Weekend Road Trip: Capitola, California

Capitola California

 

Capitola, California is located in Santa Cruz County on Monterey Bay. In the early 1960s, a large group of normally passive birds began attacking Capitola residents and tourists.

Nearby Santa Cruz was a favorite vacation spot for a well-known movie director. He’d read about the bird attacks and decided to make a movie about it. The director’s name was Alfred Hitchcock. The movie…The Birds.

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One of my favorite spots in the world…

10 replies
  1. Terry
    Terry says:

    Waving hello from Colorado Springs — Lee was great despite his pinched nerve and cold. Wonderful ‘cop stuff’ workshops. I’ll be hanging here with family for a few more days. I’ve got some pix of Bodega Bay — I’ll see if I can get them to Lee when I get home to my ‘real’ computer. No birds though.

  2. BeckyLevine
    BeckyLevine says:

    Hey, if you go sort of past all those colorful little houses and out onto the pier, you get to one of our favorite restaurants. Good, solid food and an incredible view. If you’re prone to easy seasickness, though, you may want to check out the weather. In good winds (tides??), the dock and the restaurant have a definite sway to them.

  3. martha-alderson
    martha-alderson says:

    As far as I know, the movie was filmed in Bodega Bay (North Bay Area). I remember as a kid (jeez, that really dates me!), going on a picnic with my family. I was petrified the entire time that the birds were going to attack.

    I wonder if the little school house on the hill still stands.

    Hey, Lee, thanks again for letting me post earlier in the week. Lots of fun….

    Hope you’re feeling better.

  4. Lee Lofland
    Lee Lofland says:

    Monty – I don’t know if the movie was filmed there or not. I just know the story was based on that particular event.

    Elena – The birds had consumed a toxic red algae, and that’s what caused their odd behavior.

    We loved that area.

    By the way, I’m slow responding this weekend because I’m at the Pikes Peak Writers Conference in Colorado Springs. It’s a really nice conference, too.

  5. Elena
    Elena says:

    Had no idea “The Birds” was based on a real situation – amazing. And what a lovely place, I do hope the birds are back to being peaceful. I spent a summer running from a mocking bird that took umbrage to me. Even would knock my hat off.

  6. Monty McCord
    Monty McCord says:

    Hey Lee,

    I wondered where the movie “The Birds” was filmed. I find it interesting to see some of the locations of movies.

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