The absolute most beautiful wedding venue - it is stunning, serene, and feels like you're tucked…read moreaway in the forest. I can't emphasize how many endless compliments we got on how gorgeous and unique the Sequoia is (especially the ceremony space surrounded by redwoods, and the cocktail hour deck with an amazing view of the forest) Diane, the owner, is so lovely, responsive/communicative, and accommodating. I was worried about having a secure place to store my jewelry- she got a safe just for us to use! I realized the morning of the wedding that I hadn't assembled our fujifilm cameras - she immediately stepped in to help. The venue is very customizable - it's BYOB (though FYI about wine/beer only policy- we served spritzes and sangria as our signature drinks), you can choose your own caterer, and we were able to save on florals because the venue is so pretty, it doesn't need any dressing up. We initially debated venues solely because the Sequoia was farther away for our guests -- but we kept coming back to the Sequoia, and I am so so glad we did. We would pick it again in a heartbeat!

I'm a wedding planner and I work with Sequoia retreat a lot. The staff there are beyond top notch…read more The dedication and care they show to their couples and vendors is so rare and meaningful. Whenever we have the privilege to work at this property I already know it will be a dream experience. If you want to find a venue that truly cares about you and creating a meaningful experience for you and your guests this is the spot. It's tucked away amongst noble giants offerings stunning views from their deck. The owners really go above and beyond. When faced with any type of situation they meet it head on and provide an atmosphere for vendors to collaborate and create magic together.

It is a beautiful space that is very well maintained, clean and lovely caretakers. Currently still…read morea lot of construction and tree management happening post fires. Looking forward to all of that being completed and full camp experience being restored. So well maintained by the caretakers.

I love me some Bosch Baha'i School! I have been coming here since I was 13 years old. At every…read morestage of my life, this place has held a special place in my heart. I went to college at UC Santa Cruz and would come up on the weekends to do volunteer service frequently over several years. I have been out of college for several years and no longer live in Santa Cruz, but still come up from time to time. It's just one of those places that keeps drawing you back. They have great weekend sessions that you can sign up for on a variety of topics. Additionally, this is a great space that you can rent out for weddings, reunions, retreats, etc. They have a variety of conference rooms, cabin style sleeping accommodations, play areas and a basketball court as well as a pool and wading pool for the warmer months of the year. You can tell that the people that work and volunteer at Bosch know how special it is and put their love into taking the best care of the campus.

The Felton Guild is such a charming and peaceful forest venue tucked away in the Redwoods, and I…read morerecently had the honor of photographing a wedding here; I absolutely fell in love with the setting! It feels secluded and intimate, with a cozy, woodsy atmosphere that's perfect for couples looking for something a little different. From a photographer's perspective, the lighting in the grove is soft and dreamy, especially during the ceremony. The surrounding trees create a natural canopy that adds to the sense of privacy and connection, while the reception space is large enough to host a decently sized guest count. The staff were incredibly helpful as well! If you're dreaming of a redwood wedding that's relaxed, heartfelt, and full of character, this is a venue worth checking out!

We had our wedding at the Felton Guild this past Saturday 8/5 and it was absolutely fantastic. We…read moregot so many comments about how beautiful the venue is. The ceremony space is intimate and surrounded by magical redwood trees. The reception is on the lawn and contains plenty of space for dinner, dancing (we rented a dance floor), and mingling. We had about 67 guests. Kathy was wonderful to work with and all her vendor recommendations were also wonderful (and more affordable than most wedding vendors!). We went with Cowboy Bar and Grill for the catering and it was perfect. The music has to be shut off by 8 pm but we had an after party at a bar in Santa Cruz and it worked out so well. I highly recommend Felton Guild if you are planning a wedding in Felton!

My husband and I spent a long time looking at wedding venues in the Santa Cruz/Los Gatos area. We…read moreprobably looked at more than 10 places! A lot of places weren't quite the right fit, had too many weird restrictions, or were overpriced (if your've looked at venues you know what I mean!) The Castle House and Gardens was the last place we looked at and we knew it would be the most perfect, picturesque and enchanted woodland setting for our outdoor wedding. It has lush, wild gardens that remind me of the Secret Garden. There's a beautiful redwood grove where we had our ceremony and a poolside courtyard with two outdoor fireplaces, perfect for dining and dancing, where we had the reception. It was great to have the ceremony and reception at the same place. The Castle House is a historic estate located in the Santa Cruz Mountain Community of Bonny Doon. It's bordered by beautiful redwood forests and just 10 minutes from the ocean. The family that lives there were the most gracious hosts for our event and went to extra care to make sure the grounds looked stunning on our wedding day. They own the Bonny Doon Garden Company and grow all of the flowers for their floral design business organically in their home gardens. It was really cool because my bouquets and centerpieces all came from the garden where I got married! We got so many compliments about the venue from our guests and everyone kept asking me, "How did you find this place?" I definitely recommend this place to other brides if you are looking for a unique, non-cookie cutter type venue full of natural beauty and rustic charm.

We were fortunate enough to have our wedding here on June 22nd, 2013 and let me tell you, the venue…read moreand it's owner, Teresa, ensured the most magical, welcoming, and organized experience ever. From the initial meeting, through hiccups with our caterer, and until the day-of coordination, Teresa was amazing: Helpful, friendly, knowledgeable, and assertive when she needed to be. She also did our flowers which were out of this world. The venue itself is enchanting with it's floral gardens, towering redwoods, and cozy courtyard. Our guests could not stop talking about how ours was the best wedding they have ever attended. We had a wedding of 100 people, and it was the perfect size. Count yourself very fortunate if you have the opportunity to have your event at Castle House and Gardens.

I have been to lille aeske many times now. The great thing is hard to say, it's either:…read more-The amazing people you'll bump into. Good people magnet. -The beautiful wine and other cool stuff you can get -The groups who perform- in your busy life you won't have a chance to find them. Anil finds them for you. Then you will listen for life. Wonderful. -The art. I was so inspired by the art here, some of it became part of my home. If I am able to go to a show here, I pretty much just go without trying to figure out too much about whether I will like it. I always do.

I had my wedding reception here at Lille Aeske last night, and it was the most beautiful night to…read moreremember. In the weeks leading up to the event, Anil was super helpful with everything in terms of planning down to the smallest details. I could tell he wanted to make sure that this was the most special of evenings for my partner and I, and in the end I can't have imagined hosting my wedding party anywhere else. Surrounded by gorgeous art on the walls and romantic fairy lights, we were served dinner and drinks while music played at the perfect volume in the background. I honestly felt like such a princess; every time I would try to adjust something to my liking it was quickly picked up for me and the hosts made sure to check in with me frequently that everything was going smoothly and on schedule. Even though I was very scattered and forgetful, Anil kept up really well and even walked across the street to buy us all champagne for the toasts that I had forgotten to bring beforehand. We had our first dance on the little stage by the door as per Anil's suggestion, and it was so intimate and lovely. It made for the greatest photos, too. Although I have yet to attend a music or art show at Lille Aeske, I feel like I truly got to experience the space at it's finest and feel blessed to have been hosted by Anil in his beautiful "little box" for my special day. Thank you so much for being a part of what turned out to be one of the best days of my life! I would highly recommend checking out Lille Aeske, for their own events or to host one of your own.

Event space for weddings and also There are cabins to stay in overnight…read more Just beautiful to be in the forest in nature and soak it all in

Just so beautiful! My son has his wedding here 9/18/25. The pics look like they should be in a…read moremagazine.

- They sell two dessert wines, and they are both my favorite of the wines they sell: a late-harvest…read moreMerlot called "Mane", and their port wine. Most of their wines have a light, acidic, astringent flavor that is typical of the Santa Cruz Mountains; it's not my fav style. - Go on the cave tour. Chris was our guide, and crammed lots of interesting info between sips. - They have a hiking trail! It's great. It takes about 1 hour to hike. It's a little over-grown, but with very sparse foliage.

Cute and cosy vinery tucked away in the Santa Cruz mountains. Went here on a rainy day and enjoyed…read morethe conversation with the wine-tender lady the most. Very good customer service, the staff was very warm and friendly. Wine tasting starts at $25 per flight + tips, and ends with the most magical Moscato. A good spot for a 1-2 stopover when visiting Santa Cruz. There are cave tours on Saturdays, and an option to become a member/ get a wine subscription. The vineyard sits on 8 acres of land, but the whole property is ~100 acres, with a lookout to the ocean, and multiple hikes starting from the property. A private dining experience inside the wine cave is also offered altho I am not sure of the price or value for money.

I visited Roaring Camp on a Saturday afternoon with my toddler. While we had a great time overall,…read morethe ride itself felt a bit monotonous after a while especially because not much changed once we started going up the SantaCruz mountains in terms of scenery and landscape. The Positives: Beautiful & Well-Maintained: The historic trains are very well-kept, and the views of the redwood forests are absolutely stunning. Great Amenities: There is ample food available on-site, so you won't go hungry. Location: It is within easy walking distance to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, which is another fantastic, toddler-friendly activity to pair with your trip. Tips for your visit: It can get tremendously crowded here on the weekends. Because of the heavy crowds, booking your tickets well in advance is highly recommended!

This is a great way to experience redwoods. - There is a $10…read moreparking fee for Roaring Camp. but it's good all day; so after the train ride, you can hike Henry Cowell redwoods right next door, and not have to pay the Henry Cowell $10 day-use fee per car. - I took the beach train. Riding in the open-top car is great; you can see the towering redwoods. There is very good narration throughout the entire trip, with interesting factoids about the redwoods and Santa Cruz. - The train passes the Garden of Eden clothing-optinoal Skinny-dipping swimming hole, plus a very long tunnel when approaching the beach. There is also an interesting bridge from 1909, and a tressle.