Capitola, CA

While in Santa Cruz, we decided to go exploring and ended up in Capitola, CA.  That's where the B Man's boss lives and we were going to meet up to go to lunch.  Little did we know that it was the annual Capitola Begonia Festival and the place was PACKED.  Lots of people, sand castles, flowers and floats were everywhere.  Capitola was a cute little town with several restaurants around the water. I don't think I'd make a second visit because I'm not a beach town kind of girl, but I'm sure there are plenty of people who are!

It was SO weird for me to see people swimming in the ocean with full on body suits!  Guess I'm too used to the East Coast where the water is warm.  I can't imagine how cold the water was! NO THANKS!

Pretty cool sand castles!

Some of the boats out in the water

The view from the end of the pier

I just thought these kayaks' colors were so beautiful!

Santa Cruz, CA

After driving down US 1, we arrived in Santa Cruz!  I had been itching to get out of the city with the B Man because I'm getting worried we may have to leave next summer and I don't want to miss anything on my bucket list!  Well, technically, I wanted to go to Monterey but he won out with Santa Cruz.  Oh well. Compromise, right?

So we arrived in Santa Cruz and immediately set out to explore.  The picture above is from the pier. From their website, "The family-operated Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk has been entertaining guests by the beach since 1907.  One of the last of the classic seaside amusement parks in the United States, the Boardwalk is considered one of the best seaside amusement parks in the world."

SO MANY SEA LIONS!!!

This one is straight chillin! I guess they can jump pretty high to get up on that beam (you can't really tell how far away the water is)

More views from the boardwalk. That tall thing in the middle is a ride where they take you to the top and let you drop...NO THANKS.

Hidin out!

There's even a train! The Santa Cruz Big Trees & Pacific train "operates passenger and freight services on one of the oldest and most historic lines in California. When the route opened in 1875 it carried lumber as well as picnickers and tourists to the Big Trees and Santa Cruz. Today's Beach Train passengers can start their roundtrip journeys from either Roaring Camp in Felton or from the beach in Santa Cruz."

They have several fun rides along the boardwalk