They were onto something in 1874.
A beach. A tent. A few days with nowhere else to be. Camp Capitola began with a simple invitation: come spend some time by the sea. More than 150 years later, the invitation holds.
Location
Above the beach. Part of the village.
Grand Avenue sits on Depot Hill overlooking Capitola, with the coast shaping the rhythm of each day.
The setting did much of the work.
Tucked between coastal bluffs, Capitola gathers around a beach where the village meets Monterey Bay. Sand, sea air and the pleasure of an unhurried afternoon have never needed much improvement.
Walk the wharf. Watch the waves. Find a place on the sand. Some of the best days here don’t require buying a thing.
The accommodations have come a long way.
You can leave the tent at home. Today, a stay here can mean a thoughtfully furnished coastal home, a private deck and a kitchen stocked with your favorites.
At Grand Avenue, original architecture meets carefully chosen materials and modern comforts. The pleasure of waking up beside the ocean is as enduring as ever.
And there’s more to come for.
A village of restaurants, independent shops and galleries. Local wine, seasonal celebrations and music by the beach. Pastries from Gayle’s for a slow morning, dinner at Trestles or Shadowbrook, and a table at Zelda’s when you want to stay close to the sand.
Make time for a massage. Browse a little longer. Discover the places you’ll want to return to tomorrow.
More from Gayle's Bakery on Instagram
The wider coast is yours to explore.
Capitola is part of Santa Cruz County, where surf culture, redwood forests and an independent spirit shape life along the coast.
Explore toward Opal Cliffs and Pleasure Point. Rent a boat from Capitola Wharf, or head to Santa Cruz Harbor for a sail aboard the O’Neill catamaran. Inland, the Forest of Nisene Marks offers another kind of escape, with shaded trails for hiking and designated routes for mountain biking.
There’s room to rest well—and plenty of reasons to get out and play.
Still close enough to make it part of your life.
For Silicon Valley and the wider Bay Area, Capitola is a coastal escape within driving reach. A place to return to, learn by heart and make your own.
Come often enough to find your favorite walk. Stay long enough to settle into a rhythm. Some days, let the beach and the view be the whole plan.
Make yourself at home at Grand Avenue.