For a trendy, Tiburon-meets-Berkeley beach community, try Capitola. Monterey Avenue winds around downtown to the beach and is jam-packed with chic-yet-casual restaurants and oodles of coffee bars, as well as shops galore. So whether you're in the mood to swig a martini, sip an espresso or shop-til-you-drop, this is the place to be.

Capitola Beach is the only main beach in this area and is only about a mile long, so it can get very crowded in the peak tourist season (June to August). Being on Monterey Bay, the beach is protected from wind and waves, which makes for great swimming. For your safety, lifeguards are on duty from May through October. There is a great surf break near the far Southern end of the beach, which is perfect for longboarding. Volleyball is also a popular sport here and the nets are provided.

On a clear day, there is a great view of Monterey. Beach-goers will be happy to know that there are public restrooms and showers. There are no fires or camping allowed. Also, this is a people-only beach, no dogs allowed.

The one real pain about Capitola beach is the parking; it's scarce. For a more spacious beach, try Twin Lakes beach which is about half-way between Santa Cruz and Capitola, off Highway 1. It is a day-use only beach and campfires are allowed. However, there is only street parking available.

Attractions
Food, shopping, people-watching, volleyball, swimming.