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Bright and Colorful - Family Friendly! Short walk to the Best Beaches in Town!

Photo gallery for Bright and Colorful - Family Friendly! Short walk to the Best Beaches in Town!

Oh so cute!  Parking for two cars in the driveway.
Relax in the bright, colorful living room with large sectional sofa
Plenty of room for everyone in the large, open living area
Relax in the bright, colorful living room with large sectional sofa
Gas fireplace, 55" TV, Cozy couch, sooo relaxing after a long day at the beach!

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 7122.6 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Barbecue grill
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

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

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 7)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Single Bunk Bed

Upstairs Bedroom

1 Double Bed

2 bathrooms

Downstairs Bathroom

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Upstairs Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Bright and Colorful - Family Friendly! Short walk to the Best Beaches in Town!

Santa Cruz Vacation Rental Permit #: 111562

You will be “Walkin’ on Sunshine” anywhere you go in this delightful Santa Cruz home. The bright and colorful, newly redecorated 3 Bedroom, 2 Bath home sleeps 7. The house is centrally located on 14th Ave. in Santa Cruz, just a short walk down the street to the 14th Avenue Beach (Blacks Beach) entrance to Twin Lakes State Beach.

These are the nicest, warmest beaches in Monterey Bay, with perfect sand, great boogie boarding, and fire pits for nighttime gatherings. Near the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor and the famous Crow’s Nest restaurant, you can rent kayaks or stand-up paddle boards or relax and watch the sailboat races on Wednesday afternoons.

The smoke-free, family friendly, house is fully furnished in seaside décor with all the amenities to make your stay comfortable and relaxing. Kick your feet up and enjoy your morning coffee and catch some rays up on the sunny second story deck. Unwind in the evening sitting on the large sofa in front of the big-screen TV and the cozy gas fireplace. Enjoy your favorite tunes or connect to the web with high-speed Wi-Fi.

Sleep in comfort in the serene downstairs bedroom, decorated in peaceful décor, with a luxurious queen bed and flat screen TV. The upstairs bedroom has a full size bed, a private bathroom and access to the wraparound deck. The kids will love the third bedroom that includes bunk beds (with a trundle and small seats that fold out into sleeping cushions), another big flat screen TV, and a Wii video game system.

The kitchen is fully equipped with granite countertops, gas stove, French door refrigerator, and dishwasher. Plates, glasses, cooking and eating utensils are provided. There is a separate laundry room with front loading washer and dryer.

Guests will also enjoy the large, private backyard with room for the kids to run, or play on the play structure with swings. You will love relaxing on the hammock under the palm trees, and the large patio with the gas grill. No need to pack beach chairs, sand buckets, shovels, boogie boards or a beach umbrella as we provide all of that for you, including a few small wetsuits. There is even a wagon to help you bring all of your stuff to the beach.

Just a 5 minute drive to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and 10 minutes to the adorable beach town of Capitola. There are also plenty of local surf spots.

This is a great home for families in a residential neighborhood. It is not a party house.

Our location is just 45 minutes from Carmel and Monterey, 45 minutes from San Jose International Airport and just over an hour from San Francisco Airport.

This house is completely non-smoking. Sorry, no pets are allowed.*

*Pleaese note that the owner does have a dog that sometimes joins us at the home, so we don't recommend anyone with pet alergies books this home.


Keywords: Beach, Beach House, Cute, Twin Lakes, Live Oak, Live, Oak, Santa Cruz, harbor, Yacht Harbor, boardwalk, wharf to wharf, blues festival, wharf, ocean, waves, surfing, boogie boarding, sand, sunshine, bright, colorful, family, kids, relax, deck, BBQ, grill, hammock, Capitola, near beach, Seabright,

Property manager

Donna
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Outdoor space
Parking available

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
Adhere to the guidelines in rental agreement
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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
Note from host: Adhere to the guidelines in rental agreement
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
Property Registration Number 111562

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Santa Cruz

Located in Eastside Santa Cruz, a neighbourhood in Santa Cruz, this holiday home is near theme parks and near the beach. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is a popular attraction and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Capitola Beach and Monterey Bay. Travelling with kids? Consider Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History and Boardwalk Bowl. 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

  • Twin Lakes State Beach - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Santa Cruz Harbor - 18 min walk - 1.6 km
  • Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk - 6 min drive - 4.5 km
  • Santa Cruz Wharf - 6 min drive - 5.2 km
  • Main Beach - 12 min drive - 4.6 km

Getting around

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

Restaurants

  • ‪Crow's Nest Restaurant - ‬18 min walk
  • ‪Peoples Coffee - ‬14 min walk
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬7 min walk
  • ‪Brady's Yacht Club - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Oak & Ale - ‬2 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Bright and Colorful - Family Friendly! Short walk to the Best Beaches in Town! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Bright and Colorful - Family Friendly! Short walk to the Best Beaches in Town!?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Bright and Colorful - Family Friendly! Short walk to the Best Beaches in Town!?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Bright and Colorful - Family Friendly! Short walk to the Best Beaches in Town! located?

This family-friendly Santa Cruz holiday home is located by the sea, within a 10-minute walk of Twin Lakes State Beach, Lincoln Beach and Sunny Cove Beach. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is 2.1 mi (3.4 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. 197 out of 211 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 14 out of 211 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 211 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 211 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 211 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

janeenandjerry c.

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

Another wonderful visit!

This home is perfect for us to visit our son and his family. The grand kids love playing in the backyard! Thank you Mike & Donna!
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jeremy B.

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

Awesome time by the beach

We loved our stay. The house was very clean and nice and the owners were easy to reach with questions. The location is awesome too as it is just a short walk to the beach. We would definitely stay at this house again. Strongly recommend.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

Joshua S.

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

Nice house in good beach location

ProsClose to beachWalking distance to restaurantsEasy access to freewayNice house, furniture and everything in good shapeNice extras like video gamesNice big backyard ConsHouse smelled like mildew and it was visible on some of the blindsDifficult to fit two cars in driveway and street parking is limited
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

janeenandjerry c.

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

Another lovely Sunshine visit

Always clean and bright. Our grand kids love the yard! We walked to the beach everyday. Great taqueria's on both corners. El Rosal bakery is fun. The Sunday Farmer's Market in the Live Oak shopping area is always a must for us! Thank you Mike & Donna!
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mary Anne L.

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

Wonderful Beach Getaway

This property hosted our family for a fun weekend in Santa Cruz - close to the beach and surrounding Capitola. Easy access to freeway and a quite neighborhood. All the amenities close by, really felt like home!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Eileen M.

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

CLEAN and comfortable house

We are an extended family group staying at this house in order to visit a family member at UCSC. PERFECT LOCATION! So clean (which I think is really important)! House had EVERYTHING we needed. Perfect amount of space!!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Stephen M.

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

Great property!

This is my 2nd time staying here at this house and it's a great property.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Peggy S.

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

Family get-together

Short walk to the beach. Kids loved the backyard.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ashley F.

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

Quick family trip

Our stay was short and quick but we enjoyed every minute. The back yard and play set along with the parking was definitely a plus! When we first got there my code didn't work. I contacted Mike and he fixed the code issue right then and there, issued a temporary code which worked and we were able to get in.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Linda B.

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

love it here

We have rented this property year after year for almost 10 years. We love the neighborhood, the beach, the back yard and feel very comfortable in Donna and Mike's home. Thank you.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lori W.

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

Family vacation with grown children

Our oldest son requested a Santa Cruz vacation to relive many childhood memories. He and his girlfriend flew in from Ohio. Our youngest came from Sonoma and his friend flew up from LA. We made wonderful memories and many laughs were had!!! The location is perfectly situated between Capitola & the Boardwalk. The home was very well stocked. Updated beach chairs & beach towels would be a bonus - but no complaints. It was nice that these items were supplied. Very spacious layout and comfortable beds. Wish we could have stayed longer. We would definitely recommend this house to anyone looking to rent in the area.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Shanna S.

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

Great family beach house

This house was perfect for our family of five (three boys 4, 7, 9). It was spacious, kitchen well equipped, lots of bedding and blankets to be cozy. The fenced in backyard was such a lifesaver so the kids could go outside and we didn't have to worry. They loved the swingset. The location was fantastic- 7 min walk to the beach, mexican food on the corner and a 7 minute drive to Trader Joe's and Target. We loved our week here.
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Roze M.

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

Beach house Vaca

The property is perfect! The amenities they provide are above and beyond. We had any and everything we needed. Kids, adults noone was forgotten. I didn't need to contact owners, everything was easy and just as described, I know if i had they would have been very responsive! We will be back :-)
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Caroline P.

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

Exactly What You and Your Family Need in Santa Cruz

My family and I (myself, husband, parents, children (3.5 and 1.5) just spent 5 nights here. We cannot say enough wonderful things about this property from the house itself and the kitchen amenities to the backyard with the swing set and the grill/patio. We were very happy with the neighborhood- walking distance from the beach, close to market and food, as well as the famers market held in the shopping center nearby on Sundays. It also is a short drive to the Santa Cruz boardwalk and in a convenient location to highways and roads to go to Monterey/Carmel. Traveling with small children is always very daunting but this house was perfect with the backyard keeping them entertained and it is well maintained and also fenced in. The house was well stocked- towels, kitchen accessories etc. We also found the washer/dryer to be an added bonus and very useful in case it was needed. There is always room for improvement (although it was not much)- we found the floors could be cleaned a little better by their cleaning service and there was an awkward step leading to one of the bedrooms and the upstairs room that was not marked so just be careful. Would we stay here again? ABSOLUTELY! This house is perfectly sized for 6 guests and is exactly what you need as a home base and a place to stay to enjoy your vacation! Thank you to the owners for thinking of the small details and making your guests feel at home and comfortable. THANK YOU!
Stayed 5 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lori J.

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

Very happy!

Wonderful location and owner was very helpful when we had questions. It’s a peaceful neighborhood and easy walk to the beach.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

janeenandjerry c.

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

Our home away from home

We love this home's location, beach nearby and great backyard to play in with our grandkids!
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2024

8/10 Good

Udo S.

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

Familienurlaub

Super!
Stayed 10 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Leighton and Liz T.

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

Great location!

Our family really enjoyed this home and location. So much so that we tried to stay longer! The back yard is completely fenced in as well, so would be really great for anyone with small children. The beds were very comfortable, and the house has everything you would need for a comfortable stay. We didn’t use the grill, but it’s a nice addition for a backyard hang session. We would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Susan P.

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

Wonderful Santa Cruz home!

The house was very clean and well designed for functionality and comfort. It was the perfect size for our group (1 grandparent, 2 parents, and 2 children - tween and teen). It was spacious inside and had a lovely back yard. The beds were very comfortable. The kitchen was well stocked with cookware and had modern appliances. We would very happily stay there again.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

janeenandjerry c., Santa Rosa, CA

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

To play with the grand kids

Wonderful weather! Great visits with our family! Beach walks, farmers market and the great neighborhood vibe!
Stayed 11 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Rita A., Hamilton, Mt

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

Fun on the beach

Wonderful neighborhood. Quite, spacious, close to the beach, and the home offered everything you could hope for including boogie boards for body surfing. The large backyard, with umbrella tables offered a relaxing place to unwind after a day full of fun.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Dana D.

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

Always the best

This is our fourth time staying at this property and it has officially become a family tradition to go here each year. The house is beautiful, clean, and perfectly accommodates what we need for our family. They have everything that you could possibly need access to and it always makes everything so seamless. The owners are so kind and always super quick to respond if you have a question. We went here the first time when my younger son turned 1 to celebrate his birthday, and we were having so much fun looking at pictures over the years of them playing at this house. I really can't say enough good things about this place and the family that rents it out. We can't wait to go back again next year!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Rae B.

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

Great stay! Tons of space

Everyone had a place to sleep, the place had all the cooking stuff you could possibly need, and the backyard is huge! Right down the street from Twin lakes Beach and in close proximity to grocery and restaurants. It was a perfect reunion house for 6 30+ year olds reminiscing about our younger days living in Santa Cruz
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jami L.

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

Beach trip with grandkids

Great trip! House conveniently located for east beach access and access to all the Santa Cruz hot spots
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Richard H.

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

Walking on Sunshine totally fits

Sunshine was our homebase for family and friends to gather to celebrate our UCSC graduate. Incredibly well equiped, great outdoor space for entertaining, centrally located, would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023

About the host

Hosted by Donna

Host profile image
We are a family of four who live just over the hill in San Jose. We love our local community and love spending time together as a family. Owning a home here has always been our dream and we feel so lucky that it is now a reality.

Why they chose this property

We love Santa Cruz and since it is so close, we have been vacationing here for years. The weather here is just amazing. This place has something for all of us. Mom loves to relax on the beach reading a book. Dad and the boys spend hours upon hours in the water boogie boarding or body surfing. We enjoy fishing and kayaking out of the harbor.
And we love checking out all of the great restaurants in the area. The boys are on a quest to find the perfect bacon for breakfast and the best calamari in the land!
We also love that we always seem to have friends in the area who can stop by.
Having the year-round attraction of the Boardwalk or the Monterey Bay Aquarium nearby provides more fun.

What makes this property unique

As soon as we step inside this home, all of our stress is released. We have strived to make it feel comfortable, peaceful and a little whimsical. It only takes about 7 minutes to walk down to the sand.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests