Entire home

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

Family-friendly vacation home in Santa Cruz with a water park

Photo gallery for Bright and Colorful - Family Friendly! Short walk to the Best Beaches in Town!

Beach nearby, sun loungers, beach towels - Bright and Colorful - Family Friendly!  Short walk to the Best Beaches in Town! (Santa Cruz)
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop - Bright and Colorful - Family Friendly!  Short walk to the Best Beaches in Town! (Santa Cruz)
Outdoor dining - Bright and Colorful - Family Friendly!  Short walk to the Best Beaches in Town! (Santa Cruz)
Smart TV, fireplace, video games, DVD player - Bright and Colorful - Family Friendly!  Short walk to the Best Beaches in Town! (Santa Cruz)
Smart TV, fireplace, video games, DVD player - Bright and Colorful - Family Friendly!  Short walk to the Best Beaches in Town! (Santa Cruz)
A water park, a garden, and a playground are just a few of the amenities provided at Bright and Colorful - Family Friendly! Short walk to the Best Beaches in Town!. Stay connected with free in-room WiFi, and guests can find other amenities such as laundry facilities.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

3 bedrooms2 bathrooms123 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Barbecue grill
  • Kitchen

Add dates for prices

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 amenities

Beach

  • Beach nearby
  • Beach loungers
  • Beach towels

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Car recommended
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee grinder
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Ice maker
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 3 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

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

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace
  • Living room

Entertainment

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

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Garden
  • Gas grill
  • Outdoor furniture

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washer/dryer

Comfort

  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoking not allowed

Location highlights

  • Near a health/beauty spa
  • Near a hospital
  • Near the marina
  • Near the sea

Things to do

  • Water park
  • Water sports equipment
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Scuba diving nearby
  • Snorkeling nearby
  • Surfing/bodyboarding nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Theme park nearby
  • Whale watching nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby

Safety features

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

General

  • Garden
  • Unit size: 1,320 square feet

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
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Check-out instructions

The host requires you complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Strip any used beds, gather used towels, and store extra beds
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks, and take out the trash
Turn off the lights and lock the doors
Remove and wash white sheets and white pillowcases from used beds - leave beds unmade. Wash and dry all colored beach and dish towels. There should only be one load of white laundry for the cleaners.
If you used the BBQ, make sure it is clean and covered and that the gas is turned off. Place all sand toys, boogie boards, umbrellas and chairs in the container in the backyard
Run dishwasher with last load of dishes. (You don’t need to put them away). No kitchen items should remain dirty or on the counters. Our cleaners should not need to wash any kitchen items.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Events

No events allowed
Adhere to the guidelines in rental agreement

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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 - 0.1 km
  • Sunny Cove Beach - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Lincoln Beach - 7 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Santa Cruz Harbor - 16 min walk - 1.4 km
  • Seabright Beach - 19 min walk - 1.7 km

Getting around

  • Watsonville, CA (WVI-Watsonville Municipal) - 26 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Crow's Nest Restaurant - ‬19 min walk
  • ‪People's Coffee - ‬14 min walk
  • ‪Coffeetopia - ‬2 min drive
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬7 min walk
  • ‪Tramonti - ‬4 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.

How much is parking?

Onsite parking is available at the 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 by the sea, 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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Reviews

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

10

Exceptional

9.6

Cleanliness

9.8

Location
Rating 10 - Excellent. 204 out of 220 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 15 out of 220 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 220 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 220 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 220 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Linda P.

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

Great location

Well appointed and comfortable!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lori V.

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

Great!

The property was great. Backyard was so nice with lots of space. I would definitely rent this house again.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Carrie M.

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

Santa Cruz conference trip

We loved this location just a short walk to the beach. We enjoyed the spacious living room and easy to use amenities. Some of the bedrooms had less privacy than others which was ok for us but not ideal. Overall great place to stay in Santa Cruz.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

janeenandjerry c.

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

Another wonderful visit!

This home is perfect for us to visit our son and his family. The grand kids love playing in the backyard! Thank you Mike & Donna!
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jeremy B.

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

Awesome time by the beach

We loved our stay. The house was very clean and nice and the owners were easy to reach with questions. The location is awesome too as it is just a short walk to the beach. We would definitely stay at this house again. Strongly recommend.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Stephen M.

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

Great property!

This is my 2nd time staying here at this house and it's a great property.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mary Anne L.

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

Wonderful Beach Getaway

This property hosted our family for a fun weekend in Santa Cruz - close to the beach and surrounding Capitola. Easy access to freeway and a quite neighborhood. All the amenities close by, really felt like home!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 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

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

willette l.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy
Property was great. Quiet, clean, amenities were all good. I recommend that a strip of yellow or red tape be placed on the step down area and the words "STEP DOWN'' be written on the tape. Renters need to be made aware of the distance in flooring from the hallway to the 2nd bedroom and loft area.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Peggy S.

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

Family get-together

Short walk to the beach. Kids loved the backyard.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

6/10 Okay

Susan S.

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

Beds

Everything was awesome except for the beds. Mattress were not comfortable Would not hurt to put memory foam on it
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

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

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

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

Joshua S.

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

Nice house in good beach location

ProsClose to beachWalking distance to restaurantsEasy access to freewayNice house, furniture and everything in good shapeNice extras like video gamesNice big backyard ConsHouse smelled like mildew and it was visible on some of the blindsDifficult to fit two cars in driveway and street parking is limited
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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