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.

Wow, this is a cool event space! Spacious ballroom, gorgeous views of the ocean, a very neat sun…read moreroom, and a disco ball to boot. I wish I could go back (waaay back) in time and have my prom here! Cocoanut grove can hold ALOT of people. There's a bar available for use, and three different rooms that could be utilized depending on the size of the event. I've heard that the sun room ceiling even opens up (but I haven't seen that in action). This would be a great venue for a wedding reception, dance, reunion, or company holiday party.

Awesome place to have a private party! Staff is friendly beautiful view of the ocean! I would…read morehighly recommend this venue for a private event!

My husband and I live nearby and decided to stop by today and take a peek at the pool. We were…read moregreeted by the extremely rude business owner, letting us know that we were trespassing and needed to leave. Had I been aware that we were trespassing, of course we would've never entered the property. Because of her rudeness, my husband would not look at her or acknowledge her, which then she insulted him about. My husband and I are very nice people and get along with everyone. This is a seriously missed opportunity for this business owner, as she could've been polite and welcoming and invited us back but instead, she insulted us and was nasty. If being treated poorly is your jam, this is your place!!

A hidden red wood nature spot. Good for large events that want to host a camping vibe type of…read moreretreat. Note, it has sleeping accommodations equal to 2 stars. The mattress will be hard and plastic wrapped. Parking is fairly far from rooms (pack only what you can carry). The parking lot is not paved. The rooms are running on the colder side. The restaurants and facilities are not connected - so prepare to enter nature and have a 5 min walk (hint - dress warm). Almost no cell phone reception. Nice staff. Clean and well kept, but def dated. No smoking and drinking allowed on premises. Safe gated facility.

Stopped there on our way to the boardwalk. It was nice and educational, kid and adult friendly (we…read morewent without kids). The staff was super friendly and informative. Admissions was free and there's an optional donation and a nice gift shop.

A fun place to visit if you have some time before hitting the Boardwalk or pier! Located right…read moreacross the street from the pier, know that it is FREE to visit! This is not affiliated with the Monterey Bay Aquarium but it is tied to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA). The docents/volunteers here are friendly and engaging and it is fun to learn about the oceans surrounding Santa Cruz. Great for kids, it's a quick 30 minute visit kind of place to pop in and learn something new!

I've signed up for twice a week Tai Chi beginning classes here. What…read morea great class . They also rent space for other functions. We're lucky in Santa Cruz county to have so many choices of classes.

I went to attend one of the town hall meetings for the Desalination in Santa Cruz County…read more This place has a large parking lot and an organic farm in the back. The organic farm look amazing with lots of fruits on the trees and vegetables that is big and ready to be picked. There was a sign inside where you sign up for a membership of the Grange and you can get some of the stuff in the garden. The place is small, but good enough to hold about a hundred or so people. The parking lot may fit about 40-50 cars and once that is max there is residential parking outside.

Got so much positive feedback on my wedding day because this venue is absolutely perfect!! Our…read moreguests had so much fun and we were able to capture beautiful pictures. Chrissy was amazing, she was so on top of everything and so easy to work with. The students did a fantastic job as the wait staff. The food was perfect! I love that we were able to pick our favorite dishes to be served; not many venues let you do that! Price was super reasonable as well. I'm so happy I chose this venue!! Unforgettable day. Thank you Chrissy and team.

The Sesnon House is a great wedding venue. Highly recommend. The venue is part of the culinary…read moreschool. Chef Andrea, who is a professor of the culinary school, also offers a lot of options to customize the menu. For example, we wanted to incorporate chestnuts and dates into our menu. We had this Korean traditional ceremony where our parents gave us blessings with chestnuts and dates. Chef Andrea customized hors d'oeuvre to be roasted chestnut crostini. We also had desserts with them - chocolate chestnut cakes & a family-recipe date bar. It was awesome. Many people complimented our food, and it made me very happy because food is such an important factor in our lives (I am Korean and we live in NYC - food is all we care about haha). Students of culinary school prepared and served our food - it was such an honor to have those enthusiasm and joy on our big day. The venue comes with the day of coordinator - Chrissy. I can't say enough about her. She is the best. After the first meeting with her, I told my husband "I think we're in good hands". She is a seasoned professional who knows the ins and outs of the wedding. In general, it is a great venue with a great price & great staff. Highly recommend. Photo credit: @nicolejkimphotography

We've officially added this spot to our staycation list. The hotel is beautiful, very clean, and…read morethe service really stood out--every staff member we interacted with was friendly and accommodating. Front desk even let my daughter choose a cute stuffy from the treasure chest as a gift! The location is a huge plus. We were able to walk right across the street to the beach so our toddler could play in the sand, and my husband loved being able to fish off the pier nearby. The boardwalk is also within walking distance--slightly farther, but still very manageable--and we spent time there enjoying the rides. Definitely make time for the rooftop pool and gym--they're worth it. A couple things to note: valet is the only parking option at $50/night. It's convenient, but you'll want to grab everything you need from your car ahead of time since accessing it again can take a bit longer. The room itself was on the smaller side, but well-appointed with everything we needed. Nice touches included a small fridge stocked with complimentary soda, water, and wine, along with robes, slippers, and other thoughtful extras. There's no microwave unless you request one for an additional fee. We had breakfast at the hotel's restaurant, Low Tide, and that was the only downside. Service was lacking, and the food didn't match the high price point. I'd skip it next time. Overall, a great stay and we'd definitely come back.

Pro - Location Staff…read moreDecor Views Restaurants Con - TV service stalled - Bathroom ventilation - Beds are too soft - Balcony furniture - Views from balcony obstructed by railings

We had a fantastic stay on a Sunday in the Lilac Room. Stunning views, our own balcony, clean and…read morecomfortable room. Bed was great, shower had great water pressure and the continental breakfast was top notch and delivered to your room at your requested time. When we checked in the woman was taking care of caterpillars in the office to help breed the monarch population. She showed us what they're doing to help. It was a really cool thing to see! She even put a butterfly on my finger. She took us to the room while explaining the history of the place as well. Very cool spot. Highly recommend!

It's a Bed & Breakfast with its own character. I think it was built in 1887. Based on the…read moreinformation book in the room, Al Capone has stayed here before! It's a historical building so there is no AC but fans are provided. The Inn has a trail to the ocean with has nice views. It is dog friendly which is the main reason we stay here. The property manger is super friendly and helpful. I think she is the reason the Inn has great reviews.

We are thrilled to have gotten married at The Hollins House in May 2025!…read more After we saw this venue, we were immediately sure it was the place for our family-only wedding. We felt enveloped by the ambience, and the aesthetic speaks for itself. We were also drawn to the fact that the site accommodates both ceremonies and receptions. The food was delicious at the tasting, and at our wedding. Giselle, Bella, and the whole staff were wonderful with the planning steps, and on the day of. We felt prepared thanks to our planning documents and phone calls. And to top it all off, we were fortunate enough to get the best weather imaginable. We had our dream wedding at The Hollins House

Extraordinary! Tapas Tuesdays and Al Fresco Thursdays are…read moreour favorite part of the week. The staff meets an elite standard and the atmosphere is lovely! The view is outstanding and the restaurant extremely clean. The staff is always ready to help. Melissa, Harley, and Austin are our absolute favorite servers! They always make us feel welcomed and comfortable. The food is both delicious and beautifully presented. We love the seasonal soups and salads. You also cannot go wrong ordering the salmon or the ribs for dinner. Each time we order, the food is even better than the week before! Kudos to the Cami and the entire team for making Thursday nights a highlight of our week !

Second timer here, always a must stop during any roadtrip, food is amazing and staff are very…read morefriendly!!!!!

Vino by the Sea is the place you go to enjoy a few glasses of wine but you end up coming back time…read moreand time again for the friendships you make at this establishment. They have everything you could want for a local hang out spot. We enjoy the wines, the snacks and the carefully selected bands. It's cozy and welcoming because the owners care and want you to enjoy what they have created on the wharf. The owners remember your names and take time to get to know you. What a fun place! Constantly new friends and good surprises with the locally sourced wines.