Family-friendly vacation rentals in Santa Cruz

This is our favorite place to stay in Santa Cruz. There are little markets walking distance, some restaurants but the best part is the ocean is right there 2minute walk! Also, if the ocean is too cold for us adults to get in, the house has a jacuzzi for us to enjoy in the evening. In the mornings, I enjoy sitting on the balcony listening to the birds and smelling the ocean breeze while I enjoy my hot cup of coffee. Great place to take the family. The host is very responsive.

Sun was very helpful and communicative. Sun’s place is a short drive to some lovely beaches, close to a nice park, and centrally located for all the activities we had planned. We had 4 young kids with us (ages: 1, 3, 6, and 9), and it was very family and kid-friendly. Would recommend highly!

Had a lovely stay at Annette and Fred’s place - the location was great, the house was fully stocked and the hosts were extremely responsive when we had questions. Having a hot tub and gas fireplaces were an added bonus for spending the evenings admiring the views.

Tranquility Base…surely lived up to its name. So comfortable, so charming we felt like a part of the forest. The whole place had so much personality we felt right at home Magical and enchanting getaway Highly recommended We’ll be back

The Sea otter Cottage was such a dream! It was beautiful, cozy and was everything we wanted for a relaxing family vacation. it was very family friendly-the backyard was my toddlers dream. Would recommend 100% and definitely will book again!

Felt like it was just lke my home accept they have a hot tub that I used almost every night during my stay also had a beautiful garden. Is very quiet and relaxing.

Delia‘s place is very unique and stunning. She is a spectacular host - super engaged and helpful. Although attached to her home, the unit and yard are completely private and quiet. The bedroom is small, but the weather was beautiful, so we spent most of our time in the lovely yard. The hot tub and fire pit were wonderful.

This was an amazing place to relax and enjoy time with family. The neighborhood is beautiful and quiet and a great proximity to lots of fun things to do!

We cannot save enough good things about Lisa's place- we didn't want to leave. The place had the best location! Described as 28 steps to the beach, it really is that! I was looking for a beachfront property, and this was just that. The beach was also easy to get to, unlike some of the other listings. The home was very clean and comfortable- it had a lot of high tech items, like the Lululemon exercise mirror, the table that is a high/low, standing or sitting, the sleep number beds, the restroom mirrors/shower. Lots of items were included to ensure an amazing stay-- binoculars for whale watching, sand toys on the patio, and aquarium passes. So very thoughtful! Lisa was very responsive, and I really appreciate the later checkout upon request. I wasn't feeling well that last full day and was really grateful. We were also lucky that we got to be here when the heated pools were available! My absolute favorite part was the views and proximity to the beach!

This was the most peaceful and beautiful space I have ever been to. The view from the balcony was gorgeous. All the greenery and the deers and random dog was super gorgeous and felt really at home. The hot tub was amazing and super relaxing. Robert was very kind and responsive, Received a phone call about all the lights, hot tub, close trails, and recommended spots!! Super helpful and very kind gesture. Would 100% go back to this place

We had a wonderful short getaway at Sue’s place! The condo is just steps from the beach, pool, and jacuzzi. Falling asleep to the sound of the waves was relaxing, and the ocean breeze was very refreshing. It was exactly what we needed to reset and recharge. Everything was just as described, and we would stay here again! Thank you, Sue!

Amy's place was wonderful - one of the few places we've ever stayed that was even better in person than in pictures. It was clean, spacious, and very comfortable for the 2 of us. The outdoor space was amazing, plenty of quiet spaces to lounge in the sun and walk around. The area was great as well, quiet but close to downtown, and Amy was a thoughtful and responsive host, we really appreciated her thoughtfulness. The one thing to note is that the Wi-fi could be unreliable - we both worked from the Airbnb, and made it work for the week, but something to note for future visitors. We'd definitely recommend this place and plan to come back next time we visit. Thank you Amy!

This place was nicer than the photos and absolutely perfect for a girls weekend. Everything was well equipped and labeled. The location was very quiet and peaceful with great access to a quiet beach. You definitely need a car as it's a little isolated but that added to the charm.

Himani was very helpful she greeted us at the door and walked us around showing us the place and amenities. The place was very clean and had everything we could think of. We felt like we were home. Excellent stay.

Staying at Seascape was the perfect kid-friendly vacation. The pool was easy to access from our condo and the views were beautiful. The condo's set-up with two bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs and a half bath downstairs was great for our family of 5. The private beach was beautiful - we saw otters, whales, and my son found two perfect sand dollars walking down the beach. It was a little bit of a trek to get down to the beach with three little kids and all the beach gear, but once we were there no one wanted to leave. Several near-by restaurants were delicious, especially the newly opened Dos Pescados. It was fairly easy to get into Santa Cruz too, but we did have to time traffic or it would double the drive time (to almost 45 minutes).

We had a wonderful stay at Bill's guest cottage. We found everything as advertised, and the surroundings, especially at sunrise, were serene. The vines were lovely and the morning air fresh and crisp. The beds were very comfortable, and the living space fully accommodated our party of three (two adults, one teenager). We spent most of our daytime out and about with nearby family, so we did not have a chance to try out the kitchen, but it was well-stocked. Bill was highly responsive throughout the booking process and answered our questions. We highly recommend!

This is by far the perfect beach getaway house! My husband had classes in the area so during the day my daughter and dog could walk right to the beach! There is even a museum right in walking distance I took my daughter to twice. And the Santa Cruz beach boardwalk is only a ten minute walk which we did another day! The Airbnb itself was beautifully decorated with a wonderful shower and a clawfoot tub. The outdoor area was so great to relax in as well. This place was stocked with beach chairs and toys and extra towels and even sunblock. Everything we could need. In fact we loved it so much we extended our stay. Yvonne was SO responsive and friendly and really made our vacation just completely hassle free and perfect. I can see why this place is always booked!

Cute guesthouse, total privacy, great location in Santa Cruz. Sarah sent clear instructions and we had no problem finding extra towels, coffee, etc. There’s even a little s’mores kit included to utilize the fire pit—which we unfortunately didn’t have time to use. Street parking was easy to find and we could walk to the pier or SC downtown. Very much recommend and would stay again.

We had a wonderful stay. A short walk to the beach makes this a perfect location. The house has everything you might need... beach towels, a washing machine, lots of comfy couches...

Nancy's place was beautiful and perfect for a family vacation! She was very communicative, providing recommendations for local eats, and very responsive whenever we needed help with anything. Her home is very comfortable with lots of amenities (tea, coffee, snacks, water bottles) and a fully stocked kitchen. The home is in a peaceful neighborhood and nearby to lots of restaurants. A wonderful stay overall!

We had a great stay! The place was spotless and exactly as described in the listing. Check-in instructions were clear and easy to follow, which made the whole process smooth. Lovely rooms, enough space for all 4 of us. The location is fantastic—close to local shops, restaurants, and public transport. Lei Anna was very helpful and responsive, making sure everything was perfect throughout my stay. Highly recommend!

The house was really clean with nice amenities and well stocked. Sheets, towels, beds and furniture were comfortable and of good quality. Nice view of the cove and a short walk to the beach - although it’s a pretty steep street so the walk back up will get your heart pumping.

We had a great stay at Sharon’s home in San Mateo! We were displaced for a few nights and had to find somewhere quick- lucky this place had a couple nights free! Completely equipped with all toddler/baby needs-we were SO impressed!

House was easy to find with clear instructions on getting inside and locking the door. Liangliang was friendly and responsive during our stay with many great amenities. House was as in the pictures. 5 minutes walk to a park and the store were near by. Highly recommend it.