State Hwy 1, Capitola

Cabrillo Highway in Soquel is basically a carbon copy of its southern neighbor in Aptos, except with one major difference: more traffic. Now granted, the 1 isn't exactly known for being California's busiest interstate, but Soquel does see its fair share of commuters coming in and going out in the morning.

The big disappointment here is that there are no beach or ocean views, which is unusual for this interstate. However, the beach is never too far off, and Soquel has some cute restaurants and coffee shops, as well as some great hiking in the redwoods. None of this could be accessed without this important interstate running through.

Given that this is the primary freeway through this coastal town less than an hour from Silicon Valley, there can be congestion. Fortunately, it is not nearly as bad here as it is in nearby Santa Cruz. The highway is relatively easy to navigate and parallels Soquel Drive, which has several good restaurants and coffee shops.

The town is not tremendously exciting, but the beaches are pretty and nearby Santa Cruz offers plenty of restaurants and nightlife.

As far as highways go, this one isn't too bad - the one drawback is that it is incredibly close to the beach but does not offer beach visibility.