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Family Fun with Old World Charm in a Five Star Location

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Awesome location without the W. Cliff Dr. congestion & noise!
Spa with 27 jets and room for six guests! Perfect after a day of surfing!
Warm and inviting entrance with a Dutch door to let in the sun & surfer chatter!
You arrive, then garage your car and it doesn't move for the entire stay!
The site of many memorable conversations

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 8157.9 sq m

Popular amenities

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

Explore the area

Map
Santa Cruz, CA
  • Cowell's Beach
    ‪7 min walk‬
  • Santa Cruz Wharf
    ‪9 min walk‬
  • Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
    ‪16 min walk‬
  • Watsonville, CA (WVI-Watsonville Municipal)
    ‪31 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Cromwell Room (queen-over-queen Sleep Nbr bunk bed)

2 Queen Beds

Dragon Room (Sleep Nbr queen bed)

1 Queen Bed

Victorian Room (Sleep Nbr queen bed)

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Outdoor shower

Spaces

Deck or patio
Outdoor shower
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Garden

About this property

Family Fun with Old World Charm in a Five Star Location

Escape to Steamer Lane Manor: Your Safe Haven by the Sea
 
Experience the perfect blend of comfortable elegance, safety, and prime location at our family's Santa Cruz beach home. Just steps away from West Cliff Drive and world-famous surfing spots, our 1700 sq ft home offers a tranquil retreat without compromising
on convenience.
 
Key Features:
•3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, outdoor surfer shower
•Sleep Number queen beds in all rooms
•65" flatscreen TV and fireplace in living room
•Private backyard with BBQ, patio furniture, and 6-person hot tub
•Thorough sanitization between guests by our professional cleaning crew
 
Unique Touches:
•Built by a Danish contractor in 1942 with redwood and mahogany
•Nautical themes and heirloom art throughout
•Hand-painted teak ceiling in the Dragon Room; queen-over-queen bunk bed in Cromwell Room
•300-year-old dining table from an Irish pub
 
Prime Location:
•15 yards from Steamer Lane surfing area and Cowell's Beach
•Walking distance to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, the nation's longest wooden Wharf, and Lighthouse Field
•1 mile to downtown Santa Cruz with its "Keep Santa Cruz Weird" motif
•30-minute drive from Silicon Valley
•40-minute drive to Monterey and Carmel
•90-minute scenic drive to San Francisco
 
Nearby Attractions:
•World-class surfing at Steamer Lane
•Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and celebrated Giant Dipper roller coaster
•Diverse dining options and vibrant nightlife
•Unique shopping, local cafes, craft breweries and boutique wineries
•Easy access to hiking and biking trails
 
Experience the best of Santa Cruz while enjoying the privacy and safety of a home away from home. Book your stay at Steamer Lane Manor today and create unforgettable memories in this coastal paradise.

Property manager

Rob Hardwicke
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 12:00 PM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
(With bunkbed restriction)
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Events

No events allowed
Parties and events are not allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 9 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)
Small dogs (20# or less). $25 surcharge per dog.
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
This actually is our home so please treat it as if it were yours.
Our neighbors are good people, so please be considerate, most especially outdoor talking & laughing in the hot tub after 9pm. All quiet after 10pm.

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: Parties and events are not allowed
This property uses eco-friendly cleaning products
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

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts
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. Mystery Spot is a notable landmark, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Monterey Bay and Capitola Beach. Travelling with kids? Consider Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Santa Cruz Surfing Museum. Kayaking and scuba diving offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with cycling and hiking/biking trails nearby.
Map
Santa Cruz, CA

What's nearby

  • Cowell's Beach - 7 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Santa Cruz Wharf - 9 min walk - 0.8 km
  • Main Beach - 10 min walk - 0.9 km
  • Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk - 16 min walk - 1.4 km
  • Natural Bridges State Park - 4 min drive - 3.0 km

Getting around

  • Watsonville, CA (WVI-Watsonville Municipal) - 31 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk - ‬18 min walk
  • ‪Stagnaro Bros - ‬18 min walk
  • ‪Ideal Bar & Grill - ‬10 min walk
  • ‪Boardwalk Bowl - ‬14 min walk
  • ‪Steamer Lane Supply - ‬8 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Family Fun with Old World Charm in a Five Star Location pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 9 kg per pet.

What time is check-in at Family Fun with Old World Charm in a Five Star Location?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Family Fun with Old World Charm in a Five Star Location?

Checkout is at 12:00 PM.

Where is Family Fun with Old World Charm in a Five Star Location located?

This family-friendly Santa Cruz holiday home is located by the sea, within a 15-minute walk of Cowell's Beach and Monterey Bay. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk 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.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 175 out of 187 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 10 out of 187 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 187 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 187 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 187 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Liz & Phil M.

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

Perfect for multi-state family Thanksgiving

Stayed for a week, hosted a large family T-day gathering (after checking with our attentive hosts for permission) and had an absolutely amazing time. This house is so very comfortable, has every cooking amenity needed for 7-rib prime roast, gallons of cioppino (go to H&H for crab and oysters, Stagnaros for everything else!), cozy seating for all, outstanding location being so walkable from Downtown to along West Cliff bluffs. The Hardwicke’s are fantastic hosts, responding quickly to every question or request (bless them!). We loved staying here and highly recommend this spot if you’d like a quiet, yet close to everything, getaway. Worth every penny and we hope to come back!
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Alan A.

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

Family Fun Escape

Location was perfect. My children and grandchildren enjoyed walks to the pier, fun zone, and the surfing beaches. The home was cozy and had a beautiful old fashion look. Using the TVs was challenging. It would be great to simplify the process.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

marla d.

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

Spectacular Beachside Paradise

Our weekend at the seaside treasure was spectacular. The house is truly magical and was roomy and warm. We enjoyed being steps from the beach and really felt an old Santa Cruz vibe. Loved the hottub, amazing backyard, comfy beds and fully equipped kitchen. I even made my Son his 21st birthday cake. Thanks for the baking powder that I forgot.Can’t wait for our next visit.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Betty M.

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

Wonderful place to visit

We were there for the triathlon so it was a perfect location. The house is very relaxing and we enjoyed our time there. The kitchen was well stocked. The spa was lovely and the backyard peaceful. We just wished we had more time to stay!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

RUSSELL N.

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

Annual Santa Cruz Vacation

This is my 3rd year in a row staying at this beautiful home. The beds are very comfortable, and it has a large living room to enjoy watching the big tv. The ocean is less than a minute walk to watch the suffers and 2 minutes to the local coffee shop.
Stayed 10 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Geri T.

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

Excellent vacation home!

We had a wonderful time in this comfortable and well-appointed home. Everything we needed was available and easy to find. We had a few high school friends over on one of the nights and they were also impressed with the house and all the interesting decor. The beds and sofa were very comfortable and cozy, and we had a good night's sleep every night. The hot tub was always warm and pleasant and we used it every morning and night! We had more than enough kitchen equipment...a nice change from other places we've rented in the past! All in all, I would certainly recommend "Steamer Lane Manor" to anyone interested in a happy, comfortable place to rent in a fun place in Santa Cruz. Being close to the Boardwalk was great for the kids and the wharf was fun for the grownups who enjoyed may pleasant walks. We're so happy we picked this place, and thank you for the wonderful lotion and wine! What a great week!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Gina L.

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

INCREDIBLE PROPERTY BEST IN SANTA CRUZ!

We have stayed at this property many many times over the past several years and will hopefully stay at this property for many more years to come! The owners are wonderful, the house is so comfortable and the location is perfect as well! We highly recommend the manor house for Santa Cruz vacation fun!!
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Naomi B.

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

West Cliff vacation

We get together with family every year in Santa Cruz. This was our first time to stay in this house. The house is in a great location, quiet, and cozy. The living room was large enough for all of us to gather. The sleep number beds were comfortable.The backyard and hot tub was lovely for hanging out and relaxing. The kitchen was well stocked with what we needed. Thank you for sharing your home with us.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Carolyn K.

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

A little Paradise on the West Side of Santa Cruz

We felt that we were in our home away from home! All the right amenities, perfect location for walking everywhere and garden cafe backyard setting visited frequently with hummingbirds which may all be enjoyed while soaking in the hot tub! We would definitely return to this property! Thank you Rob for sharing your home!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rene' W.

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

Cozy home in the most perfect location

We loved the garden and hot tub in the back. The kids loved the bunkbeds and the close walk to the boardwalk and beach! You can hear the sea lions from the house. The response times were super fast from the host and they went above and beyond getting valuables found and a plan to return them. The home was comfortable, safe, and had everything you need for a relaxing getaway. Id definitely stay here again. Thank you so much!!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Karen S.

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

Memorial weekend stay

Nice house in the very clean neighborhood. Kitchen was well stocked. There is plenty of clean towels and beach Towels to use. Houses cleaned and interesting. My family enjoyed all the pictures and history. Nice cozy yard with a Jacuzzi. Definitely would recommend!
Stayed 5 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Nina L.

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

Great location

Comfortable house in a wonderful location Lemon tree and hot tub in the garden.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lesli S.

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

Fantastic Stay!!

We had so much fun and the location couldn’t have been better! The kitchen had everything we needed, and we would definitely recommend this home!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Nelse F.

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

Spring Break getaway

We just had a great week at this house. The location is incredible as we could walk to the wharf, bike from the house to all the incredible routes in and around Santa Cruz. Our family of 5 fit perfectly with the bunk bed and second bedroom. One of us had to work the whole week so the adorable desk in the alcove of the primary bedroom worked perfectly. The hot tub was great and there was even room for playing in the side yard. The kitchen had everything we needed. There was even a sweet gift of a delicious bottle of Bonny Doon wine and some hand lotion made by the owners. We’ll be back!
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michael P.

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

Great location for Boardwalk and watching surfers

Great stay good location host is good hot tub cleaned regularly house is an old Santa Cruz house with that certain charm. Could use a few minor repairs ( back shower slow to drain, towel rack broken, back door hard to open) and a little less clutter, especially in the kitchen which was small to begin with and all the stuff made it hard to prepare meals, so we ordered out more than we had planned which added significant cost but helped out the local economy. But really we rented it for the location and it was perfect in that regard. Easy walks to a lot of great activities. We hardly drove at all.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Dorothy F.

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

New Years Holiday House

Great location, pet friendly a total bonus!
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Benjamin W.

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

Walking paradise with a cozy home

Excellent house with a great location. Walking along the surfing area was so nice, easy paths for granny. Boardwalk for the teens to entertain themselves. House had everything needed. Enjoyed the hot tub and outdoor grill. Great choice for Sant Cruz family getaway.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Stephen C., Tucson

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

Steamer Lane Mannor

Great home with fantastic loc
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Nicky S.

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

Fabulous property in a great location

The property was lovely. It was spacious and well equipped. The beds were really comfortable and the bedding was really good quality. There were plenty of towels including beach towels. We loved the garden and the bbq. The kitchen was small but perfectly formed with ample crockery, cutlery and glasses. The location was superb, it was yards from the beach and about 10 mins walk to the board walk with its lovely restaurants and bars. In the other direction there was a path along the cliffs were there were beaches and views of the ocean. Communication with Rob was timely. Check in was easy and there was a folder with useful info about the area and its amenities. Parking was good. Rob went over and above as a host when he offered us the house free of charge for a night due to circumstances beyond our control. The gesture was appreciated but fortunately we did not need to take him up on his generous offer. I would definately stay at this property again
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2023

8/10 Good

Caroline D.

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

Weekend Getaway

Nice quiet neighborhood close to the pier. Some remodeling has been done and there are some signs of age but overall, it is well equipped and clean. Lots of character. Could use one more bathroom! Enjoyed the hot tub. We had a great time!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jill G.

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

Late summer trip

Property is very clean. Convenient location. Easy walk to beach and boardwalk. The host, Rob answers all questions and concerns in a timely manner.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer B.

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

Steamer Lane Win

The house was just as photos indicated, and the location was great. We walked to the Boardwalk, the Pier and the Lighthouse, where we got coffee and amazing fish tacos at the local cafe. When we had down time, it was spent around the large dining table or the backyard. This was a perfect place to have a family gathering.
Stayed 9 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

RUSSELL N., Fair Oaks, CA

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

Family vacation

This was our second year at this beautiful house. We walked to the local coffee shop, stopped to watch the surfers and continued to walk to the wharf for awesome dinners. This house is the best.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Julie C.

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

Great location

The house was very clean and well stocked. The wine and lotion were nice welcome gifts. The sleep number beds were comfortable. We loved the large living area, plenty of space for everyone. The spa was relaxing and already heated! It was very easy to communicate with the owner and he always responded quickly. The location was great, only 15 minutes to the boardwalk. Quiet neighborhood.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Gina L., Sparks nevada

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

Wonderful and Charming!

We love staying in the Manor house as it makes us feel like we are at home. Hosts are very responsive and the location the cleanliness of their home is why we keep coming back! Highly recommend this home:) Gina
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2023

About the host

Hosted by Rob Hardwicke

Host profile image
Rob's a Los Gatos-born & raised native Californian, whose family has been in the area since the late 1800's. Maryann hails from tiny Pittsfield, New Hampshire, brags that she is of 100% Polish stock, and arrived in California to live and work for the first time in 1971. At one time or another, both she and Rob have been residents of New York City and both have enjoyed extensive overseas work and/or living assignments in Asia, Europe and South America. They exude a casual warmth and dedicated kindness that aims to provide every guest of their Steamer Lane Manor beach home with a happily memorable stay.

Why they chose this property

Rob fell in love with this house way back in 1972, fresh out of grad school. His longest tenants were his parents, Bern & Mima, who resided here from 1974 until 2001 -- Bern living until age 95 and Mima an admirably active 101. Built by a Danish contractor for himself back in 1942, the house saw no corners cut in terms of quality or aesthetics. It is Rob & Maryann's favorite spot on earth when they're in a mood to inhale the restoring freshness of Pacific Ocean salt air, enjoy a delightful fish dinner, bike and hike the coastal cliffs, sip a craft beer at one of Santa Cruz' burgeoning microbrew establishments -- or just loaf in the company of friends and family.

What makes this property unique

Steamer Lane Manor is unique in so many ways -- location, amenities, 'good vibes' (this IS California after all), secure parking and new friends.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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