To the west, Capitola and Soquel meld into picturesque Santa Cruz with its own stretches of lovely beaches, redwood forests, National Marine Sanctuary, a major university, the famous Boardwalk, a Marina and Yacht Harbor, Municipal Wharf, a downtown with shops, restaurants and more movie screens per capita than any other coastal area. Beyond the redwoods less than an hour away is vibrant Silicon Valley and the cosmopolitan greater San Francisco Bay Area.

Capitola Village offers numerous art galleries, fashion boutiques, and both casual and upscale restaurants. For this small village, dining choices are vary from great hamburgers to Mexican food, Indian cuisine, and seafood. There is nighttime entertainment – jazz, blues, rock, grand opera, and more - in the village. Just up the river, the Shadowbrook Restaurant has an historic tram you can take down the hillside to the front door.

Capitola blends into Soquel and Aptos, where nature gives broad pastures and hillsides that climb to the summit of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Friendly residents enjoy fresh air in the little hometown neighborhoods sprinkled among the redwoods. These communities are home to many antique shops and emporiums. A concentration of fine restaurants in Soquel ranges from Thai to seafood, to Italian, and beyond.

The annual Begonia Festival takes place in Capitola, filling Soquel Creek with flower-draped floats created by local competitors. The incredible sand castle contest is a must-see.