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.
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
We should mention
A car is not required for transport to and from this property
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. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is a popular attraction and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Monterey Bay and Capitola Beach. Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center and Boardwalk Bowl are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Santa Cruz, CA
What's nearby
Cowell's Beach - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
Santa Cruz Wharf - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
Main Beach - 6 min walk - 0.5 km
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk - 12 min walk - 1.0 km
Natural Bridges State Park - 4 min drive - 3.0 km
Getting around
Watsonville, CA (WVI-Watsonville Municipal) - 28 min drive
Restaurants
Stagnaro Bros - 14 min walk
Ideal Bar & Grill - 6 min walk
Boardwalk Bowl - 10 min walk
Steamer Lane Supply - 12 min walk
Marini's at the Beach - 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.
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 15-minute walk of Cowell's Beach and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Monterey Bay is 0.8 mi (1.3 km) away.
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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!
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 :-)
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!
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! 😀
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
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.
10/10 Excellent
john k.
22 Sept 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.
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!
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!
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
Lars Erik K.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2022
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.
10/10 Excellent
Marea O., CA
5 June 2014
Authentic Santa Cruz Charm & Comfort
This was our second time staying at this house, and it was just as wonderful as the first! Perfect for our small family (2 adults, 1 toddler), the house is equipped with everything you will need. From kitchen appliances, laundry, space heaters, to high chairs, beach toys, and bikes! Everything was clean, furnishings are well thought out and comfortable, and the keypad entry made things super easy.
Situated in an ideal location, you can walk to much of what Santa Cruz is known for -- the beach, boardwalk, or the path along West Cliff. Easy access to downtown as well, with or without a car.
We have loved coming to Santa Cruz for years and now we feel like we have a home away from home there. The owners were great to communicate with ...we can't wait to stay here again!
Marea O.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.
10/10 Excellent
Jamie G.
29 Sept 2011
Gorgeous bungalow! everything you need for a perfect vaca
We absolutely love this place and will come back over and over again as our kids grow up. It feels as comfortable as being at home but as fun as being on a perfect vacation. we love walking 5 mins down the street to play tennis or taking our young kids on a short walk down to the beach or for coffee and to cruise down the boardwalk or down to the lighthouse. The house has 2 good size bedrooms and a lot of natural light. The owners are incredibly thoughtful and courteous - you can tell they really want their guests to feel welcome and have a good time. We continuously recommend this home to anyone wanting to enjoy Santa Cruz. You can't find a better location and it is a much better deal to stay in this comfortable home than an expensive hotel.
note that the owners do live nearby so this is not a good rental for large parties.
Charming, Clean, and Centrally Located with Fun Touches!
The photos don't do justice to this charming and fun home. You can tell that the space is loved, with thoughtful touches like the large selection of books and magazines, incredibly well stocked kitchen and barbecue, plus the outdoor surf shower. The loft is super cute and gave us three very comfortable sleeping spaces. My kids loved the private patio/backyard with its romantic string lights and propane fire pit. You can't beat the location for the combination of quiet and removed from the hustle and bustle while still being close to everything Santa Cruz has to offer. We walked to the beach and the boardwalk every day. You can also walk to downtown. On top of all that, our hosts were so kind and fun to chat with (when we occasionally ran across them in the shared driveway). They responded quickly when we had questions. It was a fantastic stay and I would highly, highly recommend!
This cottage was perfect for a family of five and perfectly situated on the West Side. Very quiet and although near a main area, is very quiet and felt secluded. Cowells, Main Beach and the Boardwalk are all easy and nice walks. Running along beach path is top notch. The house itself is newer, modern construction, wonderfully decorated and has beautiful architecture and landscaping. The beds are extremely comfortable (and I have neck and back issues). The backyard patio provides a wonderful space for dining, BBQ, jacuzzi and fire pit. House and side yards (with outdoor shower) is ideal for surfers and paddlers. Lastly, Alan and Brit are wonderful hosts and very responsive. We had no problems learning the in's and out's of the home. Would look to stay again whenever we need a getaway over the hill.
Everything you need to enjoy your stay. Walking distance to downtown, beach/pier and surfing views. Quiet neighborhood with lots of privacy. Amazing backyard! Can’t wait to visit again.
Cute and comfortable. It had everything we needed for a week stay for our family of four. Super close to the boardwalk, wharf and west cliff. There was even space for my husband to work while we were there. We would absolutely stay here again.
This is our second stay at this home, we love the spaciousness of the property and the location. With 3-4 adults, there is plenty of room to move about and the outside area is wonderful as well. The property is well appointed and if you need anything, all you have to do is ask, Alan and Bri are amazing. We will be back anytime we are in Santa Cruz.
Linda S.
Stayed 6 nights in May 2022
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