Capitola Beach, CA

Capitola Beach is a little bit south of Santa Cruz and, in my opinion, one of the most picturesque beach towns in Northern California. The town itself is tiny and consists of mostly vacation homes and cottages for rent. It tends to get a bit more sunshine than its neighbors to the south, Carmel and Pacific Grove. It's very popular as a weekend getaway destination and hence can be quite crowded on Saturdays and Sundays, especially during the warmer months. Parking is mostly metered, but if you're willing to walk a bit, you can probably find a free parking spot in the neighborhoods a bit farther away from the beach or along Cliff Drive. At one time a small colony of Italian immigrants settled here, so it really has a Mediterranean feel to it; the colorful, quaint downtown is full of boutiques, art galleries, surf shops, cafes, restaurants, and bars. 

Recently I headed to the coast with my friends and spent the day lounging in the soft, white sand of Capitola Beach. The day started out with a bit of fog, but it disappeared quickly and blue skies and sunshine stayed with us the rest of the day. 

Come take a look around...

The view from Cliff Drive...

 The old wharf was built in 1857...

 The popular beach area...

 There is a boat rental facility and a restaurant at the end of the wharf...

 A memorial flower...

 Boats for rent...the fishing is supposedly quite good here...

Bring your bikes...

 Memorial plaques...

 The pretty beach...

 The colorful Venetian Hotel - a popular place to stay...

 Soquel Creek and the old railroad trestle...

 Waterfront restaurants...

 The downtown shopping district...

 More vacation rentals...

Private parking under the trestle...

 Colorful houses line the streets...

 A view from the wharf...

Carmel was once my favorite beach getaway. Then it was Morro Bay. Now I think I'm smitten with Capitola. Ahhhh...life's a beach!

Click HERE to see shots from my visit here a couple of years ago.

Lake Tahoe

A few weeks ago my friend invited me to spend a long weekend with her and a few other friends at her timeshare in Kingsbury near the south shore of Lake Tahoe. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity. 

Lake Tahoe and its surroundings offer some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. I'm lucky to live within a reasonable driving distance of such a lovely spot. Beautiful Lake Tahoe has it all: sun, sand and water - albeit freezing - forests, mountains, and meadows, gambling, hiking, boating and skiing. You won't get bored in this place! Our getaway weekend consisted of a little bit of hiking and sightseeing and lots of eating, drinking, and laughing. 

Here's a peek at the sights I photographed...

Almost there...

  There she is!

 Our condo for the weekend...

 View out the living room window...

 Panoramic shot of the lake...

 A beach along the south shore...

 Boats for rent...

 A private beach we stumbled upon...

 Near Zephyr Cove, Nevada...

 Zephyr Cove beach...

 The free beach just north of Zephyr Cove...

 Hiking through the forest and meadows...

 Don't miss out on Inspiration Point...

 Aspen trees and flowers...

 The gondola heading up the mountain...

 The sunset from the condo parking lot...

Remember - keep Tahoe blue!

Placerville, CA

Placerville, formerly known as Hangtown, is now the county seat of El Dorado County in the Sierra Nevada foothills. It's situated right alongside Highway 50, so if you're headed to South Lake Tahoe, you'll pass right by it. If you've never been there before, be sure to make a stop and check it out. It has a colorful historic downtown filled with shops, cafes, and lots of art galleries displaying the work of local talent. 

Back in its day, Placerville was the hub for all the mining operations in the Mother Lode region. Hence, the moniker "Hangtown;" apparently, the town saw its share of hangings during the Gold Rush era. It's now registered as a California Historical Landmark and has several buildings listed on the National Register of Historical Places. Here's a glimpse of downtown Placerville...

Historic Main Street...

The Old Belltower...

Historic Main Street...

Inside an art gallery...

Here's where all the hangings took place...

Confidence Hall (on the left) was the first fire station...

Outside the Court House...

In spite of its higher elevation, the area east of the town is increasingly becoming a quality wine producing region and is home to some notable wineries. So try a bit of wine tasting after you've strolled through the downtown!