Entire home

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!

Beach nearby, sun loungers, beach towels
View from property
Smart TV, fireplace, video games, DVD player
Beach nearby, sun loungers, beach towels
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

3 bedrooms2 bathrooms123 sq m

Popular amenities

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

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

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

Languages

English

Property amenities

Beach

  • Near the beach
  • Beach towels
  • Beach sun loungers

Internet

  • Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Onsite parking
  • Car recommended

Kitchen

  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Dishwasher
  • Ice maker
  • Toaster
  • Blender
  • Coffee/tea maker

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 3 bedrooms
  • Bed sheets provided

Bathrooms

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Towels provided
  • Toilet paper

Living spaces

  • Fireplace
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Smart TV with cable/satellite service
  • Video games
  • DVD player
  • Video library
  • Stereo
  • Games
  • Books

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Gas grill
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture

Laundry

  • Washing machine and dryer
  • Near laundromat

Comfort

  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Location highlights

  • Near a hospital

Things to do

  • Water park
  • Water sports equipment
  • Fitness facilities nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Wildlife and game walks nearby
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Marina nearby
  • Hiking nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Theme parks nearby
  • Cycling nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector installed (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector installed (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • First aid kit
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Unit size: 1320 sq ft (123 sq m)

Similar properties

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

An adult age 18 or older must assume all liability for the booking
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: Adhere to the guidelines in rental agreement
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Property Registration Number 111562

We should mention

A car is recommended for transportation to and from this property

About the neighborhood

Map
Santa Cruz, CA

What's nearby

  • Twin Lakes State Beach - 1 min walk
  • Santa Cruz Harbor - 18 min walk
  • Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk - 6 min drive
  • Santa Cruz Wharf - 6 min drive
  • Main Beach - 12 min drive

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!?

Check-out 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 vacation home is located near the beach, 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.

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

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 195 out of 209 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 14 out of 209 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 209 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 209 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 209 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

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

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

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

8/10 Good

Katie C.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great location
We loved the size of the house and how accommodating us was for our family. The location was amazing! Very close to beautiful beaches and wonderful food. We really enjoyed our stay and plan on returning.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2023

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

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

janeenandjerry c.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
To visit our children and grandkids
Another wonderful stay at "Sunshine" Thank you Mike & Donna!
Stayed 8 nights in Mar 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

Lauren D., Macomb, MI

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fam Vaca
Great house to host our family vaca! Kids loved the backyard and house was very clean and had everything we needed!
Stayed 7 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Stephanie A., Salida, CA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great Stay
Me and my husband stayed here for a weekend getaway and it was great. The owners are wonderful and the house was very clean. It was just me and my husband but would definitely return with kids.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2021

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

Briana H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fun family experience
Clean, nice, and home-y! Loved our stay and our children did too. Thank you for a nice weekend!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

HANNAH G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Cozy Beach House
We had such a wonderful stay at this home. It felt cozy and homey from the moment we walked in! The kitchen was well stocked with dishes/pots and pans and the rooms were all comfortable and clean. We loved the 7 minute walk to the beach and enjoyed going each day!
Stayed 4 nights in May 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

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

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

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

8/10 Good

Steven K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Santa Cruz
Stay was fine and host very responsive. Only potential issue is that the upstairs bedroom had steep steps down and was somewhat more like a loft than stand alone bedroom
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Samantha C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Amazing!
We had such a fun time at this place. Our kiddos ended up calling it the “yellow house” and on our way home that’s all they asked about. It was so cute and perfect for our little family. The kids LOVED all the toys and playground in the back. I felt like it was cozy but for sure plenty of space. We will definitely come back in the future!! Thanks Donna and Mike!!
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 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

Anne P., Reno, NV

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect Getaway!
We booked this house for a gymnastics competition that also coincided with my son’s 12th birthday. House was perfect for our family unit and his best friend. Close to everything including the competition, Mystery Spot, and Henry Cowell redwood state park. Weather wasn’t amazing for the beach -it’s March!- but we could walk to the water in short order so I’m looking forward to coming back during beach season! We had a lovely time. Thank you!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Bethany G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Just bring your clothes and toothbrush!
My favorite thing about this place was everything that came included for our use: wetsuits and boogie boards for my 8- and 10-year-old sons, beach toys and buckets, 5 beach chairs, Wii with tons of games, batteries of all kinds, books, games, tape, Sharpies, spices, condiments, lots of throw blankets, paper cups, tons of toilet paper, shampoo, etc. Any time I needed something, it was already provided. I especially loved not having to bring our own beach stuff! They seemed to think of everything! It was a great stay!
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2023
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Amy M.

Stayed for Santa Cruz Half Ironman
Four adults, three kids stayed at this home for four days. This house was great, all of us slept comfortably. There is a playground in the back yard, kid's wet suits, sand play toys, a Wii game console, and DvD and BlueRay players to keep the children occupied. It is about a four block walk to the beach and a close walk to several restaurants. We have rented from VRBO many times, and with a family with children, this rental is a great option. The only thing we really had to bring with us (besides car seats) was a portable crib.

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

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