Surrounded by hiking trails, golf courses, and stretches of Pacific coast, this home in Santa Cruz not only has an enviable location, but it’s bursting with the potential for plenty of memories made. The backyard, alone, has a private swimming pool, tiki bar, and a swath of green turf that the kids will love running around on – especially when they’re hiding from the dinosaur. Now, although their ancestor is just a statue, the chickens are very real – find them in their coop when you’re making the rounds outdoors. Pass through trees, make your way up and down steps as you stretch out and shake off the last dregs of sleep, and refresh yourself with a morning swim before going back inside to brew a pot of fresh coffee.

Take breakfasts out on the patio – chances are you might even enjoy a scramble of fresh eggs, courtesy of the chickens – and when you’re ready to start exploring, head out to any one of the beaches that await you on the other end of a short drive. Golfers can tee off at one of two courses only minutes away, and nature lovers can get up close and personal with the native beauty of California by setting off on the hiking trails.

Spend afternoons reading in the hammock, barbecue at sunset, swim under the stars, watch family movies huddled together next to the fire. Visit the amusement park, the Bigfoot Discovery Museum, and eat more authentic tacos than you thought possible – knowing that this cosy home is waiting for you to return for some well-deserved R&R.

Home truths:
*There’s free parking for three cars in the garage – you'll also find a level 2 EV charger here
*One well-behaved dog is welcome to accompany you during your stay
*Hen and stag parties are not allowed at this home
*There are ten steps leading up to the main living area here
*Though there isn't a dedicated desk here, the dining table doubles up as a laptop-friendly workspace
*The swimming pool isn't fenced, so children will need to be supervised at all times
*There are nine chickens in the coop here who the landlords – in the house next door – care for
*The driveway is share with a tenant who lives in the cottage
*A trusted housekeeper will come by bi-weekly, and the pool cleaner and gardener will be there once a week