Top 10% of guest reviews in this areaTop 10% of guest reviews in this area
Highlights
The great outdoors
Guests love the outdoor space here.
Beach equipment
A rare find — beach equipment ready to go for your days by the sea.
Centrally-located
You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
Discover nearby landmarks
Close to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 6
Popular amenities
Onsite parking available
Kitchen
Washing machine
Air-conditioning
Barbecue
Fenced yard
Explore the area
Santa Cruz, CA
Santa Cruz Wharf
Place, Santa Cruz Wharf
5 min walk
Pacific Avenue
Place, Pacific Avenue
7 min walk
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Place, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
11 min walk
San Jose, CA (SJC-Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Intl.)
Airport, San Jose, CA (SJC-Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Intl.)
60 min drive
Rooms & beds
2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)
2nd
1 Double Bed
Loft
1 Queen Bed
Main
1 King Bed
1 bathroom
Bathroom 1
Spaces
Deck or patio
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Dining area
About this property
Walk to Surf, Beach, Boardwalk, Downtown from the Surf Colony Modern Surf Shack
{City Permit: STR18-0008 | TOT #512-955Q}
This stylish, adorable, lovingly-maintained, Westside home is located in a central yet peaceful neighborhood. Ideally located on the corner of Bay & Lighthouse, it’s a short walk to: Cowell’s Beach, Steamer Lane, the lively Municipal Pier and the ever-entertaining Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Take one of our beach cruisers for a short bike ride Downtown, to Mission Street, New Leaf market, the Harbor and beyond. You'll never need to get into your car.
Our well-appointed, but simple home includes an outdoor area that feels very much like part of the home. For a small house, the two bedrooms, loft, kitchen and living room are all quite spacious with loads of natural light. The sunny kitchen is great for entertaining and is outfitted with new appliances, good knives, and stocked with basic supplies like olive oil and spices. The master bedroom has a wonderful King bed, and TV. The second bedroom has a double bed. The loft has a fold-out Queen bed and TV. The living area has comfortable seating and a desk with an iMac.
If it’s exercise you desire, you can clear your head with a 5-mile run on the gorgeous sea wall, winding along the secluded beaches and rocky outcroppings. Stroll out to West Cliff, where the world-class surf ranges from beginner to pro. Pedal up to the stunning UCSC campus or wilder ranch for amazing mountain biking, or just blaze down the scenic coast highway on your roadbike.
If you’re more interested in filling your belly, or your soul, you can ride out to the Westside Farmer’s Market on Saturday morning to pick up fresh produce, meats and flowers. Stop by Kelly’s Bakery for a fresh chocolate eclair or hit the Santa Cruz Yoga Studio for a Vinyasa Class. Kick back at the Bonny Doon wine tasting room or grab a beer at the Santa Cruz Brewery.
If you like to shop you can take a stroll Downtown on historic and vibrant Pacific Avenue. Pop into the many locally-owned businesses. Grab a taco from the Taco Bar at the Palomar Inn, have an intimate dinner at Gabriella’s but be sure to save room for dessert. Penny Ice Creamery has wild flavors made on site with surprising local ingredients.
If you want to take a day trip, there are numerous redwood hikes with swimming holes, a variety of colorful coastal towns, the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, Carmel & Pebble beach, and the San Jose Tech museum.
The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Strip any used beds and gather used towels
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights and lock the doors
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
Important information
You need to know
Property # 377763vb
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 and a deadlock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
About the area
Santa Cruz
Located in Westside Santa Cruz, a neighbourhood in Santa Cruz, this holiday home is near theme parks and near the beach. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Monterey Bay and Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, while Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Roaring Camp Railroads are popular area attractions. Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center and Boardwalk Bowl are also worth visiting. Kayaking and scuba diving offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking/biking trails and mountain biking nearby.
Watsonville, CA (WVI-Watsonville Municipal) - 28 min drive
Restaurants
Ideal Bar & Grill - 6 min walk
Boardwalk Bowl - 10 min walk
Jack O'Neill Restaurant & Lounge - 2 min walk
Marini’s at the Wharf - 14 min walk
Craft Beer at The Boardwalk - 11 min walk
Frequently asked questions
Is Walk to Surf, Beach, Boardwalk, Downtown from the Surf Colony Modern Surf Shack pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Walk to Surf, Beach, Boardwalk, Downtown from the Surf Colony Modern Surf Shack?
As of 3 August 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Walk to Surf, Beach, Boardwalk, Downtown from the Surf Colony Modern Surf Shack on 31 August 2026 start from NZ$2,506, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Walk to Surf, Beach, Boardwalk, Downtown from the Surf Colony Modern Surf Shack?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Walk to Surf, Beach, Boardwalk, Downtown from the Surf Colony Modern Surf Shack?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Walk to Surf, Beach, Boardwalk, Downtown from the Surf Colony Modern Surf Shack?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Walk to Surf, Beach, Boardwalk, Downtown from the Surf Colony Modern Surf Shack located?
Located in Westside Santa Cruz, this holiday home is within a 10-minute walk of Cowell's Beach and Santa Cruz Wharf. Monterey Bay and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk are also within 15 minutes.
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
This house is fantastic. You can't beat the location. You also have a large private outdoor space as well. The unit comes with quite a few beach items for your use as well as various surf items. Would definitely rent again!
The location was perfect, a 5-ish minute walk from the beach that was very doable even for our young kids. The house was as described. Not ideal for young kids given that it is a relatively small space and the loft has steep steps, but we were still able to make it work. The main downside for me was that, because the space is small, there was very little storage space, which made keeping the space organized a challenge.
Wonderful place, close to the cliff walks, and boardwalk. Really excellent backyard that the kids loved running around in. Nice clean cozy space and great for our 4 person family (the kids shared a room). The owners were really accommodating and we will absolutely be back!
Spring break/UCSC tour trip had us in Santa Cruz and we absolutely loved our stay here. The host was accommodating, friendly and responsive to a few questions. Listing is 100% accurate to what you'll find and was just what we needed for the 3 of us. Walkable to restaurants, bars, shops and cliff side ocean views. 10/10
Place was perfect!!! Had all the accommodations that made it feel like it was home away from home for a few nights!!! Centrally located to lots to do in Santa Cruz that was within walking distance. Place also had 2 bikes that my sons rode around which gave them some independence as teenagers like. Perfect spot for families! Will definitely keep this on the books for next time we visit the area!
Loved our stay! Place is outfitted very nicely with all you need, is stylish, and comfortable. Hosts are responsive and friendly. Would totally stay again!
We had a wonderful time, and will be making this an annual tradition.Thank you, we really enjoyed our stay at your peaceful lovely home.Kathleen, Lillie & Ollie
My family and I really enjoyed our stay. Great location with a short walk to the beach. Nice to have the loft so the kids don’t have to share a room! 😀
Mike D.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023
Archival
10/10 Excellent
john k.
22 September 2015
Santa Cruz Vacation Rental
We loved it! The home is located walking distance to everything-1 block from the Beach Boardwalk. It was clean, comfortable, lovely and had everything we wanted.
We would stay there again and highly recommend it.
We were so happy to all be together as a family!! Fit everyone perfectly.. Nice and cozy and close walking distance to everything. Hope to stay again if we're able to come to Santa Cruz again :-)
The house was very comfortable, quiet and well equipped. We especially enjoyed the jacuzzi, paddle boards, cruiser bikes and being able to walk to the beach. The owners were welcoming, professional and very responsive to any questions that we had. We'd definitely recommend staying here!
Mark
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 27 October 2020
Thanks Mark - it was a pleasure to host you! As a note to future guests, the house no longer has a Jacuzzi.
We absolutely loved our stay. We did take little ones and there wasn't a bathtub but that's on me for not thinking that through. The location was great, the hosts were easy to work with, price was reasonable. It's a no brainer would easily stay here again.
My daughter and I enjoyed being so close to West Cliff Drive, for our long morning runs and walks, while also being only a 20-minute walk to downtown for restaurants. The neighborhood was quiet at night. The beds were very good. There were plenty of towels, and the kitchen had everything we needed. The hosts were very responsive.
This was a terrific house two blocks from the beach in a very nice neighborhood. The house was well stocked, clean, comfortable, and had a great yard with table and chairs, lounge chairs and benches. Quiet too. Alan and Brit (owners) were very nice and very helpful. We would definitely stay here again,
Stayed there for 3 weeks with my baby while husband was working in the area. Great location for walks along the coasts in the morning. Easy beach access. Beach gear was very useful (towels, chairs, umbrella). The host provided baby stuff which was very appreciated. Comfy beds, calm at night and fun backyard. Highly recommend!
This is the must cosy house i have ever used as a vacation home.
Every thing was perfect. And the coffee that comes with the house are just amazing.
We stayed her in the start of July-22. Miss this place
Lars Erik
Walking distance from wharf, Boardwalk and Natural Bridges Stare Park. Lovely small home that makes excellent use of their space. Great backyard with plenty of outside seating, fire pit and grill. Relaxing! Owner is very responsive but not invasive! Great experience!
We stayed at this property for 20 days and it was exactly what we wanted. It accommodated separate visits from three groups of relatives and was very spacious. Everything we needed for time at the beach was supplied. The gates to the backyard locked so we could safely store our w-bikes. Riding along E. Cliff drive as gorgeous. The large picnic table outside was a great amenity and the kitchen was well equipped.we enjoyed the gas fire pit several nights. Brit and Alan were delightful and readily accessible. In all, it was a perfect stay!
Nice spot within walking distance to wharf, boardwalk, and downtown!
Stayed three nights and had an excellent time. Easy/quick drive to the Henry Cowell redwoods, day tripped to Monterrey, hit some local seafood and coffee spots (shoutout to Verve Coffe Roasters!) took the provided beach cruisers out for evening rides to watch the surfers along the coast taking on the remnants of the big swell that wrecked the pier. Condo wasn't huge, but was nicely equipped. Backyard was nice for hanging out, did some grilling and sat by the fire pit. Kids enjoyed sleeping in the pull-out bed in the loft, just had to be careful going up/down the steps. Definitely recommend this place based on the amenities and location. Worked well for two couples in the bedrooms and two kids in the loft, but that was definitely maxing it out. Enjoy!
Reed P.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024
About the host
Hosted by Brit Charlebois
Brit & Alan are originally from Canada. They now, with their daughter, call Santa Cruz home. Alan is a product designer and Brit works in construction of affordable housing, and they both love to surf and play in the snow.
Between 2015 and 2019 they undertook a massive project to replicate their popular vacation rental formula as a hotel. In the end, the financing didn't come together but it was a great journey and you can explore the design at the Surf Colony website.
Why they chose this property
The location is fabulous. We love living here, and enjoy hosting our vacation rental - on the same property.
What makes this property unique
The one downside of Santa Cruz is the traffic - especially on the weekends. Location is key. We park our car when we get here and hardly ever use it. There’s something about getting around on a beach cruiser, or strolling, that totally changes your state of mind. We always leave here feeling mentally refreshed. . . and maybe physically exhausted from surfing. It’s a great feeling.
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests