One of the most famous beach towns in California, Santa Cruz offers it all, from world-class surfing and other outdoor adventures to opportunities for relaxation and a fantastic food/wine/brew scene. It’s home to the famous Beach Boardwalk where a lot of the action happens, including thrill rides and one of the country’s oldest wooden roller coasters, while just minutes away in the mountains there are trails for hiking that wind through the Redwoods. There’s so much to do here, you’ll have to come back again and again to do it all, but you’ll find plenty of great Airbnbs to choose from to base your stay.
Romantic and Historic Spanish Style Home
This beautiful Spanish-style apartment is an inviting space with luxurious furniture and elegant decor. The living room has a gas-burning fireplace that provides a fabulous, warm ambiance while the patio beneath a leafy pergola is an ideal spot for sipping your favorite beverage, complete with a peek-a-boo ocean view. It’s separate from the main house with its own private entrance, located within walking distance to downtown Santa Cruz and the beach in a safe, quiet neighborhood.
Peaceful Tree House
Spotlighted in Sunset Magazine as a “chic escape,” this unique “treehouse” is beautifully designed with gorgeous architectural details including lots of wood and stone, providing a peaceful sanctuary close to hiking trails in Nisene Marks State Park. It sleeps six in three bedrooms and includes a hammock with a view of the coast and the forested valley it sits within. There are many luxurious features throughout, like heated floors, a Smart TV with Netflix, a high-end kitchen, and Amazon Echo.
Modern Ocean View
This two-bedroom condo accommodates up to six and offers sweeping views of the ocean and beach from floor-to-ceiling windows and a sliding glass door that opens to the deck. You’ll be just a short walk from the sand while enjoying a comfortable space with a well-equipped kitchen, two full baths, living and dining areas, a large flat-screen HDTV with a DVD player and Surround Sound plus there’s another HDTV in the master bedroom. Guests also enjoy access to the complex amenities, which include a swimming pool.
Opal Cliff Guest House
You’ll be just a 15-minute walk from popular Capitola Village, steps from Privates Beach and only a few farther to Pleasure Point and the Hook Surf Spot by renting this beautiful three-bedroom beach house. While it’s perfect for surfers, anyone who wants to enjoy the sand and a quiet setting will appreciate a stay here. If you want to spend the day at the Sant Cruz Beach Boardwalk, it’s only five miles away.
The home itself accommodates up to eight guests and comes with all the essentials plus quite a few extras, like a hot tub nestled in the backyard with gardens. The kitchen has high-end appliances, including a Cuisinart coffeemaker, a juicer, and a VitaMix, plus there are three TVs with Direct TV and a washer/dryer.
Modern Capitola Trestle Unit
The “Trestle” is one of two units that were designed and built by the architect owners, so you know you’re in for a stylish stay. They’re located in Capitola Village, just minutes from Santa Cruz and a short walk to the beach, shopping, dining, and surf shops. The units sit side by side, so you can rent them both, or share a backyard with a patio, outdoor shower, BBQ and gas fire if you rent one. You’ll have your own laundry facilities and garage. It includes one bedroom with a queen bed plus two sofa beds, accommodating up to six, a full kitchen, and a washer/dryer.
Updated Beach House
Book this charming beach bungalow and you’ll be only 500 steps to Twin Lakes/Black’s beach and within a short walking distance to Sunny Cove beach and the harbor. Very budget-friendly for this area, it comes with a fully fenced yard and an outdoor solar shower. It has an open-concept floor plan with exposed beams, a full kitchen with stainless steel appliances, and a washer/dryer, accommodating up to four adults and two kids under 12 in two bedrooms. Cots and a Pack-n-Play are available too. In the living area, there’s a Smart TV with Roku for streaming your Amazon and Netflix accounts as well as the owner’s Sling TV account.
Garden Oasis Guesthouse Relax, Surf & Adventure
Enjoy a magical oasis for two at this guesthouse located just a mile from Pleasure Point and Sunny Cove Beach, close to downtown Santa Cruz, Capitola, and the Beach Boardwalk. It sits on a half-acre that’s an artistic garden oasis with bamboo, palm trees, proteas and succulents, with beach towels, beach chairs, a cooler and even soft-top longboards that guests can use while staying. Inside you’ll have a mini-kitchen with a half-size fridge, microwave, toaster, and other basics, along with a propane grill for outdoor cooking. A 40″ Smart flat-screen TV with an HDMI cable is provided for streaming from your own accounts too.
Private Sunlit Home Downtown
Located just a minute’s walk to the downtown area and about 10 minutes on foot to the Beach Boardwalk, this historic farm-style home offers two bedrooms, sleeping up to four adults and a child comfortably, or with two children by adding air mattresses the host can provide – a Pack-n-Play and high chair are available too. It includes local works of art, most of which are available for purchase, a full kitchen, washer/dryer, and a Smart TV with Amazon Fire and cable.
Modern Beach Retreat in Aptos
This modern two-bedroom home for up to five is just a five-minute walk to Rio del Mar Beach, close to scenic trails for hiking and biking in Nisene Marks. It offers fabulous indoor and outdoor living spaces, open and airy inside, with a large deck outside. There’s an outdoor shower, BBQ grill and all sorts of special extras, including boogie boards, surfboards, two beach cruisers, child-sized wet suits, and two electric car chargers.
