Kid-friendly vacation rentals in Santa Cruz County

We had such a nice time at sue’s and laurels place felt so comfortable and we felt like we were at home!! The house is very well stocked and didn’t feel empty like so many other rentals. Highly highly recommend! Our dog absolutely loved the back yard and had so much fun running around. This is such an amazing house for dogs. One thing to note is if you have an escape artist dog (like we do) the back gate is a bit shorter. We had no issues at all it’s just something to keep an eye out for!

The copper nest was a great place to stay for our long weekend trip. It was ideally situated 30mins drive from UCSC. The beach house exceeded our expectations, and comfortably accommodated 8 guests. All aspects had been thought about by the host, from the detailed text messages pre arrival through to the prevision of supplies, saving the immediate necessity to go basic food shopping. The house was pleasantly furnished with high end product and the beds were so comfortable. The state beach (only foot steps away) was so peaceful, with barely a sole on this stretch. Both hosts were responsive to any issues or questions. Thank you

we loved staying here! everything was in excellent condition and looked exactly like the photos, plus you can’t beat the location! the beach was right across the street and walking distance to coffee, shops, food, etc. evan was super responsive and gave very clear, easy to follow instructions for check-in and check-out. highly recommend for your next beach trip!! ☀️

The stay was amazing and the host gave amazing recommendations!

We had a wonderful time during our recent stay at Sean's place. The house is so spacious and the beds were incredibly comfortable. We especially loved the large kitchen; it never felt crowded, even with a few of us in there at once. We also really appreciated how well-equipped the kitchen was with all the pots, pans, plates, and other essentials we needed. Our kids absolutely adored the pool area! It was beautiful and private, and they had so much fun with the basketball hoop. They also loved watching the hummingbirds at the backyard water fountain and the rabbits hopping around in the garden. Overall, we had an amazing stay. Thanks for hosting us!

My family and I spent a fantastic week at Jackie's house. Sunny, comfy, and well-equipped with everything visitors might need, the house is a perfect spot to start and end a day of exploring beautiful Santa Cruz. We hope to return!

Our stay was wonderful. Our two girls especially did not want to leave. Everything was so comfortable and clean, we loved the toys and books, and the projector set up. The architecture and remodeling was beautiful. Appreciate the lack of tacky artwork on the walls. Tracie and Dave were such generous hosts. Hope to be back, thank you!

This beach bungalow is fabulous ! The home is clean, comfortable and has all the amenities needed for a relaxing getaway! The outdoor patio is a bonus living room! The location has a nice ocean view and easy access to walks along the beach. Heather is a great host! The recommendations provided are very helpful and spot on! Will definitely book this wonderful gem for our next visit to Santa Cruz!

I would surely book this place again. The place was very comfortable and had everything we needed, including laundry facilities. The location was great for walking and also a easy close drive to Nicene Marks Forest for a lovely hike. Communication was very pleasant and quick. Loved this stay.

We had a great stay at Courtney‘s studio near Seabright Beach. It’s an amazing location just a block away from one of the best beaches in Santa Cruz. Ours was a short day, but the studio seemed to have a well stocked kitchen, and we appreciated some of the beach, accessories like beach chairs, an umbrella, and drying rack. We had everything we needed at the studio. We enjoyed having breakfast and cinnamon buns from Linda’s (nearby diner) one morning. Highly recommend staying here!

Mike’s place is really comfortable and home like. The neighborhood is quiet and private, room is easy to self check-in and spacious enough for 2 persons to stay, there’s also a beautiful little yard which is private and gives out a great feeling to start the day. Thank you so much for your offering, Mike, and I’ll definitely recommend it to others if there’s any chance!

This is a beautiful place to stay in an old growth redwood forest adjacent to Cowel State Park. A little out of the way but very peaceful. Michael greeted us personally and made gave us a tour. I would go back.

We stayed here on our way to Oregon and it was a beautiful and very clean apartment where everything worked exactly as expected. We made breakfast and coffee in the morning and enjoyed a slow relaxing morning. The location worked well for visiting Livermore before checking in and then visiting San Francisco the next morning. We avoided a lot of traffic. Thank you!

Evan and David were bother very helpful and responsive to my questions. The spot was nice and convenient walk to the beach. Enjoyed the stay and would book again in the future.

Matthew donates part of the rental proceeds to charity, renter gets to choose the charity. also great location, 100 yds from the sea front

Great location, apartment, and easy check in and out. Would 100% stay again! Very cute places to eat / shop / beach close by!

Wonderful condo nestled in the Pajaro Dunes Resort. We traveled with two elementary aged kids and they had a fantastic time. A great family getaway. We brought our own groceries and there was plenty of amenities in the kitchen for eating in every meal. We enjoyed the short walk to the beach and beautiful views from the inside as well. We appreciated having the beach chairs & tennis items. The resort recreation area was a lot of fun and we spent several hours there. Comfortable beds and upgraded furnishings. Overall, a fantastic experience and we can’t wait to return again someday.

Kristina’s place was absolutely beautiful and exactly as pictured. Breath taking ocean views and a short 5 minutes down to the beach. Kristina was very friendly checking in with us to make sure our trip was going good and if we needed anything. Would definitely stay here again !!! Great host great place and beautiful city !!

This stay is absolutely amazing. Comfy bed and furniture. Stocked Kitchen. Steps to the beach. Closet full of beachy things. We had fun flying the kite. Built bonfires just over the dune on the beach. 🏖️ Don’t hesitate to book. This place is it.

Everything was just as described - kitchen was well stocked and had the staples which I appreciated - plenty of coffee too! Beach location was wonderful - 5 out of 5!

We’ve stayed at Pajaro Dunes before, but it’s been decades ago. Marc’s place was perfectly situated for privacy and views and was very clean and well appointed. The peacefulness and serenity were exactly what we were looking for. The beachy feel of the furnishings was charming and the unit included all that we needed including an upgraded and well furnished kitchen, a gas fireplace, a comfortable, king size bed and other essentials like extra blankets and a Kuerig coffee maker. Our only difficulty was when inadvertently trying to use the TV remote to change channels…Don’t Do That, Use the cable remote like it says in the instructions. Spent a thoroughly enjoyable four days here with side trips to Monterey and Carmel. Perfect home base for dining out and exploring the coast, and an excellent, proactive host.

We had a wonderful stay in Aptos! Hosts were very helpful, responsive, and flexible. You can tell they take great care of the house and think of all the details and amenities a visitor might need. Although we didn’t use the kitchen and bbq, everything you might need is there. The beds were very comfortable as well. The view is breathtaking, we even saw whales! It’s the perfect location to local restaurants, coffee spots, and grocery stores. Very close to Santa Cruz without the hustle and bustle. My family would definitely recommend and stay here again.

This was our second stay at Harbor House and it was just as great as we remembered it to be. Super easy check-in starts your stay on the right track. Perfect location, great parking, amazing view, friendly neighbors, amazing outdoor space and well-equipped kitchen and beach supplies make this better than most other properties. We will always return when visiting Santa Cruz.

Location was amazing! The walk to the beach was awesome. Super quick and beautiful, we went to the beach every day for sunrises and sunsets. Check in and check out was easy. Would definitely stay here again!