eople like to ‘sleep in’ here, even if they usually get up early,” said Dan, the front desk manager at the Capitola Inn. Sleeping in sounded fine to us, since we’d come to Capitola for a quick, relaxing break from the workaday world of Silicon Valley.

We were familiar with Capitola, and its more famous neighbor Santa Cruz, already, so felt no rush to “see it all” in our one night stay. we wanted only to eat well, sleep well, and wander wherever our whim took us.

The Capitola Inn is set back on a hill just off a main road, quiet enough for a good night’s sleep, yet close to the area’s main attractions. The center of town (Capitola Village) is about half a mile away, next to the beach.

The Capitola Inn is set back on a hill, quiet enough for a good night's sleep, yet close to the area's main attractions.

Our first stop was just a few blocks from the inn for late lunch at the popular Gayle’s Bakery & Rosticceria. The atmosphere here is strictly casual; customers take a terrace: shared Peking chicken wings, a vegan roasted carrot sandwich, almond tarragon chicken salad, and, for dessert, a custard-filled éclair and two mini fruit tarts.

A small enclave of shops surrounds Gayle’s. Our favorite was Three Little Birds, which offers unique gifts for anyone with even the slightest interest in nature’s fine-feathered creatures. Unwilling to leave without some remnant of this quaint shop, I bought myself a $3 pack of what may be the world’s most beautiful emery boards, imprinted with bird designs.

Next we headed for the beach. While my friend took a long walk on the beach and explored the pier, I found the “prime property” of an unoccupied bench facing the beach, and settled in for a couple hours of ocean-gazing and people-watching. I also strolled along the beach wall, which is decorated with charming tiles painted by local residents, including children. Most tiles feature an ocean motif, but some are dedicated to “my dog” and other personal subjects.

Later, before heading back to the inn, we wandered around the village and noticed a small Mediterranean restaurant we’d never tried before. So, spurred on by a combination of convenience and curiosity, we entered Café Misk, where we discovered a cozy place with only four or five tables, delicate wrought-iron chandeliers, and original artwork on bright red and yellow walls.

The café closed at 6 pm, but we arrived in time to order two “garden fresh sandwiches” and homemade tiramisu, both tasty and just right for a light dinner. We were allowed to sit there after closing time without feeling rushed.

We considered pushing on for some nightlife, but the promise of a good night’s sleep at the Capitola Inn beckoned. We returned to our own little world, not at all sumptuous, but quite adequate for our needs: a spacious room with a small private patio, firm beds, pleasant décor, and amenities that included a TV, microwave, coffeemaker and refrigerator. The room was clean, comfortable, moderately-priced, and best of all, quiet. We did indeed sleep well into the next morning.

Capitola Inn: Tel: (831) 462-3004; www.thecapitolainn.com.

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