The city of Capitola is a small seaside town on Monterey Bay’s northern coast. Located just two hours from San Francisco, Capitola is a popular site for weekend beach getaways.The exact origins of the city are often up for debate among historians, making Capitola an interesting spot for those who love delving into local historical mysteries. Historians do agree that a seaside resort called “Camp Capitola” opened sometime between 1860-1870 on Monterey Bay. However, what they disagree on is what year the resort was founded, the origin of the name Capitola, and exactly who named it and when.