Great place to walk around and enjoy the ocean views of Santa Cruz if you aren't interested in the…read moreboardwalk. Check out the surf museum and the lighthouse and watch all the surfers in steamer lane!!

No indoor seating but it's a great cafe with a fun and eclectic menu, want to try the kimchi…read morequesadilla next time. Coffee had a great flavor and was strong. Everything is surprisingly well priced too. Plenty of benches outside and out and about around the lighthouse.

Parking 808 Bay Ave in the Nob Hill parking lot near the back of the store. Nice easy walk. Good…read moretemperature because of clouds and shade because of the many many trees. I don't think it ever gets hot here. Looking good.

Rispin Mansion Capitola CA Sat 10/30/21…read more The Rispin Mansion in Capitola California is a historic mansion, registered on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. I've been at this site countless times over the years, oh how I regret not to have posted my previously taken photos, lost in the mists of time (and annals of my old laptops somewhere)! Wish I had a review written back in a day. And I'll tell you why, in a second. Around 75% of the Rispin Mansion had been destroyed by fire about 10 years ago. It was soon after the Capitola City Council approved a 55-year lease that would repair the grounds and turn it into a 25-room boutique hotel, back in May of 2009. The project was billed at $14 million, however, just before the construction started, a fire broke out. And now you know the rest of the story! So the grounds are fenced with the chicken wire and abandoned on the day of my today's visit on Saturday October 30, 2021. The building was constructed in 1921 by San Franciscan Henry Allen Rispin. It was built with four stories, 22 rooms, and over 7,100 square feet, on the grounds of what was called "Camp Capitola". Described as being "cursed," Rispin Mansion was first used as a real-estate showroom, and then, at various times, as a residence, a nunnery, a SWAT practice ground, and even as a ghost hunting site! Why is it on the National Register, what's historic about it? Well, I'm glad that you asked. It's because Henry Allen Rispin was one of the founding fathers of Capitola. He saw its large potential as a vacation spot and tourist attraction. Rispin owned or controlled most of the land in the new city of Capitola. During the Great Depression, he lost his fortune and had to sell the mansion. It went to his business partner Robert Hays Smith through foreclose, then got sold to the Oblates of St. Joseph and became a convent, until 1959. For many decades thereafter, Rispin Mansion stayed unoccupied, neglected, vandalized with graffiti, ghosted. That is until the city purchased the property in 1985 for mere $1.35 million and eventually placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. It attracts supernatural interest from the ghost hunters who visit the property during the middle of the night, to film the paranormal activities. So I thought it was most fitting to pen my review on Halloween 2021 to bring your attention to Rispin Mansion and its ghosts of the past. Cheers! Review #654 posted with 6 pictures on October 30, 2021 Rispin Mansion Capitola CA Sat 10/30/21 ® It don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that swing doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah It don't mean a thing all you got to do is sing doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah It makes no difference If it's sweet or hot Just give that rhythm Everything you've got Rispin Mansion Capitola CA Sat 10/30/21

A great spot for views and a small walk. There is a shop towards the end, benches, and spots to…read morefish. There are families that setup here for the day, and its such a nice environment.

North Pier Capitola Wharf CA Sat 10/30/21…read more One fine day to enjoy the shore and immerse into the sounds of calm waters, gentle clouds, and blue skies. Watching waves breaking at an angle to the shoreline and generating long current, water moving onto the beach and then retreating, in a continuous cycle. As long as the waves hit the shoreline, we are fine! North Pier is next to Capitola Venetian Hotel & Capitola Beach Suites where relaxation meets the sea. Or so they say, if you found a parking spot LOL. There isn't anywhere to park on Wharf road, Stockton avenue, or in the downtown area - Capitola Village. You can park in the Upper Village on Capitola Ave, and walk down to the beach, it's a nice short stroll. Turn right to Stockton Ave, then cross the bridge over Soquel Creek, to Cliff Drive and Wharf Road. There's your North Pier! Enjoy! Cheers! Review #653 posted with 7 pictures on October 30, 2021 North Pier Capitola CA Sat 10/30/21 Well I never kept a dollar past sunset It always burned a hole in my pants Never made a school mama happy Never blew a second chance, oh no I need a love to keep me happy I need a love to keep me happy Baby, baby keep me happy Baby, baby keep me happy Capitola Wharf North Pier Sat 10/30/21

Quality/Quantity - Fun city, I actually enjoy it more than Santa Cruz now. But that might change…read moreif/when I have more little ones in my life. Of course, they are known for their beaches. Other things to do: Breweries, wineries, restaurants, etc. History, museums, parks, etc. Other things to do that I have less interest in: Art, etc. Only an hour to two from the Bay Area, depending on traffic. Nearby cities are: Santa Cruz, Monterey, Carmel, Los Gatos. Atmosphere - 1.68 square miles with 0.08 water. But also next to the ocean. 2024 population = 9456 (US Census). Cut and pasted from the internet, the current landmark with a recent facelift: "The Venetian Court sits on the beach just east of the pier and is on the Register of National Historic Places as "The first Condominium Beach Community in the United States, built in 1924." Service - Depends on what you do, eat, or drink. Price - Depends on what you do, eat, or drink. We did both local and tourist stuff on this visit. Overall prices are reasonable, slightly above average. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 1949.

City of Capitola is one of the smaller towns in Monterey Bay, but still significant. Whether you're…read morevacationing here or a local it has a lot to offer including some great beaches, one of which is Capitola Village. Also there's the Capitola Mall, which now may not be in its days of glory, but still offers much shopping. 41st Ave is also an area offering a ton of stores all the down to the beach. If you can afford to live here this a great option away from the busy streets of Santa Cruz.

Live music 3rd sat is great: Ashley Lloyd 5:30-7:30. Good acoustic…read more Honestly, I did not like any of the 6 beers that I tasted in the sampler flight. But there are about 6 more that I will try later. And the live music was good. Parking is OK; they have a lot of spaces in the back.

Location is secluded but it's at your Discretion, . Once you enter the parking lot entrance for the…read morestreet keep your eyes to the right and look for the tall red Barn wall, you can't miss the sign. We were kindly greeted by Rochelle who helped up with our desired libation. I loved the ambiance and am so happy the day was shiny and pleasant because we sat outside to take in the fresh air. Of course there's overflow seating here because they also have a plentiful menu and kitchen to cater to your culinary appitite. We ordered the Uncle David RIPA, which went don't smoothly, is all I can say. Take a load off, kick your feet up, and grab a book (they have a cute Book Nook inside) and relax and grab a bite and a brew. CHEERS!!

We haven't been to Lillians in a couple of years, and the quality has declined. We ordered bread…read morewith tapenade to start. While the tapenade was good, the bread seemed like tough grocery store bread. My husband's chicken was so dry, he had trouble chewing it. I ordered the salmon on risotto special. While the salmon was tasty, the risotto was sitting in a pool of olive oil. We were very disappointed.

The food hit the spot. I had the chicken Parmesan on a bed of rigatoni noodles and marinara. It was…read moredelicious. The service was very friendly. I was seated right away. I thought it was going to be a wait because the place was packed. The table service was very friendly and always timely. She checked backed on me more than just taking the initial order. Since the place was packed it was pretty loud inside. You could still hear the piano music in the background. Next time I am back in town, I will definitely recommend Lillian's for a dinner for the team I work with. I know they will enjoy it as much as I did.

I visited this museum, in December of 2025. And it is almost Valentine's Day, 2026 so I am late to…read morerecord my experience, I understand that. But I rather take down the Christmas on Super Bowl weekend than wait to take the lights down near the 4th of July. I went to this place on my first trip to Santa Cruz. And I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of this place, and its focus on Santa Cruz Culture. Thorough out my life, I have heard that Santa Cruz is known for crystals, and forest green. But on my trip here, I learned that Santa Cruz is also famous for surfer culture, As some of the pictures, demonstrate surf boards, like cups, hair styles, and volcanoes, come in a variety of lengths, shapes, colors and purpose. I also learned that surfing has its origins from Hawaii, and even though I did not know that, it totally makes sense. I will never be on a surf board, catching a big wave, while the breeze hits my face, and pelicans fly above, but by visiting this museum I learned the historical value of the surf movement that waved hello, initially, in Santa Cruz by way of Hawaii. My favorite room was that one that reflected the beach and ocean vibe of Santa Cruz in place. The room was colored in a deep blue that did not resemble clear waters, more like the deep blue that is found when the ocean seems to be infinite. I am not sure the exact shade of blue that the room was painted in, but I will call it calming serenity blue, which is a close cousin to royal blue. If popcorn yellow and burnt cocoa brown are colors than mine can be colored too, I do not need Crayola level authority to christen colors. The pictures in the room continued my trance into serenity. The paintings showed these peaceful seascapes, where sky and sea became partners in a waltz, not interwoven as one, but paired into slow movement that induces stillness upon the viewer. Other pictures showed a calm beach, where the shore water had white froth as it met the sand. In the background, there was a rock formation and behind the rock formation was a tranquil sky brighten by subtle hues of a descending sun. Even as I reviewed the pictures for this yelp, I found the paintings to be, in a phrase: rest in ocean and pastel candy colored strokes. The room also had a speaker that played the sounds of the ocean, quietly about a chair. I allowed myself to transport myself to a beach shore, to experience the colors of the sea breeze. The museum also tried to educate others on its place in USA farm produce history. One of the pictures discusses the migration pattern by stating, "Today Mexican men, women and children cross the border voluntarily- but at great risk of violence and rape." This is just my opinion, but this sentence, is too broad yet to specific at the same time to accurately paint a picture of the migration experience of many Mexicans and by extension other people who seek to come to America to fulfill their version of the American dream. The way it is written, again from my interpretation, implies that the choice to come to America is one that is a "voluntary" decision like skipping or going to the gym, or using a credit card for a jacket when it does not fit your means. Meaning, that the word voluntary may ignore the vast conditions that push others to migrate, other than personal choice. But this is just one Yelper's opinion, if that makes sense. In another, poster, which I clipped, explains how Santa Cruz goes alternative. The poster explains that "Santa Cruz became a cauldron of cultural experimentation, neighborhood activism, intellectual exploration and environmental protection in the 1960s and 1970s." I think that the word cauldron here is not the right choice because a cauldron most often then not, holds a witches brew. And, most witches brews that are mixed in a cauldron, are meant to produce a potion that results in some type of calamity or curse. I know I may be nitpicking, but if a museum is going to report history, they should be prepared for a response, as history should be reported with objective caution, not editorial perspective. A better word, again in my opinion, would be site, like Santa Cruz became a site of.... this gives objective reporting, as a posed to imagery that a word like cauldron produces. I think, and thus I write. Angela Davis, said, according to a poster, I also clipped, " I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change, I am changing the things I cannot accept." I also really enjoyed playing with Christmas train models for about 10 to 15 minutes. I was not transported into the Polar Express, but, it was fun to turn on cabooses and view their speed and stops through the tracks. It was a zen kind of moment. The museum also had a sculpture garden and a picture of a man in front of a giant redwood that made me want to find a giant tree and walk inside its tunnel. I guess, what I am trying to say is that this museum has a lot to see and ponder about. I was stirred, and calmed, by it.

What a great find while visiting downtown Santa Cruz with my girlfriend! Such a relaxing experience…read morevisiting this museum, it wasn't busy and the exhibits are very simple. You really get to learn about the history of Santa Cruz and the surrounding cities. It was three floors and wasn't a crazy big museum. I enjoyed it a lot and it was affordable to enjoy. Definitely can be a cool add to your itinerary for Santa Cruz. Bathrooms are a bit spooky though haha, they are super dim and is very ominous! Could barely go anymore once I walked in.

I too have many memories in my youth on this side of the sinking Cement Boat. While my family had…read moreproperty on the other side, I liked the beach here just a little bit better. The waves tend to be larger, but there are more jellyfish. Also for some reason, you can find Sand Dollars on this side, but not on the other side. The beach is largely private, but I believe there are some picnic areas. The Cement Boat is called the USS Palo Alto, and is one of only 3 cement ships to be built for World War 1. I have been on a small portion of this ship before they closed the enitre ship for safety.

This beach is really nice. However, it is not a place for bonfires. The pits are in the back…read moretowards the bathroom, and parking lot, AND then it's separated by this weird growing puddle of water that all the nasty seagulls are hanging out in. The beach itself is beautiful! And you can set up your gear not too far from the water. Instead of some beaches where you can barely see your things if you go out into the water. It's a nice place for all... Families... couples... Definitely a nice place to have a picnic. Boogie boards, skim boards. You will have a good time. It's a nice place hidden away in a residential area. The parking lot is really small. We were fortunate enough to get there early, but if you come later in the day you may have to park up the hill, and walk down. Which isn't so bad, but after a relaxing day at the beach, a climb uphill is something not everyone is happy to do, especially if you have small children...

My family and I make our way up to Santa Cruz once a year, and have an annual dinner over at…read moreTramonti. I look forward to having the Gnocchi Tricolore all 364 days of the year that I don't get to eat it. The outdoor patio is a great area, with a fan for warm evenings and space heaters for cooler nights. Although Tramonti lacks a kid's menu, the staff is accommodating to children, offering to adjust portion size of pizza and pasta dishes.

Ok definitely a date spot. The lights were dimmed, the vibe was very romantic. But definitely still…read morecan take family here as well as bigger groups. We made a reservation ahead of time because we saw that it can get a bit busy for dinner. But as soon as we got there, we were seated immediately. The staff were very knowledgeable and warm to us. We ordered the lasagna and fettuccine and we shared it. The portion sizes are huge! But definitely worth the money. One of my new favorite Italian spots to go to when I'm out in the area.