Santa Cruz & Capitola

stepper77 · #1 Posted: **Dec 4, 2007, 6:33 PM**

Capitola

Before I head into Santa Cruz, I thought I'd make a stop in the small seaside town of Capitola, a city of about 10,000 people along the Monterey Bay. I had never actually been there before until this past summer, but, it is a very cute, resort, touristy type town with a nice beach. Another great little California town.

Santa Cruz (pop 54,593)

Much like Monterey, its counterpart on the other side of the bay, Santa Cruz is much more than its main tourist destination, the Boardwalk.

A little religion...

Lots of beautiful old homes in Santa Cruz

Of course, no trip to Santa Cruz isn't complete without a stop at the beach and Boardwalk (please excuse the smudge on my lens!).

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Tour of California

1: Los Angeles, 2: Hollywood, Glendale, Pasadena, Beverly Hills, 3: Riverside, Santa Ana, Long Beach, 4: San Jose, 5: San Diego, 6: Fresno, 7: Stockton, Modesto, 8: Gold Country, 9: Eureka, Arcata, 10: Monterey, Carmel

LAsam · #2 Posted: **Dec 4, 2007, 9:08 PM**

Absolutely beautiful. I'm loving your "Tour of California." Does Santa Cruz has a college town feel to it at all? I'm wondering how much of a presence UC Santa Cruz has up there.

stepper77 · #3 Posted: **Dec 4, 2007, 10:31 PM**

Thank you very much, this has been a great excuse to explore places I've never been to or really taken the time to see.

Personally, I don't think that Santa Cruz has a "college town" feel to it at all. Maybe because it is such a tourist destination. It has a more "bohemian" feel to it more than anything. Perhaps it's because UCSC is a smaller campus (enrollment wise) and is a bit away from the heart of the city. Here is map to give you an idea:

I work for UC at Office of the President in Oakland and we don't hear a lot from UCSC, so, they seem to be a pretty quiet campus.

peanut gallery · #4 Posted: **Dec 5, 2007, 12:03 AM**

Another great set, Stepper!

You caught a glimpse of the tressle featured in Lost Boys:

There are only two of them, but somehow everyone's picture of the sky-buckets (or whatever you call these things) manges to catch one of the "cave-couple":

Wheelingman04 · #5 Posted: **Dec 5, 2007, 1:28 AM**

Phenominal photos!!

OhioGuy · #6 Posted: **Dec 5, 2007, 2:30 PM**

It's just sooooo gorgeous. I absolutely LOVE coastal California! Thanks for the great photos of the cities around the Monterey Bay area. They've been fab to see.

SLO · #7 Posted: **Dec 5, 2007, 6:19 PM**

Really great shots, again.....
Santa Cruz was "our beach", growing up, but as kids never really ventured into downtown. They have done a great job with the downtown area, really nice.
Bohemian is a perfect description of Santa Cruz....

Go Banana Slugs.....

Yankeebiscuitfan · #8 Posted: **Dec 5, 2007, 6:47 PM**

I visited Sta. Cruz once and I wasn't bewildered. But I totally missed the part that you showed us.

Capitola will be a place that I will visit next year.

And a rerun for Sta. Cruz.

ltsmotorsport · #9 Posted: **Dec 5, 2007, 7:04 PM**

Mmmmmmmmmmm, Pizza My Heart.

skylife · #10 Posted: **Dec 5, 2007, 7:22 PM**

Absolutely fantastic. Those stucco buildings in Capitola are great. I'd love to live in one!

ady26 · #11 Posted: **Dec 5, 2007, 7:51 PM**

Juicy spots!

denveraztec · #12 Posted: **Dec 8, 2007, 7:01 AM**

Sweet shots of a great place!

yerfdog · #13 Posted: **Dec 11, 2007, 4:33 AM**

Beautiful pictures. I really liked Santa Cruz both times I've been there.

I've driven past Capitola, but never into it.

edit: Peanut Gallery, what do you mean about the cave couple?

salvius · #14 Posted: **Dec 11, 2007, 5:13 AM**

Santa Cruz looks lovely. I'm less impressed with the boardwalk, though.

edluva · #15 Posted: **Dec 11, 2007, 6:05 AM**

i love coastal norcal. so much character. the trip from SF down PCH has unbeatable coastal scenery.

peanut gallery · #16 Posted: **Dec 11, 2007, 7:48 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by yerfdog

Peanut Gallery, what do you mean about the cave couple?

On the ride that takes you over the boardwalk, two of the seats have mannequins in them: one is a caveman, the other a cavewoman. The caveman is in the blue seat approaching the nearest tower in the photo I referenced. They added them many years ago (in the early 80's if I remember correctly) and I always look for them in photos of the boardwalk for some strange reason.

Maybe just to see if they're still there.

Top Of The Park · #17 Posted: **Dec 11, 2007, 8:46 AM**

....looks like a real livable place