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Private Beach House with amazing views of Shwan Lake and Twin Lakes Beach

Photo gallery for Private Beach House with amazing views of Shwan Lake and Twin Lakes Beach

The view from the huge picture windows, looking South, toward Twin Lakes Beach
Living room / dining room with big picture windows overlooking Schwann Lagoon
Back deck with fire pit
Dining
Private kitchen

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 3

Popular amenities

  • Pet-friendly
  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Kitchen
  • Free WiFi

Explore the area

Map
Santa Cruz, CA
  • Santa Cruz Harbor
    ‪7 min walk‬
  • Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Santa Cruz Wharf
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Watsonville, CA (WVI-Watsonville Municipal)
    ‪26 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 3)

Master Bedroom

1 King Bed

Office 1

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Dining area

About this property

Private Beach House with amazing views of Shwan Lake and Twin Lakes Beach


Enjoy peaceful serenity and natural beauty as you check the surf from your own living room. Watch great blue herons, snowy egrets, and cormorants through two huge windows overlooking picturesque Schwan Lagoon and Twin Lakes Beach -- the best family beach in town! (permit #181472)

Steps to the sand, this house is just six houses up from the beach. Sunbathe, bodysurf, wander a long stretch of shoreline, have bonfires in the legal fire pits, and enjoy dramatic sunsets just steps from your door. Walk to the harbor to rent SUPs and kayaks, or sail on one of the Chardonnay II's daily cruises across Monterey Bay.

Spellbinding views from the bedroom, living room, and kitchen create a peaceful zen-like quiet. The back patio, a lagoon-side garden oasis, is perfect for happy hours and morning coffee in the sun. This home is your own Shangri-La.

LIVING AREA Unwind into vacation mode in a comfortable living room with a charming upright piano. Plush furniture offers ample seating, and picture windows overlook Schwan Lagoon. Settle in and watch a movie on the 43” flat-screen TV after a fun-filled beach day. Watch Cormorants, Egrets, Herons, Ducks, Geese, Eagles, Hawks and Hummingbirds galore from the comfort of your living room.

KITCHEN & DINING Tap into your culinary side in a bright and spacious kitchen outfitted with a full suite of stainless steel appliances. When it’s time to eat, share delicious home-cooked meals in the sun-soaked dining area.

BEDROOM, SLEEPING AREAS & BATH This single-story unit sleeps up to three guests between a bedroom, a bonus room, and the living room. Sleep soundly on a California King size bed in the peaceful bedroom, in addition to a full sized Futon Couch that can fold to a bed for extra sleeping space (also New as of August 2021). The living room is furnished with a full-size sleeper sofa and a comfy small fold-down loveseat. The bonus room features a queen-size bed, closet etc. Find a sparkling walk-in shower, and Bluetooth-capable mirror in the bathroom.

OUTDOOR AREA Breathe in the coastal air on the private back patio with seating for four. This cozy waterside sanctuary features a fire pit, lush foliage and a wood deck. The front patio also has a table with sun shade that's great for afternoon happy hours!

EXTRA AMENITIES & MORE DETAILS Guest amenities include complimentary Wi-Fi, games, a Bluetooth speaker, plus a nice piano and a guitar for fostering your own entertainment and creativity. There is parking for up to two cars in the driveway. Please note that this property does not have air-conditioning. Additionally, the patio is located down a flight of steps and the owner lives on-site in a separate apartment.

THE LOCATION Stroll to any of 10 neighborhood restaurants within blocks for excellent food, drinks, and live music. Drive only 10 minutes from this central location to access downtown Santa Cruz, UCSC, Capitola Village, The Boardwalk, golfing, surfing, hiking, shopping, and all the colorful culture our Santa Cruz area has to offer.

Note: This is a county permitted "Hosted Rental" with a separated unit on one side of the house where the owner lives. The rental is completely soundproofed and private with locking doors.

No smoking inside.

Property manager

Jim Lewin
Premier Host

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Ocean view

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 18
Check out before 12:00 PM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: limit 1 total
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Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas
Santa Cruz County hosted rental rules allow one car per bedroom. Guests and visitors may park in the driveway. (Driveway fits 3-4 cars)
Noise limits: Comply with Santa Cruz County Code 8.30: quiet hours 10PM–8AM every day. Nothing detrimental to neighbors or occupants of house allowed.
Cooking allowed in kitchen only. No illegal behavior or disturbances allowed. No Fireworks! In case of emergency evacuation go out to street, call Jim

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

About the area

Santa Cruz

Located on the waterfront, this holiday home is in Eastside Santa Cruz, a neighbourhood in Santa Cruz. Mystery Spot is a notable landmark, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Monterey Bay and Capitola Beach. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Santa Cruz, CA

What's nearby

  • Santa Cruz Harbor - 7 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Twin Lakes State Beach - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
  • Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk - 4 min drive - 3.4 km
  • Santa Cruz Wharf - 4 min drive - 4.1 km
  • Main Beach - 13 min drive - 3.4 km

Getting around

  • Watsonville, CA (WVI-Watsonville Municipal) - 26 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Crow's Nest Restaurant - ‬7 min walk
  • ‪Peoples Coffee - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Hot Dog on A Stick - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬16 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Private Beach House with amazing views of Shwan Lake and Twin Lakes Beach pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows pets (limit 1 total).

What time is check-in at Private Beach House with amazing views of Shwan Lake and Twin Lakes Beach?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Private Beach House with amazing views of Shwan Lake and Twin Lakes Beach?

Checkout is at 12:00 PM.

Where is Private Beach House with amazing views of Shwan Lake and Twin Lakes Beach located?

Located in Eastside Santa Cruz, this holiday home is steps from Twin Lakes State Beach and within 3 mi (5 km) of Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Monterey Bay. Capitola Beach is 3 mi (4.8 km) away.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 121 out of 127 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 127 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 127 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 127 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 127 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Heather L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful location
The view over the estuary was amazing.
Stayed 10 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Raleigh D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great Stay
Jim's place is very clean, quiet and comfortable. The location is delightful for the beach and neighborhood walks. It felt very private, but Jim was responsive if we had any questions. Very relaxing stay!
Stayed 21 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Aaron L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great location, beautiful, quiet
Very happy with accommodations. Only negative was mattress in river-facing room—super lumpy and worn. Otherwise, GREAT property and good winter pricing. Would stay again.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Samantha C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great Place
Great location in Santa Cruz and the house had a great layout and was very comfortable. Great view of the water and numerous birds. 3 min walk to the beach. 10 min drive to shopping areas. 30 min to redwoods and an hour to Monterey. When we come back to the area, we will be staying here again.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Deborah M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great place in Santa Cruz!
James's place is in such a great location, just a short walk to the beach. I really enjoyed the kitchen...i love to cook and it had everything I needed, including sharp (a rarity at most VRBO's)!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jim L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Family event stay
House is clean and nicely stocked the views to the lagoon provide lots of entertainment for bird watchers nice quite location. Would recommend
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Alex S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Super in Santa Cruz
Great property, great owner, super location. We had a great time. Thanks Jim!
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2024

4/10 Poor

Mary G.

Liked: Location
Disliked: Cleanliness, check-in, listing accuracy
Sub par
House smells bad: constant smoke (pot?) and mustiness. Dirty pillows, refrigerator , coffee pot, and whole environment was unkempt and old, worn. No kitchen staples that can be used safely. Fall risks: rugs and shower. No place to hang towels. Very quiet and beautiful view.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jessica H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great location
The best part of our day was the location of the property, which was right on a slough (like a pond), And we had a wonderful time watching all the cormorants and pelicans and other birds on the water. The place is super close to the beach, harbor, restaurants, and a very peaceful and friendly neighborhood. The bedrooms were super comfy, the kitchen was spacious and clean, the bathroom was small, but also clean with good water pressure:)
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sonia S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great location
The location is a quick walk to a great beach and some local eateries. The view is also a great bonus!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Gail H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Charming Sunny Lagoon Cottage.
A nice stay for a married couple and a couple of fur babies. The house was well stocked. We appreciated the plentiful towels, pillows and blankets. The driveway is pretty long and steep. Not an issue when we parked towards the top of driveway. Access to the yard was on the side of house, out front. A note to others to ensure the blinds to the huge windows are closed during the day because it got hot even with the ac on and our pups were warm. Overall cute place, great neighborhood and access to everything. We will be back. Thank you James!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

8/10 Good

John B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Surgery Recovery
I had back surgery on 8/12 and needed to be close to surgeon for two weeks. I also needed walk-in shower, no stairs, and flat neighborhood. And pet friendly. It worked quite well .
Stayed 16 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lance M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Had a great time
Close to beach, swimming, fishing, nice walks and of course board walk fun. Close to aquarium.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Gail B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect location and size for three people
The house was great and the owner was quite nice and not intrusive at all. We really appreciated the simplicity of the decor and the cleanliness.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Miriam R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful views and location
This was the perfect property for the three of us. Very close to the beach. The owner was great to work with, very responsive.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jane D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Ideal location gorgeous view
Posting for this property accurately shows the beautiful view of the lagoon. It is steps away from a great beach and a convenient store for snack. Jim was a responsive and friendly host. Gorgeous weather in Santa Cruz! My husband, adult daughter and I had a fun relaxing time.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Amy N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
perfect vacation spot!
the neighborhood is perfect for a vacation! quiet with gorgeous views of the ocean and the lake. the house features gorgeous big windows that highlights the breathtaking views. the house is super clean with everything you need to make this spot your own. everything is up to date. we will absolutely be coming back!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Daniel S., Sunapee NH

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very comfortable and private
The house was clean, comfortable and very private. We very much enjoyed watching the birds on the lagoon. Easy heat adjustment. Excellent communication from the host. We hop to stay here again.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Linda B., Minnesota

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A great place
We enjoyed our stay--the unit is spacious and has a wonderful kitchen. So close to the beach, and convenient to so many things. We loved our stay, our host was very helpful and responsive. We were very happy with our stay. Thanks!
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kim H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great!
Property is exactly as advertized, and it was perfect for our trip. Easy beach access and plenty to see and do.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful!
We enjoyed our stay at this property! It is close to the beach, and the view of the lagoon from the window is amazing. We will definitely stay at this property again when we visit Santa Cruz.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Amanda F., UK

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Amazing stay at Santa Cruz
We stayed for a week at Jim’s amazing house and it was everything we could have wished for and more! The house was beautiful and so clean and comfortable and gave us absolutely pure relaxation, The location is perfect too. The view of the lagoon is outstanding and you can even see the ocean! Jim was very responsive to any questions and so obliging to any requests and super helpful whilst giving us total privacy. We really cannot rate this place highly enough! We can’t wait to be back! Thanks for everything Jim!
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Steve S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Loved it!
Great place to stay, loved the view! Thank you
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Michael T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great location, views, and friendly host
We had a great time in Santa Cruz. The property is a short walk to beach and has a great view of the lagoon. Host was very attentive and welcoming. Even got invited to their neighbors party!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lagoon
Property was as advertised. Plenty room. Owner communication was very good
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2023

About the host

Hosted by Jim Lewin

Host profile image

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests