Northern California's quirkiest beach towns

Capitola Started in the 1860s as a resort town, this Santa Cruz County town took a Mediterranean turn in the 1920s, with Venician-style stucco shacks in an array of pastel colors lining the coast. It’s also a popular surf spot, and apparently inspired Alfred Hitchcock’s "The Birds" when hundreds of birds attacked the town in 1961. Started in the 1860s as a resort town, this Santa Cruz County town took a Mediterranean turn in the 1920s, with Venician-style stucco shacks in an array of pastel colors lining the coast. It’s also a popular surf spot, and apparently inspired Alfred Hitchcock’s "The Birds" when hundreds of birds attacked the town in 1961. less Capitola Started in the 1860s as a resort town, this Santa Cruz County town took a Mediterranean turn in the 1920s, with Venician-style stucco shacks in an array of pastel colors lining the coast. It’s also a Started in the 1860s as a resort town, this Santa Cruz County town took a Mediterranean turn in the 1920s, with Venician-style stucco shacks in an array of pastel colors lining the coast. It’s also a ... more Photo: James Tensuan, Special To The Chronicle Photo: James Tensuan, Special To The Chronicle Image 1 of / 30 Caption Close Northern California's quirkiest beach towns 1 / 30 Back to Gallery

There's something about the smell of salty ocean air and the feel of sand between your toes that makes the eccentricity of beach towns seem charming. Yard of creepy dinosaur statues? Cute, take a selfie! Forest of tiny century-old redwood trees stunted by acidic soil? Adorable and definitely not haunted at all.

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Northern California and the Bay Area are home to many of these quirky beach towns. From glass beaches in Fort Bragg to an egg vending machine in Santa Cruz, there are tons of odd local landmarks to entertain you when you get bored of baking in the sun.

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So ignore the impending sense of doom you feel in the town where Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" was filmed. That seagull probably just wants to be your friend (plus, we hear if you stare directly at it, it won't steal your food). It's a beach town! You're having fun in the sun! Nothing bad ever happens in coastal California towns. Eat a burger in an old train caboose and relish in the so quirky, so cute beach town atmosphere.

Click through the gallery above to see Northern California's best quirky beach towns.

Madeline Wells is an SFGate editorial assistant. Email: madeline.wells@sfgate.com | Twitter: @madwells22