New Brighton Beach 75th Anniversary Celebration, Capitola, Ca. Sooty Shearwater Migration featured
California is a celebration of life in many ways and forms. From the upcoming Capitola Art & Wine Festival, to the 75th anniversary celebration of the New Brighton Beach State Park, there is a lot to do in Santa Cruz County. If you just want to go to the beach, here is a list of some of the more popular Santa Cruz area beaches.
The festival celebrates the parks’ history and the migration celebration of the Sooty Shearwater. These birds migrate from New Zealand all the way to the Monterey Bay. Some migrate further even to Alaska and return at times through Japan doing a figure eight migration. Talks about frequent flier miles, these guys really go far, often covering in excess of 30,000 miles a year. These little birds, which sort of look like small dirty seagulls are seem around here swarming in vast circles, dive bombing the water for bait fish. I have seen their circles here almost a quarter of a mile long and so thick you can’t see through the other side. You can learn more of them at the Pacific Migration Center.
This celebration is free to the public and is a great economical and educational day to spend quality time with the family. This event has free parking. As with all beach outings, take layers of clothes as it can be hot or cold at the beach in the summer. This event includes free parking and has a night time sit around the bonfire. Call 831-464-5620 for more information. The event starts Saturday August 16th from 11AM till 8:30PM.
If you plan to go, be sure to take sun screen, a blanket, warm clothes, towels, thongs, and water and food.
If you want to pick up something nearby, here are a few places I’d recommend depending on where you are coming from. These places have good food and at the shopping centers you can get sunscreen as well.
Bittersweet Bistro Express- Rio Del Mar 831-662-9899 good bistro food
Safeway- Aptos -Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center, Aptos. Open 24 hours 831-688-2775 deli
Nob Hill Capitola 809 Bay Avenue, Capitola 95010 831-476-5600 deli
Gayle’s Bakery & Rosticceria Capitola 831.462.1200 good bistro food, a bit pricey
D’Anna’s Deli -Soquel-2841 Porter St, Soquel (831) 475-1436 good different sandwiches
If you want to take a walk down the beach to Seacliff or Rio Del Mar, you can eat at a few restaurants that are just up from the beach. Places that would be worth checking out are Manuals Mexican Restaurant (688-4848) in Seacliff or the new Italian Restaurant or Pizza 1 . If you walk a little further there is Café Rio in Rio Del Mar as well as a little coffee shop and the Seabreeze Tavern. You can whet you whistle with a beer and enjoy the ambiance of one of the older and more colorful bars in Rio Del Mar while overlooking the beach.
Enjoy your time at the beach in our lovely community.If you decide after a day at the beach that you want a beach house, explore my site www.propertyinsantacruz.com and search for a beach house or a oceanveiw condominium. Have fun!
Posted by: Gregg Camp
Categories:
Santa Cruz area living