3bd/2ba Cottage w Hot Tub/Bikes/Amenities. Walk to Beach, Harbor, Restaurants
House in Santa Cruz, CA
8 guests · 3 bedrooms · 2 baths
Reasons to book
Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Free cancellationFull refund if you change your mind
High-end valuePrice for this property is higher than average in the area
About this house rental
Santa Cruz County Vacation Rental Permit # 181-530
Welcome to the Santa Cruz RockHouse! This iconic river rock beach cottage sits a stone's throw from the Santa Cruz Harbor and many local attractions. From here you can walk to Twin Lakes or Seabright beaches, local kayak or SUP rentals and launches, local charter fishing boats and a small craft boat launch. It is a short walk to favorite local restaurants like The Crow's Nest, The Harbor Cafe, Seabright Brewery, Tramonti's, La Posta and Johnny's Harborside. A slightly longer walk or super short drive/bike ride will bring you directly to the Boardwalk, the Municipal Wharf, or the Live Oak Farmer's Market.
The house has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a living room, a dining area/bar, a fully stocked kitchen, a patio with grill and outdoor seating and a 4 person hot tub. Includes high speed wi-fi, two flat screen TVs and Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, etc. It is a fully stocked house which includes all towels, linens, paper products etc. We include beach amenities such as beach towels, chairs, umbrella, wagon, cooler, boogie boards, various wetsuits, surf boards and 4 adult beach cruisers.
Come stay with us and explore this beautiful county. Santa Cruz is famous for surfing and the boardwalk, but Santa Cruz is also blessed with more state parks than any other county in California, has 29 miles of beaches, hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails through magnificent redwoods, one of the oldest wine growing regions in the state, incredible fresh seafood and abundant local organic produce and a farmer's market every day of the week. Ride a bike through wine country, paddle with the sea otters and sea lions, go whale watching or fishing for salmon or halibut. Ride the roller coasters, catch a wave, touch a 1000 year-old redwood tree, or just walk on the beach. Whatever your favorite activity is, you can likely find it in Santa Cruz.
Note that this property is located in a busy area of town and is subject to traffic and street noise. For a quieter option in another part of town, see our other listing at vrbo #764224
Welcome to the Santa Cruz RockHouse! This iconic river rock beach cottage sits a stone's throw from the Santa Cruz Harbor and many local attractions. From here you can walk to Twin Lakes or Seabright beaches, local kayak or SUP rentals and launches, local charter fishing boats and a small craft boat launch. It is a short walk to favorite local restaurants like The Crow's Nest, The Harbor Cafe, Seabright Brewery, Tramonti's, La Posta and Johnny's Harborside. A slightly longer walk or super short drive/bike ride will bring you directly to the Boardwalk, the Municipal Wharf, or the Live Oak Farmer's Market.
The house has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a living room, a dining area/bar, a fully stocked kitchen, a patio with grill and outdoor seating and a 4 person hot tub. Includes high speed wi-fi, two flat screen TVs and Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, etc. It is a fully stocked house which includes all towels, linens, paper products etc. We include beach amenities such as beach towels, chairs, umbrella, wagon, cooler, boogie boards, various wetsuits, surf boards and 4 adult beach cruisers.
Come stay with us and explore this beautiful county. Santa Cruz is famous for surfing and the boardwalk, but Santa Cruz is also blessed with more state parks than any other county in California, has 29 miles of beaches, hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails through magnificent redwoods, one of the oldest wine growing regions in the state, incredible fresh seafood and abundant local organic produce and a farmer's market every day of the week. Ride a bike through wine country, paddle with the sea otters and sea lions, go whale watching or fishing for salmon or halibut. Ride the roller coasters, catch a wave, touch a 1000 year-old redwood tree, or just walk on the beach. Whatever your favorite activity is, you can likely find it in Santa Cruz.
Note that this property is located in a busy area of town and is subject to traffic and street noise. For a quieter option in another part of town, see our other listing at vrbo #764224
Amenities
Kitchen or Kitchenette
Internet / Wifi
Fireplace
Parking
Laundry
Balcony or Patio
Dishwasher
Hot tub or spa
TV
Family friendly
Map of Santa Cruz, CA
££££
Ratings and reviews
10.0 / 10.0
We had a great time
No complaints
10.0 / 10.0
Rockhouse was a wonderful place to stay. The house was well stocked in the kitchen and the bedding was very nice. The location was great for the Boardwalk and the beach. The house is on a busy street and the traffic was heavy and loud at times. I had earplugs so that took care of the noise. Only complaint I have is the floors were not mopped. Our crawling baby had black legs and the tops of his feet which we had to clean before going out. A good mopping would have eliminated that. We would definitely stay at the Rockhoyse again and recommend it to others.
10.0 / 10.0
Great property on the Main Street. Busy street during rush hour but plenty of parking. Family was able to rent properties near ours. This location was easy to do a load drop off at the beach then walk down. Location was near places to eat for the kids as well. Love this area! Been coming to Santa Cruz for years!
10.0 / 10.0
Owners responsive, property as represented and better.
10.0 / 10.0
Awesome house.Great location love to the bikes in the beach stuff
10.0 / 10.0
Cute place, cafe around the corner is awesome and so convenient to walk to. Overall great experience!
10.0 / 10.0
Wonderful place. Three blocks from beach. On a busy street, but quieted down around 10:30 pm. Located in a great spot- close to boardwalk, wharf, and tide pools. Totally recommend ❤️
10.0 / 10.0
This was a great property for family.
The good-plenty of items to get us started ( and more). Plenty of toilet paper, lots of clean towels ( including beach towels), felt safe and secure with the way the house locked up, big fridge to unpack into, lots of space for the older kids to have a bit of quiet and stare at their phones after a long unplugged day.
The great-hot tub was super clean and usable, shower right next to it to clean off sand or oils, etc-kids loved it! A kitchen you can cook in. One of my kids has a food allergy, so we must cook every meal. The kitchen was well appointed, had a large stove/oven, plenty of ‘real’ kitchen items. For those on a budget or wanting to cook fresh fish, you will have no problems with this. It is a little noisy when the beach was clearing for the day, but property starts at a gate and winds around the back to a patio, hot tub, shed area which is compact, but not too small. Putting this behind the house blocks the street noise.
Speaking of the gates-you can pulled your car in on the inside of the gate and lock it up. OR, if you had toddlers that you needed to have them run a little bit, you could park to the side of the house during the day and lock the gate and have a little play area in the driveway (bounce balls, etc).
The needs some work-not much really.
Maybe another fan? For the hottest days.
A removable cover for the skylight? The light is wonderful until it isn’t, you know.
Best-property owner communicated/helped!
10.0 / 10.0
We had a great time in Santa Cruz staying at the Rock House. We were visiting for our daughter’s graduation from UCSC and it was the perfect location for us - near to some restaurants, coffee shops and the beach. We cooked a lot of meals in the kitchen and relaxed in the hot tub too. Thanks for the hospitality!
10.0 / 10.0
In SC for a weekend wedding. Great wedding! We were too busy to use most amenities. Big exception- the hot tub. Thanks for your touch of whimsy decor!
10.0 / 10.0
Perfect for our family. We are not that critical so we are thankful for the opportunity to spend some time here. The only struggle was the busy street & that people did not want to stop to let us out of the driveway.
10.0 / 10.0
This was a great place for five to six adults. Comfortable, very-well located home. Bikes, beach stuff, and hot tubs added to the experience. Washer and dryer were very convenient. Good grill, enough cooking/eating stuff, but the indoor dining setup was a bit tight to seat six together inside. When it was nice outside, we opened the doors to the patio and it was no problem. Overall, a great time, and I'd return.
10.0 / 10.0
Great house road noise a little annoying but honestly no big deal… nicely located! Clean and good
10.0 / 10.0
We had a great time! Perfectly located to the beach and harbor. It was chilly while we were here so the hot tub was a plus for sure. We look forward to coming back.
10.0 / 10.0
This was a very nice and fairly priced place. It is close to the boardwalk and downtown. Some reviews talked about the road noise, but we did not find it a big deal. We ran a portable fan in the bedroom at night and it drowned out any road noise.
10.0 / 10.0
This little cottage is adorable. Well stocked; close to all the Santa Cruz sites-nicely priced for a family vacation. It is a corner house on a busy street, but things calmed down every night by 9pm.
The hot tub was a big hit.
8.0 / 10.0
Our family of 6 had a really nice, long weekend at The Rock House. The house had most everything that we needed and more. The shed full of beach stuff really was one of the main reasons we booked this house and it did not disappoint. My 4 kiddos had a blast at Twin Lakes State Beach (5 minute walk) with the wetsuits, surf and boogie boards and sand toys, while the grown ups relaxed in beach chairs in the sand. As mentioned, the house is on a pretty busy street but the car noise wasn’t too terrible at night. We would love to go back again 😁
10.0 / 10.0
The house was adorable with comfortable rooms, a lovely hot tub, and nice shared space. It was such an easy drive to the Boardwalk, downtown Santa Cruz, and beaches.
10.0 / 10.0
We had a good time and the location was walking distance to some nice things however it’s a busy road which is noisy when you’re sleeping and difficult to get in and out of. The small guest room has a sky light which made it hard to sleep in. It would be nice if there was an option to cover it. Everything else was just as described. Thanks for sharing your home.
8.0 / 10.0
Overall, we were quite happy with our stay, but there are a few things a prospective renter should know.
The great: It is a very clean, cute home. The hot tub was very nice, as were the bikes (with helmets!). We were there in winter, and the gas fireplace warmed up the place very nicely. The owner was also very responsive, even bringing us a large flashlight in case the power went out (there was a storm). The location is in many ways great (except for the street itself, see below). You can easily walk to the beach and harbor, and with a longer walk can get to the Boardwalk. I biked to Capitola, which was very pleasant. Overall, a solid rental.
The not-super-great: The home can sleep six but the third bedroom is VERY small. It is more comfortable for five. The other odd thing is that it doesn't have a kitchen table that can sit 6 comfortably. There is a rather uncomfortable table (because you can't put your legs under in one of the spots) that seats 4, plus a kitchen breakfast bar. So if you're looking for nice family dinners, this isn't the place. The other annoyance is that the street the house is on is very busy, with constant traffic noise. It's only two lane, so this probably won't bother everyone. But we live in a very quiet mountain town and the noise was notable for us.
Overall, a solid stay for the price, with the above caveats.
6.0 / 10.0
Very well located and close to points of interest. But average stay overall, since the home wasn't cleaned well when we arrived. Also, smoke alarm went off in the middle of the night, and in the middle of day, disrupting kids sleep - just a case of faulty device.
8.0 / 10.0
Water regulator in master shower was very difficult to get to a comfortable temperature. Unable to tune the TV.
10.0 / 10.0
It was a very nice place
8.0 / 10.0
The property was bery cool. Floors were could have been cleaner.
10.0 / 10.0
We had a fabulous weekend. Beautiful location and home. Easy to walk to everything.
10.0 / 10.0
We have a wonderful stay. This property is perfectly located with beaches - restaurants - shopping and the Boardwalk all within minutes. We will be back.
10.0 / 10.0
Amazing property with easy access to all areas of Santa Cruz. The SC Pier is within walking distance, a couple of other beaches too!
The home is a nice size and the bonus hot tub is a welcome retreat in the cool evenings to relax and sooth achy feet and legs.
The hosts were also fabulous and made the whole process very enjoyable.
One downside was location to a busy street, although we knew that ahead of time. It does slow down at night but you still will hear quite a bit of noise.
10.0 / 10.0
Clean, comfortable place. 3 good bedrooms with an easy layout. Nice location near the beach, coffee shop and taco places. The bikes were a lot of fun. Thank you!
8.0 / 10.0
Location was great. Only a few minute walk to two restaurants. House decor was beautiful and many amenities.
10.0 / 10.0
We had a great stay. Very nice place for a small family. The street noise is no joke though if you are a light sleeper.
10.0 / 10.0
The rock house was perfect for our getaway with lots of fun things to do nearby.
10.0 / 10.0
We had a good time here playing on the beaches of Santa Cruz! We slept 8 people pretty comfortably. The hot tub was fun and the beach toys were all super handy to be able to use while here. The owners even added an extra surf board for us! Check in and check out was easy, as was communication with the owners.
Strangely, there is no curtain or blind on one of the bathroom windows ( and it really needs one), or on the double glass doors in the kitchen. As others have said, the house is located on a busy, noisy street, but it didn’t bother us too much. Other than those things, the house was great!
10.0 / 10.0
We enjoyed our stay at the Rock House, many nice extras and very well kept. The neighborhood is nice and within walking distance to the beach. We loved the area.
The property is on a very busy street but you’ll feel nice and cozy inside.
10.0 / 10.0
We all felt perfectly at home. Loved the fireplace, location, and enjoyed the hot tub. Chemicals were strong in hot tub, must shower afterwards.
The street is busy, so if parking in driveway, can be challenging to get in and out. The bikes were fun to cruise around on.
The kitchen had everything needed to cook a meal and we loved the BBQ. Overall a delightful place to stay!
10.0 / 10.0
We found the Rock House to be nearly perfect for our family of four (2 adults, 2 teenagers). We stayed for a week and found the home to be well appointed, comfortable and wonderfully located. The pictures are the most realistic representation of a rental that we've found yet on VRBO, if anything they make it look a little smaller than it actually is!
The floors, kitchen & bathrooms have been nicely updated while leaving some of the (assumed) original gems like the fireplace & mantle in place. The rooms were all a good size, the beds were comfortable and the kitchen offered everything we needed (although to be fair, we didn't really cook much on vacation). The patio on the side of the house was wonderful to hang out on and the hot tub was most welcome at the end of long days on our feet.
While the street it's located on is definitely a little busy, we didn't find it to be bothersome and wouldn't keep us from returning. Ultimately the location is wonderful - an easy walk to Twin Lakes Beach, short drive or bike ride to the boardwalk, and just around the corner from the best breakfast in town!
The only negatives we could comment on are the absence of a curtain in the smaller bedroom and the wifi is weak. Pretty minor stuff really!
Check-in and out were easy and instructions were clear - in the fact the check-out responsibilities were lighter than with other rentals we've stayed at, a pleasant surprise!
Thanks for the wonderful stay! We'll repeat if the opportunity presents itself.
10.0 / 10.0
Great place for family. Only half mile from Twin Lakes beach which you can get to in a few minutes using the beach cruisers provided. They had everything we needed for a day at the beach on hand. Host was friendly and communicative.
8.0 / 10.0
The communication with Paul was outstanding; he was very responsive & even had new dish cloths & wash cloths delivered from Target when we couldn't find any. The home is a cute California bungalow & has the basics needed for a comfortable stay. As mentioned in the listing, it is on a busy road so if you're sensitive to that kind of noise - bring ear plugs, but it didn't bother us. We actually needed the heat during our stay & when that was running, we couldn't hear the road noise from the front bedroom. The hot tub was very enjoyable, private & clean. Proximity to boardwalk, dining & downtown Santa Cruz was good - though our weather was rainy/windy, so we did drive everywhere vs. walking or using the provided bikes.
4.0 / 10.0
Pros:
- House heated very well.
- Hot tub.
- Location to major attractions.
Cons:
- Street noise (lister addressed this in description so no lost stars for this)
- No curtains on some windows including bathroom with an outside view. Terrible privacy.
- Musty smell.
- Several windows unlocked and not secured when we arrived.
- Small house. Hard to get multiple families in it.
- Wifi sucks. Keept going in and out. Even the TV struggled to stream.
- Fireplace remote didn't work
- Bathroom mirror only angles downward so if you're over 4'11" you will not see above your chest level.
- One of the bedroom windows won't stay open.
Neutral
- One of the bedroom beds was INSANELY soft. If support is an issue for you then this bed will cause your back some issues.
This place could be much better but they need to invest some money in this property. Honestly I'm skeptical of all the positive reviews on this one.
10.0 / 10.0
Central location, nice amenities
10.0 / 10.0
This was our second stay at the rock house. We love the location, the set up, the kitchen. The hot tub is perfect for hanging out after the kids are in bed, and the kids love it in the morning too. The house is well equipped for kids too, with lots of beds. A curtain in the bedroom with the twin bed would be nice. We had another great weekend here and hope to be back again!
FAQs
How much does this house cost compared to others in Santa Cruz?
The average price for a rental in Santa Cruz is £173 per night. This rental is £94 above the average.
Is parking included with this house?
Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at 3bd/2ba Cottage w Hot Tub/Bikes/Amenities. Walk to Beach, Harbor, Restaurants. 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 3bd/2ba Cottage w Hot Tub/Bikes/Amenities. Walk to Beach, Harbor, Restaurants pet friendly?
Unfortunately, this house is not pet-friendly. Try searching again and filter for "Pets Allowed"
What amenities are available at 3bd/2ba Cottage w Hot Tub/Bikes/Amenities. Walk to Beach, Harbor, Restaurants?
We found 10 amenities for this rental. This includes kitchen or kitchenette, internet / wifi, fireplace, parking, and laundry.
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