morning -local restaurants and shops on strip -Bathrooms and outside showers cleaned every morning -surfers to the left of beach, SUPs and swimmers to the right -Lifeguards on duty -street and private parking lot available -small beachside trailer nearby for those who need to rent boards and even a sandpail! read more

No parking at all. So that takes off one star. Dogs everywhere making messes where ever they feel the need to. OOHH SICK! Seaweed all over the sand. No walking distance to stretch your legs. A river right through the middle of the beach that you can't cross. A pier that is closed because they don't want the pelicans to get hurt. Lots of homeless-looking people sitting on the benches. The only good thing is that it is a beach and you can sit and see the surf and there are a lot of restaurants and shops to shop in. I'll be reviewing those at a later date so get excited. In summary, the town of Capitola is cool, the beach just all right. read more

I heard from a friend that there have been reports about sharks! YIKES! X.x Ive been to this beach once back in high school, this place is pretty neat! you will find all shorts of wildlife here. Although I would have to say my favorite beach; Carmel by the Sea is still my top choice to go to! read more

Our family has been coming to the SC area for years for family vacations. My wife and I both grew up coming here all the time so wanted pass the tradition on to our kids. We like this beach so much because even though it can get a little crowded it is away from the boardwalk and all of that crowd. Another nice bonus is that they have pretty clean bathrooms to use and lots of choices to eat and shop around. read more

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I heart Capitola Beach. The cute little shops along the town, the good vibes I get near the water, the scenery, the people, the whole Capitola area is awesome... We come here all the time. With friends, family or just alone is pretty chill. Best beach in town read more

Another beautiful day at the beach. Must be today in the mid to upper 70*. A lot of people here today, can you blame them. The water is unusually warm for some reason. Any way get down here and enjoy the splendor of this quaint little Village, plenty of window shopping. Stop by the coffee shop in the Merchatile and say "HI" to Kim and Steve. Best coffee in town, owner operated. Also, if you like Art The Edington Gallery has some of the finest art work I've had the pleasure to view. read more

Been here maybe 5 times in my lifetime. Pretty nice beach; pretty big and not too dirty or ghetto looking. Surrounded by great, busy local businesses! A very walkable town. read more

Small beach that is great for pets...even lazy bulldogs! Paradise in tiny little Norcal...paradise. read more

Capitola State Beach - Bully having fun at the beach! - Beaches Near Me - Capitola, California

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I like this beach more base on it's setting rather than the beach itself. It's pretty great to have an accessible beach that you can eat lunch, get ice cream, and walk to the water all within about 50 yards. The water isn't the cleanest but also not quite as dirty as some other beaches I've been to. The beach by the boardwalk is much dirtier and I'd speculate the water is also much worse. It's pretty mellow for the kids to wade in, they can go a decent distance without any big drop offs. There's a lifeguard there for any sketchy adult swimmer or any kid without a responsible parent. The volleyball courts add to the beach by giving groups sone activity time. Tends to get cluttered by beach "bros" and other uber locals. So expect to get lucky when they're open. Would be 5 stars if the parking situation was more accessible and the sand was cleaner. read more

This is a great beach with access to shops, restaurants, and public bathrooms. It's small and gets crowded, so come early if you can. And, don't forget to pay your parking at the pay stations - each spot is numbered and you're supposed to move every 3 hours. We moved 1 spot and stayed 6 hours. read more

I love this beach. Period. I find it a little less windy than other beaches in the area, and it's surrounded by boutiques and eateries, which makes it a great location. The colorful vacation homes alone the shore also make for great photographs, and there is a long bridge that extends out to the ocean with a restaurant/bar at the end of it. Usually there are "teepee" type structures that people have built by putting driftwood together in an upright position, which are fun and provide great props for kids. Another plus is that this beach is less crowded because of its location away from the touristy area, which I appreciate. There are lots of local-looking people with their dogs relaxing here. Parking is plentiful but most of it has a 2-hour limit. You can pay with a credit card at the booths, so you don't have to worry about bringing quarters. read more

I got wedding pics taken here, so it should be obvious that I have a soft spot for this beach. The Esplanade has everything you need within walking distance & when the weather is right, this place is hard to beat. My only gripe is being hit by footballs by wannabe Peyton Mannings who don't understand the concept of other people. (Or apologizing after hitting someone with said football.) The better the weather, the more likely you are to be hit by footballs (or frisbees). But then again, when the weather is perfect, my tolerance for shenanigans is at an all-time high because a sunny beach is my happy place :) read more

If the temperature is anywhere north of 60 degrees head here to get your beach fix. This is an absolutely adorable, albeit little, stretch of California sand. It's got it all - tide pools, waves, seagulls, a bath house with restrooms and showers, a boardwalk, easy parking and an utterly cutesy downtown area to shop in once your done getting sun. As if you can ever be done with that... I like to take my toddler here. The waves, particularly on the south side, are gentle enough that I don't have to have a heart attack while watching him. The shower area is key for keeping my car sand free. And having close parking is a life saver since I'm generally that mom lugging more around than looks reasonable. If you want to avoid the crowds get there around 10:00 and only go in the spring time. This place gets popping! read more

It was an amazing setting for our wedding in August 2013! We got married behind the stage in Esplanade Park. We used the walkway along the grass as an aisle and had the ceremony at the end of the lookout, refer to pics! It was free and so beautiful!!!!! The city didn't require us to get a permit, we had 30ppl but they did offer for us to reserve the stage for a fee (but we didn't). The city also told us we were not allowed to block off any area for the wedding but we didn't have to, people were very nice and moved out of the way for us to have the ceremony. We had some of our guests use the free bus that drops you off in front of Britannia Arms so they didn't have to worry about parking (it only runs on weekends during summer). We had our guests stand and some sat on the benches but we easily could've put up chairs or laid down blankets. We loved the location and highly recommend it to any couple looking to do a beach wedding!! No regrets!! read more

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This beach is really pretty. Love the colorful beach houses. There were cute shops there as well. Really fun to visit with close ones. Will visit again with the fiancé! read more

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Pretty awesome beach! I love how they have so many food options right on the beach and how the beach itself is fairly clean- Minus the Seaweed everywhere.... But a great surf spot and paddle board too! The weather here is actually pretty nice and actually a lot warmer compare to the other beaches nearby. Definitely will be back! P.s watch out on the weekends- parking is a bit crazy. But .50cents an hour - isn't a bad deal if you can find a nearby parking lot. Oh and the free shuttle is pretty great :) read more

I thought Capitola was nice like Monterey. It isn't, it's full of chaos and debauchery. Three hour limit to park, not a good place for families. Marijuana smoking everywhere and cigarettes. I was sorry we wasted our time going there. Bikers revving their motorcycles, people all drunk cussing and yelling. The beach looked all dirty. We didn't even stay our second night at the hotel we booked because it was so bad here. The hotel was bad as well. So much noise and marijuana smoking inside and outside our hotel room. Monterey and Half Moon Bay are way nicer. We won't be visiting this place anytime soon. read more

City regulations aren't being observed. This has become an extremely crowded area and hardly anyone is wearing masks. We were asked to leave due to our 5 pound dog (who was inside our beach tent) but others with large dogs were not! I don't mind we were asked to leave because I didn't see the sign which states no dogs and if this is the rule we respect it. I was mad that there was absolutely no regulation of any of the other nonsense such as drunk people spitting in the sand next to kids, people setting up tents close to others, smoking on the beach, glass bottles being dumped in the sand, no one wearing masks or keeping six feet distance. I feel bad for the locals. read more

I like this beach. It has a nice and cozy feel to it. It always makes you feel as if you're home away from home. It has nice docks to stroll along. Very pretty homes and apartments with vibrant colors that complement the shoreline. I went here with my girlfriend, and I hadn't been here before that time in about four years. It was practically the same as I had remembered. Pros: not as busy as Santa Cruz. Less noise and not as touristy as the boardwalk. So if you're looking for a more peaceful and relaxing substitute for Santa Cruz, this is your place. The pier is really pretty, with an abundance of amenities offered from the shops on the dock. I was going to go crab fishing, but they said that the Dungeness crab was pretty much out of season. We came around the end of September, and the season for catching that kind of crab is mostly centered around summertime. I will definitely try crab fishing there if I'm back in the summer again any time soon. Cons:the beach is pretty littered with seagulls and pigeons. They are very messy birds and seem to congregate very heavily on the Capitola beach. Wear some sandals if you're on the beach. Just a fair warning! read more

Capitola State Beach - Capitola beach, view of the pier and shoreline. - Beaches Near Me - Capitola, California

What's not to love! Especially in the off season. Touristy shops but drinking coffee on the sea wall on a Saturday or Sunday is awesome. Sometimes you see the beach church crew doing Sunday sermon....singing songs, kids playing. read more

Parking wasn't that bad, but you would have to drive around a few times to find parking. Parking is $1.50 an hour (2 hr max) Great beach to go to for kids since there's a little river they can play in. If you're tryna get your tan on I do not recommend this beach. There are a bunch of flies and bugs flying around which bothered me. I had to cover my body with my towel which is ridiculous because hello I'm at the beach I shouldn't be covering my body. Also there was a bunch of kelp and seaweed on the sand. Cute colorful little beach houses that you can take pics with! It's a pretty small beach, not that crowded. Great for families! read more

CAPITOLA FUN FACT #423 Sea lions are not actual lions. Still they will not give you a ride if you get stuck under the pier. Beach is cool. Lots of sand, smells like kelp. Everything in order here. read more

where do I start... I've been coming here as long as i can remember. This mostly quiet town by the beach is a perfect little weekend getaway. There are great restaurants, shops for the ladies, and great scenery all around you. Did I mention that these restaurants have great Happy hours and fooooood. Mostly every weekend, my friends and I come here to refresh from reality and stay at my place right near downtown. We always enjoy going down to the beach and going out at night. Capitola has so many events throughout the year including the art and wine festival, begonia festival, and the warf to warf race that ends right in dt capitola. For anyone that hasn't been here I strongly suggest that you check out this awesome place, you wont be left unsatisfied. read more

It's definitely not the better beaches I've been to, but what makes this beach unique is the colorful houses on the beach and the cute little shops nearby. It's a cute little town with a not so pretty beach, but the sand is soft between my toes. read more

Beautiful beach, it's clean, has lots of benches to sit on and just enjoy the ocean. Fun place to walk your dog, check out the funky shops and great assortment of places to eat. Parking is never a problem, with the large public parking area, just up the street. This is a fun and relaxing beach, with a much more mellow vibe than the Santa Cruz beach. read more

Capitola State Beach - Beaches Near Me - Capitola, California

Went here during Labor Day weekend. Despite the crowd here it was so beautiful and relaxing with nice weather. What better way to spend a day with family and friends! read more

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I really really love this beach. I always come here to have a good time with friends and family and there are never really any problems. The only reason I gave -1 star is because when they have something going on they always close off everything even the parking lots that are still a bit of a distance away from the actual beach. This us nothing like the boardwalk. It's not ghetto. Plus the pizza my heart right next to this beach is a big big plus. The best pizza my heart in my opinion. I really wish I was closer than I used to be. =\ Do NOT go to the boardwalk. Come here! read more

Ever since I was a little girl, I have been coming to this beach. This is also where I had one of my first dates with my now husband... this place has lots of memories. Parking is a pain unless you come early. Be prepared to walk for half a mile or more. There are lots of parking meters and a big parking lot behind the police station. read more

Came here on a Friday. It was pretty crowded. People don't pick up their garbage, so there were chip bags flying around everywhere, and seagulls getting uncomfortably close. I really liked how close the restrooms were to the beach. So convenient! Of course they were dirty, but really what do you expect from a beach restroom. The beach was also so close the some absolutely adorable shops. Definitely walking distance to some restaurants and an ice cream parlor! This would make for a wonderful date with your sweetie, or a fun family day with the kids! read more

Reviewing this is weird. If you are in Capitola. and you go to the beach, you will obviously end up at this beach. That being said, with the grace of Capitola being a small town, this is a badass beach. Don't drive here.. walk here from wherever you are staying, ate lunch, etc. You will not park. Ever. Dogs rock. They are welcome here. Sooo cute, and I betray my gentler side with such silly descriptions. read more

I've been here several times before with good experiences. Unfortunately the annoyances started to add up on an easy breezy Sunday. First of all parking is insane. There are a couple of small unconnected parking lots. Your best bet is to park five or more blocks away within the residential area for unlimited parking. Better yet, get here early. The shops are your usual assortment of beach tourist shops. Nothing really special. But you're here for the beach right? I don't remember there being so much seaweed! There was a ton of seaweed in the water and on the shore. It doesn't help when there are a billion flies hovering over certain patches of sun scorched seaweed. I don't really mind the stuff, but it can awkwardly wrap around your body when you're in the water. I wouldn't trust my kids to go deep in the water. The beach is okay. Underneath the water are a lot of coarse rocks and mangled seaweed. If you have water shoes you might want to bring them. Note there aren't any rinsing stations. The amount of children was a bit chaotic. I get that it's labor day weekend but wow, this was like the complete television run of "Rugrats". Please don't let your kids run naked all over the beach. Even though I still had a pleasant time with the live music and nice people, I long for a beach formed more by nature than by man. Driving this far out you'd expect some kind of solace. Instead Capitola gives me the same feeling as Halloween time in the Castro. read more

Great Family Fun at the Beach! I'm an Arizona Girl so BRRRR the beach was COLD!! I'm used to warmer climates at the beach like in San Diego- but I have spent time in Oregon enough to appreciate a beautiful setting. This is one of those. Though the weather wasn't above 80 degrees my entire visit, I was still able to soak in the rays and enjoy the ocean. It was a bit kelpy- is that a word? I dont think so! They didn't start clearing Kelp until the day we were leaving so it was EVERYWHERE. My daughter enjoyed pulling it out of the sea and onto the beach, so no complaints here. But some might not enjoy it, if not then I would say to wait until Mid to late June to visit. The little beach town of Capitola is what makes this beach! Lots of shops and local restaurants give this beach character! I loved people watching and walking through all the shops- everyone was friendly! Can't wait to come back and spend more time in Capitola! read more

Capitola State Beach - Digging for sandcrabs! - Beaches Near Me - Capitola, California

It was the first time to go this beach. It was small and cozy but i liked this beach more than santa cruz beach. One bad thing was parking. But other than that i will go back if the weather is getting hotter in summer. read more

This is a CUTE little beach town unlike Santa Cruz. They have a lot of little cute shops and restaurants. The beach itself is pretty small, but the sand is clean and nice and if you go during the week, you can easily find parking (don't forget to bring quarters for the meter). Capitola is really relaxing and you feel like you are miles and miles away from anywhere even remotely close to home! This is definitely a place to take guests, or go there yourself, if you've never been! read more

Omg, this beach is gorgeous! My friend and I want on an spontaneous adventure today and decided to come here since my friend read good yelp reviews. We got here and saw the view. In addition to, historic bridge in the area. The only problem was finding parking because we came here around 1230pm on a Saturday (today). Hardly ever parking. Next time, we know to come super early! I'm still giving this place a 5-star because of the gorgeous beach as it is. And it's location is surrounded by little shops. It's really pretty. read more

I went here with my cousin because we wanted to pass time. The colorful buildings are beautiful. The beach was a bit crowded but that's not a problem. There is a lifeguard on duty. The stores and colors made it seem as if I were in a Spanish country. Love that! The stores and restaurants around are a bit overpriced, but what do you expect? I parked in a parking lot nearby for $0.50 an hour. You pay at the pay machine before you go out. You decided how long you will be staying and pay. If you want more time, you just go back to the pay machine ( I assume). Overall, it is a nice beach. read more

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