Santa Cruz County City Among Top 30 Charming Beach Towns

CAPITOLA, CA — Stunning coastline and the iconic and bright Venetian Court units along the city's most popular beach earned Capitola its spot on TravelMag's top 30 most charming beach towns in the U.S.

Carmel-by-the-Sea also made the cut. The Monterey Bay cities were hanging with such charmers as Key West, Fla., Cape May, New Jersey and Hanalei, Hawaii, heralded for such attributes as "diversity and natural beauty."

Capitola was lauded for its beautiful beaches and proximity to New Brighton State Beach.

"California’s coastline, particularly the stretch between San Francisco and Los Angeles, is rightly lauded for its natural beauty," TravelMag wrote. "Throw a charming little city like Capitola into the mix and you have the recipe for a perfect beach getaway."

Carmel-by-the-Sea was noted for its rustic and refined air, Mission and stunning homes — the qualities that have drawn famed artists, writers and actors to the region throughout the decades.

"They are no doubt attracted, in part, by the white sand beach, scenic coastal paths and largely rural-Pacific feel to the city’s layout," TravelMag wrote. "It’s certainly easy to imagine visiting and never leaving."

See which other cities made the cut at TravelMag.