Family-friendly vacation rentals in Santa Cruz

We had a wonderful time! The location is perfect, walkable to a beach that is lovely but not crowded. Having the hot tub was also very nice after a long day. The neighborhood is lovely, and is close enough to downtown Santa Cruz, but far enough away to feel like a retreat. Would definitely stay here again.

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

Our family of four, loved Shari’s place and we’d definitely stay again. It’s one of those good-vibes Airbnbs where you can tell a lot of love goes into the setup and maintenance. We loved the hot tub for relaxing together — under a beautiful magnolia tree — and my partner and I were able to take a couple work calls in privacy in the spotless studio. Also, everything just works … coffee works, all the TVs were easy to use, and it was easy to get in and out. Thank you for a great stay Shari!

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.

Beautiful setting and the house was incredibly well stocked with all the things we needed to cook and enjoy.

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.

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.

Our stay at Himani's place was absolutely wonderful! The apartment was sparkling clean and had everything we needed for a comfortable stay. We especially appreciated the hot tub! The location was perfect for exploring the beach, and Himani was incredibly responsive and helpful with our questions. We felt right at home and would highly recommend this Airbnb to anyone looking for a relaxing and enjoyable getaway. We hope to be back soon!

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 do family trips pretty often. And honestly, this was our favorite trip so far. The home is better than the photos, which didn't do it justice even though they look great. The view and beach access were incredible. This was a perfect spot for the kids to play on the beach. We'll definitely be making this property a regular stop for us in the future.

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!

We had a wonderful stay! Richard was incredibly responsive and made sure any questions or issues were addressed quickly. The location is fantastic, just a few minutes from Castro Street with easy access to restaurants and shops. The place was spotless, and everything was clearly labeled, which made settling in effortless. We also appreciated the thoughtful touches like plenty of towels, washcloths, detergent, and trash bags. Highly recommend!

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 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!

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!

I had a comfortable and pleasant stay. The host was responsive, and their instructions were clear and easy to follow. The space was clean and matched the photos provided. The location was very safe and allowed me to enjoy a comfortable stay. Overall, it was a great experience. Thank you for hosting!

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.

Great place! Exactly what we hoped for and our kids enjoyed the yard - it was a great place and location