David Lyng

Living in Capitola California

At four square miles in size and a population of approximately 10,000, Capitola, California - at least physically - is the smallest of the four cities in Santa Cruz County.

Capitola, California calls itself the oldest seaside resort on the Pacific, and it still retains some of its longtime prestige. When the railroad was built in the 1860s - the high trestle is visible from almost anywhere in town - the town became a fashionable watering place for the elite of San Francisco, some of whom stayed at the Capitola Hotel. Those not lucky enough to have reservations there or to own one of the ornate homes, some of which remain, vacationed on the strand in rented tents.

Back in the '50s - and even the '60s - Capitola Village was likened to a sleepy little Mediterranean fishing village. Nestled between two bluffs with the Pacific Ocean at its feet, the village seemed to bask lazily in the sunshine. But there is a spirit of independence that has pushed and guided the city's growth and development. It is that spirit that brought Capitola, California its regional shopping mall. It's that same spirit that rebuilt the 127 year-old wharf and restored the village when there were more "vacancy" signs than businesses.

The city - led by its five member City Council - retains that spirit today. Police protection is so good, in fact, that the biggest complaints involve charges of too many police officers.

Capitola, California became known as the "Begonia Capitol of the World" in the 1950s and '60s when the two largest begonia growers in the nation located here. Both are still operating in Capitola, California, although the acres of begonia fields that used to grace the city are long gone. The two Antonelli Brothers and Brown Bulb Ranch still combine to grow 99 percent of the begonias in the United States.

Capitola California's last fling with summer is the Begonia Festival, when boats and floats covered with begonias parade down the charming river that winds its way throughout Capitola Village.

For more information about living in Capitola California visit David Lyng Real Estate's Website.

Living in Aptos and Rio Del Mar California

Aptos and Rio Del Mar, with their rich heritages from the days of the Spanish dons, are known today more for redwood-shrouded homes and comfortable life-styles. Aptos Seascape offers a championship golf center in Rio Del Mar. There are three modern shopping centers, as well as quaint Aptos Village, which features upscale shopping. Aptos has a population of approximately 25,000. The largest state park around - 10,000 acre Nisene Marks - is also located in Aptos. And the area's curiosity piece, the cement ship "Palo Alto," sits off Seacliff State Beach.

Aptos and Rio Del Mar are located in the middle of Santa Cruz County, between the two largest cities, Santa Cruz and Watsonville. Both are unincorporated - Aptos generally being defined as north of Highway 1, leading into the foothills; Rio Del Mar on the other side of the freeway, ending at the ocean.

Development along Beach Drive in Rio Del Mar - where million-dollar houses are common today didn't begin until 1935. Plans to develop the area were impaired by the Depression. The golf course, however, was built in the late 1920s. Beach homes sprang up around 1937 when Rio Del Mar began to grow as a recreational center for San Jose-area residents. The old Aptos Beach Inn - long the major structure along the mid-county beach - was destroyed by fire in 1963. The Shore Del Mar condominium apartments are in its place today.

A landmark today, as well as more than a century ago, is the Hotel Bay View in Aptos Village. It was built by Aptos' first postmaster, Jose Arnao, and has housed the likes of Lillian Russell and King Kalakaua. The three-story, 11,000 square foot hotel looks much the same as it always did. The Victorian architecture blends well with the rest of the village - even the newer shopping center of Aptos Station.

Lack of visitors is not a problem for Seacliff State Beach at the coast. Some 600,000 beachgoers use the facilities there annually. Besides excellent camping facilities, Seacliff is known most for its cement ship.

For more information on living in Aptos and Rio Del Mar California visit David Lyng Real Estate's Website.

Living in Santa Cruz County California

For more than a century, Santa Cruz County's favored climate, beautiful scenery, and abundant leisure-time diversions have drawn new residents and vacationers alike. The county's seaside meadows and mountain forests hug the often-rugged coast at the northern curve on the Monterey Bay- about 60 miles south of San Francisco. Inland, the region borders on the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains, which form a portion of the California Coast Ranges.

Stretching over 439 square miles with a population of approximately 240,000, Santa Cruz is California's second smallest county after San Francisco and one of the state's oldest. Northwest of Santa Cruz, the county seat, fields are planted with brussels sprouts and artichokes or left for the native grasses, fleshy succulents, and wildflowers. South of the city, growing residential and resort communities, protected by Monterey Bay, alternate with state beaches offering access to sandy shores. Where the Pajaro River divides Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, the fertile alluvial soils produce an abundance of strawberries, lettuce, and apples. Inland areas are the steep, redwoodcovered slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains, cut into occasional valleys by sparkling streams.

The county's economy is dominated by agriculture in the Pajaro Valley around Watsonville and by tourism in the city of Santa Cruz and the adjacent mid-county area.

Throughout the 1990s, and into the next century, tourism, agriculture, and manufacturing will lead as the county's primary source of income.

For more information on living in Santa Cruz County visit David Lyng's Website.