Entire home

Large Santa Cruz Beach House. Steps to beach. Pets welcome. Family. Reunions.

Photo gallery for Large Santa Cruz Beach House. Steps to beach. Pets welcome. Family. Reunions.

Our beach!  The Crow's Nest and other restaurants are a short beach walk away
We are 6 homes away from this great State Beach at Twin Lakes!
Dining
Dining
Private kitchen

Reviews

9.6 out of 10

Exceptional

6 bedrooms4 bathroomsSleeps 18371.6 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
    Parking available
  • Pet-friendly
    Pet-friendly
  • Washer
    Washer
  • Kitchen
    Kitchen
  • Fireplace
    Fireplace
  • Dryer
    Dryer

Explore the area

Map
Santa Cruz, CA
    Twin Lakes State Beach
    4 min walk
    Sunny Cove Beach
    8 min walk
    Santa Cruz Harbor
    14 min walk
    Watsonville, CA (WVI-Watsonville Municipal)
    25 min drive

Rooms & beds

6 bedrooms (sleeps 18)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 King Bed

Bedroom 4

1 King Bed

Bedroom 5 bunk bed (1 twin over 1 full with 1 twin trundle)

1 Single Bunk Bed

Bedroom 6 (3 twins and 1 full)

2 Single Bunk Beds

4 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Bathroom 2

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Bathroom 3

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Bathroom 4

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Kitchen
Dining
Living area
Exterior

About this property

Large Santa Cruz Beach House. Steps to beach. Pets welcome. Family. Reunions.

Welcome to our remarkable retreat, a stone's throw from the serene Twin Lakes Beach in Santa Cruz, situated on the quaint 14th Avenue. This sprawling sanctuary spans over 4,000 square feet, providing breathtaking views, an enviable location, and a slice of the enchanting atmosphere that Santa Cruz is famed for. Envision yourself soaking up the sun on the beach or unwinding on one of the numerous decks that adorn our home, offering spaces of peace and spaciousness. Located ideally, a short stroll will take you to the Harbor, where you can savor the offerings of local eateries and meander through delightful boutiques. Our residence comfortably houses up to 18 guests across snug sleeping arrangements, with a thoughtful design that caters to both families and groups. A specially dedicated game room is a treasure trove of fun, equipped with beach toys, Foosball, and Ping Pong, ensuring entertainment for all ages.

This home stretches across three well-appointed levels; the zenith is home to the kitchen, dining, and living spaces, complemented by an outdoor deck to immerse in the scenic beauty. The six cozy bedrooms are nestled on the main floor, adjacent to another charming deck, while the game room finds its place on the ground level. It's important to note that guests who may find navigating stairs challenging should consider alternate lodging options.

Compliance with the Santa Cruz Vacation Home Ordinance is paramount, affecting all residences within the county. This mandate allows for a maximum of 2 adults per bedroom, plus an extra 2 adults, capping our adult guest capacity at 14. Children under 8 years are exempt from this count, enabling us to accommodate your family or group with ease. The ordinance promotes exclusivity and privacy, strictly permitting only those named on the guest list to access the premises. We are pet-friendly, welcoming up to two dogs with prior breed disclosure, and cater to both short and longer stays, with flexible booking options available.

Our home is an idyllic setting for family reunions, gatherings, memorials, corporate retreats, team building, anniversaries, birthdays, and celebrations of all kinds, offering a blend of comfort and space. It comes fully furnished and equipped with modern amenities including 2 large HD LCD TVs, cable access, high-speed wireless internet, dual fireplaces, DVD players, glimpses of the ocean from the decks, top-tier bed linens, laundry facilities, and an outdoor shower with hot water, perfect for post-beach relaxation. The private deck features a gas BBQ and a storage space stocked with beach gear. Allow the rhythmic sound of the waves to lull you to sleep, and awaken to morning coffee in the calm of our beachside retreat or on the beach itself (note: we cannot control sea lion sounds).

A brief walk from Twin Lakes Beach, our home boasts both privacy and proximity to beachside activities. Discover the local culinary scene, shop to your heart's content, or indulge in tranquil beach walks, all while staying in a location central to Santa Cruz's iconic attractions and a drive away from the renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium, Pebble Beach, and more.

This house, our cherished second home, is perfect for guests who value respect for property, neighbors, and local regulations. Those in search of a 'party house' will need to look elsewhere. We emphasize the importance of observing quiet hours from 10 pm to 8 am, in respect of our neighbors and in compliance with local ordinances. Our cancellation policy is generous, offering a full refund up to 90 days prior to your stay, a testament to our commitment to your satisfaction.

This home is more than a place to stay; it's a haven for creating unforgettable memories, whether you're here for a special event, a restful escape, or a group gathering. We invite you to experience a piece of paradise in Santa Cruz, blending comfort with the natural beauty of the California coast.

Property manager

Michelle
Premier Host

Languages

English

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Outdoor space

Similar properties

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Children are a maximum of 7 years old

Events

No events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 2 total)
Please inquire. Fees and additional deposit apply.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No smoking outside, on property or on decks.
We have a spacious home, 18 Guests total. Maximum # of Adults is 14 (an adult is anyone age 8 and up, per the Santa Cruz Vacation Ordinance).
Quiet time is between 10pm and 8am daily. We kindly ask that you refrain from using the decks or game room after 10pm per SC ordinance. $250 min. Fine
90 days cancellation prior for full refund. With payment, guests agree to this policy and to pay the SC County transient occupancy tax increases

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 in Eastside Santa Cruz, a neighbourhood in Santa Cruz, this holiday home is near theme parks and on a lake. 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 - 4 min walk
  • Santa Cruz Harbor - 14 min walk
  • Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk - 6 min drive
  • Santa Cruz Wharf - 6 min drive
  • Seabright Beach - 8 min drive

Getting around

  • Watsonville, CA (WVI-Watsonville Municipal) - 25 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Crow's Nest Restaurant - ‬13 min walk
  • ‪Peoples Coffee - ‬19 min walk
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬7 min walk
  • ‪Hot Dog on A Stick - ‬6 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Large Santa Cruz Beach House. Steps to beach. Pets welcome. Family. Reunions. pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total).

What time is check-in at Large Santa Cruz Beach House. Steps to beach. Pets welcome. Family. Reunions.?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Large Santa Cruz Beach House. Steps to beach. Pets welcome. Family. Reunions.?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Large Santa Cruz Beach House. Steps to beach. Pets welcome. Family. Reunions. located?

This family-friendly Santa Cruz holiday home is located by the sea, within a 10-minute walk of Twin Lakes State Beach, Sunny Cove Beach and Santa Maria's Beach. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is 1.9 mi (3 km) away.

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 250 out of 302 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 41 out of 302 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 7 out of 302 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 3 out of 302 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 302 reviews" "

9.0/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.6/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Chris H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Family Fun
We have been renting this home for the Labor Day weekend for about 6 years. It is a perfect location and the property owners are amazing
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

8/10 Good

Fredi B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great place for family gatherings at the beach
Fantastic location and very roomy house. We had a weeklong family gathering with 6adults and 4 children. We spent Almost every afternoon at the beach which is Just half a block away and has a beautiful wide sandy beach. The house has two living rooms and two kitchens which made it easy to make and ate all our meals here As we desired.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Donna W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Enjoyed our stay
Very comfortable home for our family's annual beach get-away. Thank you.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2024

8/10 Good

MaryLee G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great location, plenty of room!
This house has great beach access and plenty of space for your friends and family. Parking is a breeze with ample space for 6 cars. House is a modified duplex that was combined into one large house. All 11 of us had plenty of room to escape, but the house is quite loud.esxape
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Marie G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Garcia family vacation
We have a large family. We get together every year at this beach house. So convenient to the beach and lots of room in the house for everyone.
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sarah D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great Vacation house with plenty of space
This house had great space and great location for our group . We had kids 8-14 and 3 adults and we never felt cramped in the space. Wonderful location and good communication with host . We definitely plan to stay here again !
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Dawn K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Family Summer Getaway
We had a great time at this property just a short walk to Twin Lakes Beach and some great restaurants. Our teens had a blast playing ping pong and getting burritos from the corner Mexican restaurant Michoacán. It was wonderful and the owner was very detailed with her information and very responsive.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Norma C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Annual family vacation
We’ve stayed here the past 3 years and are already booked here for next year. The large house works so well for our family - the table is big enough for family meals and games. The location is perfect for kids because the nearby beach is lovely, not crowded, and perfect sand for sand castles. The waves also are great for the kids to boogie board which are provided at the house. This trip is the highlight of our year and the cousins have so much fun together. It’s close to the Boardwalk too. The host is very responsive - our favorite location and host.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Hollis S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Family fun at the Beach Hoise
The property was a fantastic gathering spot for my adult children and their families. Being only a 3 minute walk to the state park beach was perfect for the flexibility needed to accommodate adult and kiddo schedules. The common living space with two fully equipped kitchens as well as two TVS facilitated us cooking and hanging out together. Thank you for sharing your home!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

8/10 Good

NORMA G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location
Spacious Home
There was ample room for 13 adults. The two living room spaces were great especially if not everyone wanted to be doing the same thing. Michelle, the owner, was gracious and responded quickly to questions, and comments. It was a little odd having a tub shower and a separate little room with a large sink and regular shower but after getting used to the arrangement, it worked great. The two upstairs bathrooms with toilet and sink were extremely helpful with our large group.
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

David G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great Stay !
Really great getaway to stay at. Beautiful house, really helpful Host. Would definitely come back
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ames S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location
Great offsite location for team
We are a small startup that wanted to take some time off to do some team bonding. The location was great walking distance to the beach which was awesome, saw some dolphins in the morning, house was an awesome fun maze, the owner was very delightful and easy to get ahold of. Kitchen was great cooking area, open space if you have more than one cook in the kitchen. The awesome part was we wanted a cleaner to clean up after we cooked and house owner linked us up with her cleaning person and that was amazing for us so we can focus more on other team things! Parking was great, rooms was a little too small for adults to share but we figured out an arrangement. Overall, it was awesome and good for our team to come together as a unit in a homely space.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

8/10 Good

Goddess D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location
Lovely Mothers Day and cousin club reunion
This was the perfect property to stay with 11 members of our family - ranging from 16 to 85 - 3 generations of cousins. The game room downstairs with pingpong and foosball and the neighbor's beautiful rose garden helped when the weather warmed up. Loved that this house is less than 200 steps from the beach. Loved going down to the sea at least three times a day and a cold water plunge every morning at sunrise. The house is quite interesting. The bedrooms were lovely and we had plenty of towels. However, there are only 2 full bathrooms - having a full tub/2 showers in one bathroom with six bedrooms on the first floor was quite challenging. The two half bathrooms upstairs helped and yet was not quite ideal for all our peoples. However, on Mother's Day when the rest of the cousins came in these half bathrooms on the second floor were lifesavers. As was the Farmer's Market within 200 steps of the house on Sunday mornings. We had a full feast fiesta for the Moms and for all the cousins. Thank you for opening up your house to we. The two kitchens came in handy for our brunch buffet and the two dining room tables made it purrfect for a HE and SHE tables to eat and play games. We are grateful that this sacred space was purrfectly located for our travels and we loved all of the succulent plants that align your property.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Positive stay for large group
Large property to host our large group and the location was beautiful
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michelle S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Two family dream
This is a very interesting property. Two kitchens, two living rooms, and many bedrooms. The house is clean and one kitchen is stocked. The house is a bit dated but clean. The game room and curb appeal are average.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jonlin P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
great place for large family reunion
Great house for a large get together and a weekend by the beach. There was a PG&E power outage during our stay and the Host was super responsive in helping us reach out to the utility company and keeping us up to date. Thanks! Otherwise, we had a nice stay and mostly spent our time surrounding one of the two kitchens and large dining table / family room with three generations of family together. the beach is a few houses away, and on the other end of the block is a small bodega and taqueria.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kara B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Amazing location!
Large comfy house so close to the beach, Sunday farmer’s market and all the fun that Santa Cruz has to offer.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Bree M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful house for family trip!
This is the second year in a row. We rented this property for a family trip. It was the perfect place for our whole family to spend time together, and still have their own individual space. The location could not be beat! Just steps from a beautiful beach! From the back deck, you can hear birds chirping, and the waves rolling… It was peaceful and magical!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Stephen B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Santa Cruz Beach House
Great location short walk to Twin Lakes beach. Perfect place for sunset. Large enough for 12 of us to congregate without being crowded. Kitchen well supplied for cooking for large a group.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2024

8/10 Good

Melissa N.

Liked: Check-in, location
Disliked: Communication
Terrific location, needs TLC
The house is in a great location, half a block from the beach, and the layout worked well for our group of 10 adults and 3 kids. There was room to spread out, so even in rainy weather, we could use the two living rooms and the game room and not be on top of each other. Communication with the manager in advance of our stay was difficult, and I had to ask VRBO for help to get a response When we arrived, the refrigerator in one kitchen was not working and the toaster oven and microwave in the other kitchen were also out of order. The latter two we were able to fix by pushing the reset button on the wall plug, but we had to make do with one refrigerator for our group during our entire stay (fortunately, we had hired someone to deliver dinners for 3 of the 5 nights, or we would not have been able to fit all our food in the one refrigerator). The refrigerator in the game room is a tiny, under counter type--it was dirty and did not get very cold when plugged in, so it did not help. There are two half baths in the living area and two full baths in the sleeping area (one with two showers), although the description states four bathrooms with bath and shower. The beds were mostly quite comfortable, although one was uncomfortably soft. The dishwasher did not get everything clean, so we ended up rewashing many dishes by hand. Despite the problems, we had a great time, but for the price, it could use a couple of new appliances and a deep cleaning.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Raymond H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Best in Santa Cruz
We did a family New Years gathering. For the number we came in. This is very accommodating. The house is so big you never feel over crowded and there’s plenty of space for everyone. The distance from the beach is optimal. It’s well worth the stay. This is the second time we have done this and plan to do this again.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

8/10 Good

Marta A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location
Great location but ...
Overall great space for a family. One refrigerator did not work which was a big problem. Had to go buy an ice chest. After paying large cleaning fee we were not pleased that we were expected to wash and fold towels in white and colored loads. Dryer took forever to dry so we left some towels in the dryer. I did let Michelle know. Also had to leave dishes in dishwasher in order to be out by 11. I believe other renters may have had same issue as some dishes and flatware in cupboards were dirty like they had just had a quick swipe with a paper towel and then put away. Pretty gross.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2023

4/10 Poor

Jennyfer S.

Liked: Location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness, check-in
Spacious and great location, but needs a good cleaning
The place is huge and has more than enough space to accommodate a large party, and the location to the beach is literally just steps away. On the cleanliness side tho, I’ve stayed in Motel 6’s with cleaner furniture. The couches are nasty and covered in various stains. The placed smelled very musty and mildew-ey when we checked in, we had to open all the windows and air it out for hours when we checked in. I’d get over all that normally, but the worst part is that the hosts or staff or someone entered the house while we were out during our stay. Huuuuge invasion of privacy.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Liked: Check-in, location
Disliked: Communication, listing accuracy
Did not measure up
While this house's proximity to the beach is excellent, it was unfortunately not the deluxe experience we expected from photos, price and description. Sub par compared to comparable other stays we've experienced in the area. We arrived to almost zero toilet paper in any of the 4 bathrooms and no back up supply to be found anywhere. There were no towels put out in bathrooms, although we did find adequate clean towels in closets. The clothes dryer had linens and towels left in it unfolded. There are 2 kitchens and multiple coffee makers but there was not ground coffee provided. Luckily we did not need all the beds since some made bed linens appeared dusty and less than pristine. The heat on one side of the house never seemed to work. And we could not gain access to the game room, the provided code did not work. Despite calling the provided phone number and sending messages to the host after checking in, we never received a response. The layout of this house is awkward, it is overly large yet our 7 people could not all sit comfortably together in one of the livingrooms. This seemed to us like a house set up maybe for large rowdy parties primarily. Not gonna be a repeat for us sadly!
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2023

8/10 Good

Rebecca D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Family weekend excursion
Plenty of room for everyone. Wonderful location! My granddaughters had so much fun at the beach. The beach there is very nice. As others have mentioned the stairs are for those with good knees!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

About the host

Hosted by Michelle

Host profile image
This is our personal second home owned by three families with many children and friends. This is not a typical 'vacation rental' property. We provide the special touches. We would love to share our home with you and your family!

Why they chose this property

As long time locals, we have enjoyed coming to the beach and Santa Cruz with our families! Twin Lakes Beach is a very unique. The beach near our home is quaint and secluded, yet it is an easy walk to restaurants, shops, attractions with stunning natural beauty. We chose to buy this house since it is on a quiet street only 6 houses from the beach and is large enough to comfortably sleep corporate groups, extended families and friends.

What makes this property unique

We are 6 houses from the entrance to Twin Lakes State Beach. You can also easily walk to the Crows Nest, the Harbor and other shops and restaurants along one of the most beautiful beaches in Santa Cruz. The best thing about the house is its spaciousness and layout. All rooms are large and the living areas are light, bright and comfortably furnished. The main dining room table seats 14 - a second dining table seats 6! You will not find a more spacious or comfortable home so close to the beach in Northern California. Since this is our second home we have furnished to it to our own high standards. The beds and linens are all of the highest quality and provide a great sleep. Also, we are dog lovers so we occasionally have animals (2 dogs maximum) in the house. The house is professionally cleaned after each stay, but we can not guarantee that someone with severe allergies to pets will not have a problem.

Languages:

English

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