Located just one short block from the surf, sand, and sun of the Monterey Bay marine sanctuary, this unique and affordable, two bedroom, one and a half bath house is a very special sanctuary in its own right, placing you within walking distance to every amenity of life that the lower west side of Santa Cruz has to offer.

The large central fireplace is the focal point of our Santa Cruz vacation home with its vaulted ceilings, bevy of well placed windows, and large wrap-around deck. The unique open, octagonal floor plan of this house adapts itself to comfortable family living as well as quiet, romantic getaways.

• Wrap-around deck and fenced yard surrounded by tall palm trees
• 950 square feet of living space - sleeps 5

• Cable, TV, VCR/DVD, VCR/TV, stereo with CD/cassette
• Internet Connection - Cable Modem with Wi-Fi
• 1-1/2 bathrooms with oversized tub
• Linens and towels provided
• Washer and dryer
• 2 bedrooms

• Full modern kitchen
• Off-street parking and easy access to public transportation
• 1 block to the ocean and the West Cliff Drive promenade
• 2 blocks to Natural Bridges State Beach, winter home to the famous Monarch butterflies
• 1 block to a neighborhood park with playgrounds and skateboarding facilities

Whether you are looking for a daily dose of recreation, a hit of cultural diversity, or ongoing rest and relaxation, Santa Cruz has it all. All at once, it feels like a rustic little beach town mixed with urban sophistication and ammenities. And if you get a craving for the big city, San Francisco is only about an hour away by car.

Within minutes from the house...

The spectacular promenade paths along West Cliff Drive, with their stunning ocean views and awe-inspiring sunsets, are just a hop, skip, or roller blade away!. Down the end of the block.

Take the opportunity to stroll down to Natural Bridges State Beach and visit the tide pools and the butterfly preserve, the winter home of the famous migrating Monarch butterflies. Natural Bridges is a year-round destination for local beach-goers and nature lovers alike who are intent on immersing themselves in the soothing scents of the eucalyptus trees mixed with the fresh salt air and the exhilarating sounds of the waves breaking along the coast.

About a mile north of the house is Seymour Marine Discovery Center at Long Marine Laboratory, a wonderful resource for children and adults alike about marine life in the Monterey Bay - includes "touch tanks". From there, you can take the Long Marine Lab Shuttle to the UC Santa Cruz main campus.

A bit further up the coast is Wilder Ranch State Park, offering caves, a farm, and extensive mountain bike trails.

For those ocean-bound dreamers with a more with more practical side, the University of California at Santa Cruz, downtown shopping, first-class restaurants, and live performances of all types are all right here in Santa Cruz.

Here are some additional links to web sites that provide all sorts of information about the area:

• Downtown Santa Cruz - shopping and dining guide
• Kiva Retreat House - a day spa facility offering hot tubs, sauna, and massage
• Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk - the only major seaside amusement park on the US West Coast
• Surfing Santa Cruz - info about surfing (in the water, not on the web!)
• This Week in Metro Santa Cruz - the nuz that was
• Traveler's Guide to Santa Cruz - general guide
• University of California at Santa Cruz - one of the most visually appealing university campuses in the world
• World Guide to Vegetarianism - in Santa Cruz

South on Highway 1 to the Big Sur Coast Highway - Travel the route that hugs the California coast, providing access to austere, windswept cypress trees, fog-shrouded cliffs, and the crashing surf of the Pacific Ocean. Views include rugged canyons, towering redwoods, sea lions, and other marine life.

North on Highway 1 to San Francisco - This two-lane highway winds along steep cliffs that edge the ocean and offer spectacular vistas at every turn. Follow the road all the way to the famous Golden Gate Bridge at the northern tip of the San Francisco peninsula.

Santa Cruz is on the northern California coast, at the northern tip of the Monterey Bay. It is about 25 miles south of San Jose, 70 miles south of San Francisco, and about 40 miles north of Monterey and Carmel.

Santa Cruz is served by two major airports: San Jose (SJC) and San Francisco (SFO). Shuttle service is available from both airports to Santa Cruz. Reservations are required!

From north or south of San Jose, California, take highway 101 to highway 17 west directly into Santa Cruz. Detailed directions to our vacation home will be sent to you when we confirm your reservation.

The weather in Santa Cruz is generally quite mild. We frequently see heavy fog on summer mornings, but it burns off by mid-afternoon. Winter days are usually very clear. Evening temperatures are in the mid-50s in the summer and can be as low as the mid-40s overnight in the winter. Daytime temperatures are generally in the mid-70s to mid-80s all year round.

Check out the Santa Cruz Weather for live cams, current weather updates, forecasts, traffic reports, and current ski and surfing conditions.

The following affordable rental rates apply from Febuary 1, 2008 and are subject to change without notice:

	Off Season	Peak Season
Week - 7 Night package	$975	$1450
Weekends - 3 Night package	$525	$775
Weekdays - 4 Night package	$525	$775

Off Season: October through April
Peak Season: May through September
Holidays: $75 extra for holidays which include:
New Year's, President's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas.

Security deposit of $300 is required with reservation. Full rent is due 30 days prior to arrival. Cancellation fee of $150 will be charged for cancellations less than three weeks prior to scheduled date of arrival, if cancellation results in vacancy.

To request a reservation, send email with your desired arrival and departure dates and the number of adults and children in your group to:
Santa Cruz Vacation Home. Please include "Vacation rental" in subject for faster processing.