Private Beach House with amazing views of Shwan Lake and Twin Lakes Beach

5.0 / 5.0

Outstanding(123 Ratings)

House in Santa Cruz, CA

3 guests · 1 bedroom · 1 bath

Reasons to book

Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating

Free cancellationFull refund if you change your mind

Great for petsBring all your friends and family, even the furry ones

About this house rental

Enjoy peaceful serenity and natural beauty as you check the surf from your own living room. Watch great blue herons, snowy egrets, and cormorants through two huge windows overlooking picturesque Schwan Lagoon and Twin Lakes Beach -- the best family beach in town! (permit #181472)

Steps to the sand, this house is just six houses up from the beach. Sunbathe, bodysurf, wander a long stretch of shoreline, have bonfires in the legal fire pits, and enjoy dramatic sunsets just steps from your door. Walk to the harbor to rent SUPs and kayaks, or sail on one of the Chardonnay II's daily cruises across Monterey Bay.

Spellbinding views from the bedroom, living room, and kitchen create a peaceful zen-like quiet. The back patio, a lagoon-side garden oasis, is perfect for happy hours and morning coffee in the sun. This home is your own Shangri-La.

LIVING AREA Unwind into vacation mode in a comfortable living room with a charming upright piano. Plush furniture offers ample seating, and picture windows overlook Schwan Lagoon. Settle in and watch a movie on the 43” flat-screen TV after a fun-filled beach day. Watch Cormorants, Egrets, Herons, Ducks, Geese, Eagles, Hawks and Hummingbirds galore from the comfort of your living room.

KITCHEN & DINING Tap into your culinary side in a bright and spacious kitchen outfitted with a full suite of stainless steel appliances. When it’s time to eat, share delicious home-cooked meals in the sun-soaked dining area.

BEDROOM, SLEEPING AREAS & BATH This single-story unit sleeps up to three guests between a bedroom, a bonus room, and the living room. Sleep soundly on a California King size bed in the peaceful bedroom, in addition to a full sized Futon Couch that can fold to a bed for extra sleeping space (also New as of August 2021). The living room is furnished with a full-size sleeper sofa and a comfy small fold-down loveseat. The bonus room features a queen-size bed, closet etc. Find a sparkling walk-in shower, and Bluetooth-capable mirror in the bathroom.

OUTDOOR AREA Breathe in the coastal air on the private back patio with seating for four. This cozy waterside sanctuary features a fire pit, lush foliage and a wood deck. The front patio also has a table with sun shade that's great for afternoon happy hours!

EXTRA AMENITIES & MORE DETAILS Guest amenities include complimentary Wi-Fi, games, a Bluetooth speaker, plus a nice piano and a guitar for fostering your own entertainment and creativity. There is parking for up to two cars in the driveway. Please note that this property does not have air-conditioning. Additionally, the patio is located down a flight of steps and the owner lives on-site in a separate apartment.

THE LOCATION Stroll to any of 10 neighborhood restaurants within blocks for excellent food, drinks, and live music. Drive only 10 minutes from this central location to access downtown Santa Cruz, UCSC, Capitola Village, The Boardwalk, golfing, surfing, hiking, shopping, and all the colorful culture our Santa Cruz area has to offer.

Note: This is a county permitted "Hosted Rental" with a separated unit on one side of the house where the owner lives. The rental is completely soundproofed and private with locking doors.

No smoking inside.

Amenities

Pets allowed

Kitchen or Kitchenette

Internet / Wifi

Smoking allowed

Parking

Laundry

Balcony or Patio

Dishwasher

Family friendly

Map of Santa Cruz, CA

Nearby attractions

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Municipal Rose Garden

41.3 mi

$$$$

Private Beach House with amazing views of Shwan Lake and Twin Lakes Beach

$$$$

5.0 / 5.0

Outstanding(123 Ratings)

House in Santa Cruz, CA

3 guests · 1 bedroom · 1 bath

Reasons to book

Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating

Free cancellationFull refund if you change your mind

Great for petsBring all your friends and family, even the furry ones

About this house rental

Amenities

Pets allowed

Kitchen or Kitchenette

Internet / Wifi

Smoking allowed

Parking

Laundry

Balcony or Patio

Dishwasher

Family friendly

Map of Santa Cruz, CA

Nearby attractions

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Municipal Rose Garden

41.3 mi

Ratings and reviews

5.0 / 5.0

Outstanding(123 Ratings)

5.0 / 5.0

Sep 2024

The location is a quick walk to a great beach and some local eateries. The view is also a great bonus!

5.0 / 5.0

Sep 2024

A nice stay for a married couple and a couple of fur babies. The house was well stocked. We appreciated the plentiful towels, pillows and blankets. The driveway is pretty long and steep. Not an issue when we parked towards the top of driveway. Access to the yard was on the side of house, out front. A note to others to ensure the blinds to the huge windows are closed during the day because it got hot even with the ac on and our pups were warm. Overall cute place, great neighborhood and access to everything. We will be back. Thank you James!

4.0 / 5.0

Aug 2024

I had back surgery on 8/12 and needed to be close to surgeon for two weeks. I also needed walk-in shower, no stairs, and flat neighborhood. And pet friendly. It worked quite well .

5.0 / 5.0

Aug 2024

Close to beach, swimming, fishing, nice walks and of course board walk fun. Close to aquarium.

5.0 / 5.0

Jul 2024

The house was great and the owner was quite nice and not intrusive at all. We really appreciated the simplicity of the decor and the cleanliness.

5.0 / 5.0

Jul 2024

This was the perfect property for the three of us. Very close to the beach. The owner was great to work with, very responsive.

5.0 / 5.0

Jun 2024

Posting for this property accurately shows the beautiful view of the lagoon. It is steps away from a great beach and a convenient store for snack. Jim was a responsive and friendly host. Gorgeous weather in Santa Cruz! My husband, adult daughter and I had a fun relaxing time.

5.0 / 5.0

Apr 2024

the neighborhood is perfect for a vacation! quiet with gorgeous views of the ocean and the lake. the house features gorgeous big windows that highlights the breathtaking views. the house is super clean with everything you need to make this spot your own. everything is up to date. we will absolutely be coming back!

5.0 / 5.0

Mar 2024

The house was clean, comfortable and very private. We very much enjoyed watching the birds on the lagoon. Easy heat adjustment. Excellent communication from the host. We hop to stay here again.

5.0 / 5.0

Feb 2024

We enjoyed our stay--the unit is spacious and has a wonderful kitchen. So close to the beach, and convenient to so many things. We loved our stay, our host was very helpful and responsive. We were very happy with our stay. Thanks!

5.0 / 5.0

Jan 2024

Property is exactly as advertized, and it was perfect for our trip. Easy beach access and plenty to see and do.

5.0 / 5.0

Dec 2023

We enjoyed our stay at this property! It is close to the beach, and the view of the lagoon from the window is amazing. We will definitely stay at this property again when we visit Santa Cruz.

5.0 / 5.0

Nov 2023

We stayed for a week at Jim’s amazing house and it was everything we could have wished for and more! The house was beautiful and so clean and comfortable and gave us absolutely pure relaxation, The location is perfect too. The view of the lagoon is outstanding and you can even see the ocean! Jim was very responsive to any questions and so obliging to any requests and super helpful whilst giving us total privacy. We really cannot rate this place highly enough! We can’t wait to be back! Thanks for everything Jim!

5.0 / 5.0

Oct 2023

Great place to stay, loved the view! Thank you

5.0 / 5.0

Oct 2023

We had a great time in Santa Cruz. The property is a short walk to beach and has a great view of the lagoon. Host was very attentive and welcoming. Even got invited to their neighbors party!

5.0 / 5.0

Oct 2023

Property was as advertised. Plenty room. Owner communication was very good

5.0 / 5.0

Oct 2023

Walking distance to all we needed for a tranquil 2-days away… left the large windows open (to enjoy the view) and it was still very private… beds were delightfully comfy, firm yet soft. James was extremely helpful with his (local) recommendations, much appreciated! We will definitely return for another stay when we have the chance.

5.0 / 5.0

Sep 2023

This was a great spot for our short Santa Cruz getaway. The big picture windows overlook a lake that is the home of hundreds of cormorants (and a few egrets) and you can bird watch to your heart's content right from the living room. The beds were very comfy, and the kitchen has everything you'd need. We appreciated the good reading lights, and there is a small but well curated collection of literature. Jim was very friendly and responsive to our requests. You can walk to the beach in just a couple of minutes, and there are restaurants very close by.

5.0 / 5.0

Aug 2023

Perfect for a weekend. Great location, clean, plenty of room. Jim is a great host

5.0 / 5.0

Aug 2023

The property is located in a great location , pretty much close to everything. Absolutely loved the big windows!!!( very clean windows thank you). Right on the water, 5 min walk to the beach. We enjoyed bonfire at the beach at night. Clean and bright, comfortable had everything we needed.. Loved the nature outside the big windows, many many birds, lagoon as well as the ocean!!! We hanged out at the house a lot as well!!! We loved it. The host was great, responded to any questions right away!!! Would definitely stay here again.

5.0 / 5.0

Aug 2023

The property was in good shape. We had a great time. The area is nice and close to the beach.

5.0 / 5.0

Jul 2023

Thank you for sharing your home. It was in a perfect location for me and the perfect home. We enjoyed our time in Santa Cruz Marybeth

5.0 / 5.0

Jul 2023

We loved the close walking distance to the beach. Quiet neighborhood. Easy check in. My family had a great vacation - thank you Jim!

3.0 / 5.0

Jul 2023

First, I want to mention that the owner did reach out to us following our departure to apologize for a few things, which was appreciated. We had high hopes for this place, but there were some things that made this stay forgettable. First and most glaringly, the cormorants! Apparently, these migratory water foul are in the area during the time of our stay. They were nesting in a tree between the house and the lagoon. They sh*t everywhere. The outside area of the house was unusable, our car was covered in crap and feathers within the first hour of parking on the opposite side of the house. The windows facing the lagoon (big ones in the picture by the table) had streaks of crap all over them. The owner washed the windows with a hose right after our arrival. The windows were again streaked with crap within the hour and for the rest of the stay. The plants, porch, trees, everything in the back yard was white with excrement. Also, this place does not have A/C. It got a bit warm and we tried to cool things down and get some airflow by opening windows, but the smell of the birds was too bad, we could not keep the windows open. The bathroom is tiny and not excedingly clean (don't look in the vent and ignore the glass shower wall and stains on faucets). Not that I was expecting the place to be modern, but a lot of the things were fairly dated. A few supplies missing (foil or plastic wrap and dryer sheets) and parking was an issue one night.

5.0 / 5.0

Jul 2023

This house is located about 2 blocks from the beach, making it super convenient. It is in a nice quiet neighborhood and was very clean and comfortable. The beds and pillows were comfortable. We would absolutely stay here again!

5.0 / 5.0

Jul 2023

Nice quiet location between Santa Cruz and Capitola with a view of the lagoon and within walking distance to the beach and restaurants.

5.0 / 5.0

Jul 2023

This was a perfect place for us - beautiful views of lagoon and ocean, host was welcoming and accommodating. Quiet neighborhood tucked away near Seabright. Loved that the home has a piano. We were really happy with our stay.

5.0 / 5.0

Jul 2023

Everything was clean and ready. Quiet area along the lake. Loved that you can walk to beach and food. No useable out door space because of all the birds nesting but grate to watch them from the house. The bathroom was in the entry and not well arranged. Beautiful location!

4.0 / 5.0

Jun 2023

Everything was great and clean. My only suggestion is to update the mattresses as the beds were very uncomfortable. Given the location this is a great spot because it is close to downtown Santa Cruz, the beach, Shadowbrook and activities like Wilder Ranch trails.

5.0 / 5.0

Jun 2023

By far, our best VRBO experience! Lovely home, picturesque views, peaceful and safe neighborhood, and close to so many eateries and activities. Perfect for our family! Jim was a wonderful host. He was incredibly responsive, warm and welcoming. Many thanks, Jim! We hope to return over and over again.

5.0 / 5.0

Jun 2023

Easy check in/check out process. Very close to the beach, even with all the beach items, kiddos seem to acquire. Home had a great view, pictures do not do it justice. Host easy to communicate with.

5.0 / 5.0

Jun 2023

We’d stay again

5.0 / 5.0

May 2023

Clean and great location. Thank you

5.0 / 5.0

May 2023

This home I would rent again. The best parts were the location of the beach and the picture window over the river where you could see all the birds. Unfortunately, I can't say much for VRBO. I tried to call them, but all they have is a chat.

5.0 / 5.0

May 2023

We loved everything about our stay except it was too short! Clean, amazing location, comfortable beds, walking distance through pretty neighborhoods to dining. Beautiful easy walk to beach. Hope to return soon!

5.0 / 5.0

May 2023

My wife and I were celebrating our 27th wedding anniversary. This was a nice, quiet and scenic location. With an ocean view to the side, then we were looking at a nice quiet lagoon full of wildlife out of the main window. One morning we saw a pair of bald eagles sitting on a fallen tree. Would highly recommend this location.

5.0 / 5.0

May 2023

We enjoyed the large living/dining area for hanging out. We liked watching the flock of cormorants in the trees outside and the wonderful view of the lagoon. The short walk to the beach was great. The place was well stocked for cooking. We used both the piano and guitar. It was a lovely stay!

5.0 / 5.0

Apr 2023

was clean and just as described. Enjoyed that the beach was minutes to walk.

5.0 / 5.0

Apr 2023

Jim is a great host, and the house itself is clean and comfortable. Quiet street; just a quick walk to the beach and close to downtown. Highly recommend walking to the Live Oaks Farmers Market!

5.0 / 5.0

Apr 2023

Came to visit my daughter who lives in Capitola. This place has such an amazing, Beautiful view, peaceful quiet neighborhood, clean and comfortable space and couldn’t be more pleased with our experience at Jim’s place. My son had his privacy as the 2 rooms are separated quite a bit. It was beyond what we thought and didn’t want to leave!

FAQs

How much does this house cost compared to others in Santa Cruz?

The average price for a rental in Santa Cruz is $347 per night. This rental is $99 above the average.

Is parking included with this house?

Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at Private Beach House with amazing views of Shwan Lake and Twin Lakes Beach. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.

Is there a pool at this house?

We didn’t find pool listed as an amenity for this house. It may be worth double checking if a pool is important for your stay.

Is Private Beach House with amazing views of Shwan Lake and Twin Lakes Beach pet friendly?

Yes! This house is pet-friendly. For more information, we recommend contacting the booking provider about animal policies.

What amenities are available at Private Beach House with amazing views of Shwan Lake and Twin Lakes Beach?

We found 10 amenities for this rental. This includes pets allowed, kitchen or kitchenette, internet / wifi, smoking allowed, and parking.

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Private Beach House with amazing views of Shwan Lake and Twin Lakes Beach

House in Santa Cruz, CA

Reasons to book

About this house rental

Amenities

Map of Santa Cruz, CA

Nearby attractions

Private Beach House with amazing views of Shwan Lake and Twin Lakes Beach

House in Santa Cruz, CA

Reasons to book

About this house rental

Amenities

Map of Santa Cruz, CA

Nearby attractions

Ratings and reviews

FAQs

How much does this house cost compared to others in Santa Cruz?

Is parking included with this house?

Is there a pool at this house?

Is Private Beach House with amazing views of Shwan Lake and Twin Lakes Beach pet friendly?

What amenities are available at Private Beach House with amazing views of Shwan Lake and Twin Lakes Beach?

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