Exclusive Modern Retreat- The Johanna House

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Entire home

Private most exclusive neighborhood in Santa Cruz. Enjoy your perfect blend of adventure and relaxation

The great outdoors. Something to look forward to after a hard day at the beach. Grab a glass of wine you’ve earned it.

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Exceptional

4 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 11

Popular amenities

Hot tub
Fireplace
Washer
Parking available
Kitchen
Barbecue grill

Explore the area

Aptos, CA

Capitola Wharf
‪6 min drive‬
Rio Del Mar Beach
‪15 min drive‬
Capitola Beach
‪15 min drive‬
Watsonville, CA (WVI-Watsonville Municipal)
‪15 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 11)

Bedroom 1

2 Single Bunk Beds

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 4

1 King Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed

3 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Kitchen

Office

About this property

Summary:
Permit number 111368
1.4 miles to the beach yet privately perched on a 4 acre mountaintop in arguably the most exclusive neighborhood in all of Santa Cruz. This neighborhood is close to it all sitting on the boarder of capitola, soquel and aptos while also feeling removed from it all. The beach, mountain bike trails, great restaurants & shopping all within a mile and a half distance while feeling like you are in the middle of the Santa Cruz forest. Go tackle your adventure then come back home to rest and relax.

The Space:
1.4 miles to the beach yet privately perched on a 4 acre mountaintop in arguably the most exclusive neighborhood in all of Santa Cruz. This neighborhood is close to it all sitting on the boarder of capitola, soquel and aptos while also feeling removed from it all. The beach, mountain bike trails, great restaurants & shopping all within a mile and a half distance while feeling like you are in the middle of the Santa Cruz forest. Go tackle your adventure then come back home to rest and relax.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Hot tub

Kitchen

Washer

Pet-friendly

Parking available

Barbecue grill

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Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 18

Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed

Charge may apply

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Hot Tub When using the hot tub, remember there is certain health risk associated with this facility. Use at your own risk. Our Pool Service refil...

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

About the area

Aptos

Aptos is home to this holiday home. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is a popular attraction and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Capitola Beach and Monterey Bay. Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History and Boardwalk Bowl are also worth visiting.

Aptos, CA

What's nearby

Capitola Wharf - 6 min drive - 4.6 km
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk - 12 min drive - 12.0 km
Mystery Spot - 14 min drive - 12.7 km
Rio Del Mar Beach - 15 min drive - 5.5 km
Capitola Beach - 15 min drive - 5.1 km

Getting around

San Martin Caltrain Station - 49 min drive
Watsonville, CA (WVI-Watsonville Municipal) - 15 min drive

Restaurants

‪Tortilla Flats Restaurant - ‬5 min drive
‪Pretty Good Advice - ‬5 min drive
‪Marianne's Ice Cream - ‬6 min drive
‪Peet's Coffee and Tea - ‬6 min drive
‪Erik's DeliCafe - ‬6 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Exclusive Modern Retreat- The Johanna House pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Exclusive Modern Retreat- The Johanna House?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Exclusive Modern Retreat- The Johanna House?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Exclusive Modern Retreat- The Johanna House located?

Situated in Aptos, this holiday home is 0.4 mi (0.6 km) from Cabrillo College and within 3 miles (5 km) of Potbelly Beach and New Brighton State Beach. The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park and Aptos History Museum are also within 3 miles (5 km).

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Andrew W.

27 March 2025

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice sunny large place - great sunny yard!

This is a very nice large home, with a very nice, fun, large sunny yard, without any mud - perfect for your kids to play the cornhole bean bag toss game and feel the sun all day long. Sun rises are beautiful as they rise through the green valley which this looks over. Many bed rooms. It has an "out in the country" feel for sure (you might even hear a rooster etc), but it's not far from anything either. A couple quirks, like bring your own Amazon firestick(s) because at least the Bedroom TV is needs you tro bring that etc, and the are so many windows that they can not all have window shades. It's a huge sun filled home, in a good way!

Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sean O.

5 March 2025

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great stay

Love the house in Monica was great to deal with. Will definitely go back!

Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Katie K.

1 December 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Thanksgiving visit

Our extended family of 11 (2 grandparents, 4 adults, and 5 kids) loved staying in this beautiful wooded home in the Santa Cruz hills for Thanksgiving together. The downstairs bunk bed bedroom was perfect for all the kids, while the upstairs 3 bedrooms and 2 baths were spacious and comfortable for us adults. The views off the deck and patio (and from most rooms of the home) were spectacular!! The linens were high quality, and the home was extremely clean. We loved making home-made pizzas in the pizza oven one night! Hope to come back someday.

Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Laura O.

2 October 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic House!

We had a wonderful stay at this house celebrating our micro wedding. The house is so beautiful, spacious, and the outdoor space was perfect to host our closest family and friends. The pizza oven was a big hit! The hosts are wonderful to work with and very accommodating. We would love to come and stay there again.

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Anna O.

15 August 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great House!

We had a wonderful stay at the house. Inside was spacious, lots of places to hang out and be comfortable. Outside had different areas to relax and the kids spent hours playing corn hole! House was secluded up in the hills - a lovely oasis after a day of exploring. Monica was very responsive and helpful when we had questions! Would highly recommend

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

matthew W.

1 August 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quick Escape

Lovely space….. you know when you go someplace new and you instantly feel a “good vibe” when you first walk through? This place does that. Terrific 3 night getaway while the kid was at camp. You’ll dig it.

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tom H.

31 July 2024

Liked: Communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing among the trees

Beautiful property surrounded by the forest. Plenty of room for everyone and lots of windows to enjoy the view. Close to the beaches as well. Everyone enjoyed the stay from toddlers to adults.

Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer W.

21 July 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Spacious Coastal vibe with Redwoods

The Johanna House was spacious and peaceful and a great location for our get together for 6 nights. The primary bedroom is spectacular with its own living area and deck. In addition there are two good size bedrooms, with the downstairs bunk beds perfect for more people. The kitchen was well appointed with plenty of counter space, a large outdoor area with various seating areas, and everything we needed to have a great stay. The drive up the beautiful redwood street is a gorgeous welcome. Correspondence with the host was prompt and helpful. We would definitely stay here again. Thank you for having us!

Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

Tana A.

8 July 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Aptos beach trip 2024

We had a great stay and family wedding on the beach while we were there! :) Lots of happy memories. Thanks so much!

Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Debra Y.

15 June 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing Stay

We loved staying at this property. We were provided with everything we needed. The property is beautiful and nestled in a great location. It was clean, cheery and comfortable for our family of 9. We would definitely stay here again. Monica, the property owner, was a pleasure to work with.

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kevin B., Bellaire

4 November 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Aptos visit

Great location. Very nice house. State park pass was a plus for us.

Stayed 8 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Neil P., Santa Cruz

13 October 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing

Incredible experience, thank you so much Monica!

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kevin S.

4 September 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful home in the trees

A group of friends visited and enjoyed the spacious house and backyard. It was a great place to relax. Close to the beach, good golf, a variety of outdoor activities available. It feels secluded but sound will carry to neighbors. You have everything you need at the house. The host is very communicative.

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Laura B.

27 August 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing property!

Gorgeous home in beautiful setting with wonderful spaces to spread out & relax—both inside & out!

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer V.

12 August 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Memorable family reunion

We had a very memorable family reunion at your beautiful home. The house is beautifully decorated, lots of light and very spacious. The kitchen is well stocked and clean. The kids really enjoyed the bean bag toss game, jacuzzi and the fire pit for s’mores. Thank you for helping us open the front door and use the TV. Thank you for sharing your beautiful home with us. Jennifer

Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Erik P.

21 July 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great family vacation spot

We had 12 total people ranging from 4 to 72 and the property was great for all. We grilled, we made pizzas in the oven, played countless hours of cornhole and it was enjoyed by all. We watched the stars at night and relaxed in the morning. Couldn't recommend this house more.

Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Greg S., Granite Bay, California

3 July 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Hip hideaway

This rental was perfect for our family of five adults, very hip and contemporary looking on the outside and comfortable on the inside. The drive is a simple one near the little town of Aptos, and then disappearing uphill into a thicket of redwoods. Views of the treetops all around on your own private yard. I thought the pizza oven was kind of a gimmick until we used it- (it’ll be hard to go back to DoorDash after this). Great hiking within 10 minutes and same distance to a lovely ocean beach.

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Maggie M.

19 June 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Forest Dream house

Our family came from different areas to watch our daughter graduation collegs. We could not have asked for a better house to be together during this time. The beauty surrounding the house was breathtaking

Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Annie N.

25 January 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful

This place was really a dream! Great location - shopping, restaurants, and beaches only a short drive away. Home is styled beautifully. We loved the back deck and yard. Communication was prompt and easy and our feedback was received well by owners. We would stay here again and again 10/10

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Maxine n.

3 January 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place, close to town and beach

We had a great weekend!

Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kris L.

24 October 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great getaway close to the Bay Area

This place in Aptos is everything you want for a quiet getaway from the Bay Area. Perfect house to entertain a group of friends/family. Very spacious property with lots of places to just hang out, both outdoors and indoors. Its location so close to Aptos downtown and the beaches is very convenient. Monica was very helpful and responsive.

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Allison M.

6 September 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful family weekend

This was our home base for a family wedding. My family of 7 were guests at a local wedding and this was the perfect gathering spot. We really enjoyed the patio and hosted a wonderful wood oven pizza party one night. We would love to return for a longer stay. The only downside was unusually hot weather. The house was too warm during the day but cooled off nicely at night.

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Ashley L.

24 August 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent home

My group of friends had an amazing stay! The property is beautiful, there was plenty of room for all of us, and we absolutely loved the pizza oven and the views from the backyard. Monica was also an attentive and generous host. We would stay here again!

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Nina D.

10 August 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great forest getaway

We were three families staying here with young children. The place was perfectly located to enjoy all the different things going on around the area. The house was clean and modern. The kitchen was well equipped. The pizza stove was a hit! Thank you for having us.

Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2022

8/10 Good

Lillian t.

2 August 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect… almost

Beautiful property. Great location, but….A few items weren’t working right. Ovens very old and didn’t get hot enough. Coffee machine kept stopping. Ran out of propane the first night for both fire pits. (We ended up replacing both) Freezer drawer is broken. Some bedrooms had no window coverings or screens. Fixing these would match the high end feeling of the rest of the property Best parts… pizza ovens were so much fun. Everything you would need but wood is provided. Totally recommend doing that! Beds very comfortable. Hot tub great. Views are stunning. Close to fantastic hiking and best beach was 20 minutes away. (blacks beach) Communication was very responsive.

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

About the host

Your host

Mike and Monica were married in 2008 and are always on the move. From Mike's professional career as an athlete, to their multiple business'...the two rarely spend more than a week in any one location. They have been very fortunate to travel the country and travel the world, where they have found many inspirations for their vacation home in Santa Cruz, Ca.

Why they chose this property

We absolutely love all the activities, weather and scenery Santa Cruz has to offer. We absolutely love going to the beach. The only thing we don’t like about the beach is the summertime fog that comes and goes. We loved this house because it put us 1.4 miles from the beach but out of the fog patterns so that we can enjoy the beach when its sunny and beautiful but not get stuck at a house covered in fog. The other limiting factor with most the homes near the beach that we looked at was the lack of space. With 4 acres, tons of parking, 2 roads, huge patios, decks and lawns…it provides us with a place to entertain our friends and family without feeling smothered by the next door neighbors or annoyed with the constant flow of traffic to and from the beach. Another thing we loved was the safety, privacy and exclusiveness of the neighborhood. An added benefit to the house that we realized after we moved in was that it was right in the center of all three Santa Cruz villages.

What makes this property unique

Privacy, luxury, space, views 1.4 miles to the beach less than 3 miles to any of the villages (Capitola village, Aptos village, Soquel village) exclusive neighborhood feeling of getting away while still being conveniently close to everything.

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests

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Exclusive Modern Retreat- The Johanna House

Photo gallery for Exclusive Modern Retreat- The Johanna House

Reviews

Popular amenities

Explore the area

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 11)

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 2

Bedroom 3

Bedroom 4

3 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Bathroom 3

Spaces

About this property