Yak milk bone (for dogs) and goat milk soap (for people) - these are but two of the more…read moreinteresting things we discovered during our stay at this dog-friendly bed and breakfast. Sitah and Dale (the owners) and their staff went out of their way to make us feel welcome. Their affable mien, as well as their superb culinary skills, made our stay memorable and deeply satisfying. We chose the East Room. It is lovingly decorated, spacious, and well-furnished. The queen size bed, desks, sofa, mini-fridge, and heater that warms up the toilet seat provide just about all of the creature comforts one needs. The room also has a fire stove to delight the pyromaniacs and a huge, deep stone soaker tub that can easily accommodate two sumo wrestlers (or half a dozen jockeys). A couple of things to note: (1) There's no cell phone reception (at least not T-Mobile or Sprint). But there is free WiFi. (2) While the windows and skylights may infuse the room with a bright and cheery feel, they may make it hard for you to sleep in late. So don't forget to pack your sleep mask.

I've been holding off with my review for nearly 8 months because I wanted to be sure that the…read moreRedwood Croft would live up to my expectations of a 5 star establishment. I am so delighted to now say that Sitah and Dale made the most special day of my life a total dream. After searching up and down the California coast for a place to get married that felt "right", I was feeling pretty disheartened and was ready to throw in the towel. But, on a whim, we decided to take a trek to Bonny Doon on our way to another venue location and I happened upon the Redwood Croft for a potential place for out of town guests to stay. And wouldn't you know it, they mentioned they host events on their website! My now husband and I took a day and drove down the coast from San Mateo and stopped in to chat with Sitah about her home. The place was (is!) stunning and from the moment we set foot on the grounds, we knew it was the perfect place to get married. Sitah and Dale charge a reasonable amount for the 2 night rental of their whole B&B, plus having nearly 100 people on-site for a wedding! It was so magical to spend the night there before the wedding, then to wake up and eat Sitah's homemade blueberry pancakes (which she made a batch gluten free for me! So amazing!) and spend the rest of the day primping and relaxing before we said "I do!" on their beautiful back lawn and garden. They made everything go so smoothly and they opened their home to my family for the weekend -- it made the wedding weekend just sublime. Before we had our big day, the hub and I spent an impromptu overnighter at the Croft, just to get a feel for it. Our night was peaceful (we stayed in the East Room) and I can't wait to go back now and spend special weekends and anniversaries there. Thank you, Sitah and Dale, for making our day a true piece of romance. Our memories will be sweet and our life will be grand and you had a hand in making that come true for us!

Stayed a few nights in Cabin 9 and never had an unpleasant moment. Location is great, the cabins…read moreare quaint and comfortable, and the grounds are well-kept. Check-in was easy, the resort is quiet and restful. Practically in the state park, easy walk down to the river. A little slice of heaven, we'll definitely return. Every cabin gets a private patio with Adirondack chairs WiFi was spotty, bring a book T.V. Was limited, bring a puzzle or games Kitchen has fridge, microwave and stove/oven. Drip coffee maker, toaster. Plates, bowls, coffee mugs, glasses, silverware, pots and pans. Salt and pepper. You're not making dinner but you can definitely reheat some leftovers.

Felton is stunning--majestic redwoods, peaceful river vibes... or so we thought. Unfortunately, the…read moreproperty owner had other plans. We arrived Mother's Day weekend hoping for serenity and got a front-row seat to her personal 40th birthday rave. The main river access? Taped off for her party from Friday to Sunday. The peaceful sounds of nature? Drowned out by a DJ and enough bass to rattle the trees from 5-9pm on Saturday. Other guests looked just as confused as we were. Things really peaked when our assigned parking spot was taken by a party guest after we came back from dinner, and the "emergency" contact basically said, "Good luck--there's a party going on." Nobody in the office, of course. The cabins themselves? Think sad summer camp meets thrift store chic--hot, musty, and uncomfortable, with a creaky bed and WiFi that gave up faster than we did. The location has so much potential, but, unfortunately is neglected by an owner who doesn't care about you or your stay. In fact, she passed by my family a few times and did not appear to be friendly. If you're looking for peace and nature, this place might deliver--just not when the owner's throwing herself a bash like it's Coachella.

I can't say enough about this place!…read more Mary our hostess was so nice welcoming and helpful. She made us feel like we were staying at a friend's house. Our room had an incredible view. I can't believe the description was a partial view. It definitely was more than a partial view. We had a soaking tub with whirlpool jets. A king size bed and a fireplace. A miniature refrigerator, and bathrobes to use while we were there. They have a wine and cheese hour from 4:30-5:30 every evening and it also had chocolate chip cookies and veggie tray. The breakfast in the morning was so delicious with an assortment of breads, homemade granola and muesli, fresh fruit, quiche and fresh baked cake (lemon, banana, and blueberry were the flavors the days we stayed). The location is walking distance to the pier, boardwalk, and downtown. Depending on how far you like walking we walked to Natural Bridge State Park and it was 2.7 miles. The view along the way is spectacular

Five stars. No question... Five stars. After years of being disappointed with accommodations in…read moreSanta Cruz, I stumbled on West Cliff Inn when planning a roadtrip getaway for a night. When I scanned their website I immediately thought I was mistakenly looking at an inn in Mendocino. But nope... right on the edge of West Cliff Drive and just above the boardwalk, this restored Victorian is an oasis of peace, grace, and refined luxury in Lost Boys-land. You can't miss this restored white Italian Revival beauty with a commanding view of the Giant Dipper and the neon glitz of the Beach Boardwalk. Once inside you'll be struck by the high ceilings and windows, clean lines, tasteful color palettes, and spotless housekeeping. We stayed in the ADA room on the ground floor, but I still walked to the top of the stairs just to see the stained glass dome over the ceiling over the stairway. Stunning! The room was not enormous but it was efficient and comfortable and met my mobility needs. Loved the walk in shower with a shower chair. Body wash and shampoo/conditioner are all provided and smelled great. The gas fireplace in the room was welcome as it was still chilly in April. As for hospitality, checking in was quick and friendly. The front desk clerk at check-in was courteous and all smiles. Check-out front desk attendant wasn't the warmest, but nothing that would put me off a return. We enjoyed the complimentary wine and cheese/cracker hour at 430pm and the hot breakfast buffet in the morning was delicious and filling. We had it arranged in advance for in room dining and it was great! If I were to drum up a single critique of this visit it would be that the parking area is tight and requires some care to navigate. There are enough spaces for the number of rooms but... we noticed some guests were not very mindful of the parking space lines. Will I be back? Abso-effing-lutely?

I was a bridesmaid in a wedding here and wow, I was blown away by the level of service-- I was…read moreoffered assistance without asking more than once throughout the wedding day, and every staff member I interacted with went above and beyond to help, from the owners to the bed-and-breakfast chef to the dinner servers. The bartenders were also extremely professional and gracious throughout the evening. The venue itself is gorgeous and has multiple areas that are romantic or charming, and the accommodations make for a truly unique experience; I've seen quite a few venues as a former wedding photographer and this was an outstanding experience.

Simply wonderful. Beautiful setting, gorgeously maintained. Rustic yet clearly cared for with love,…read morehard work, and dedication. The grounds are beautiful, whether you just look out from the stately house, or if you wander on some of the trails -- maybe set for a spell on a bench. If you're looking to exhale and then breathe in amazing nature, you have found the place! The room is very comfortable, too. Our bathroom was plenty big and roomy. Loved the big bath (whirlpool, if you like). The 'full breakfast' is fantastic. Jen is a wonderful baker (a breakfast bread pudding one day; mini churros another day), and each morning we had a varied and hearty breakfast that was delicious and well-balanced. The house itself is big and inviting with hip old timey jazz pipedor more modern-day chanteuses gently piped in. Enclosed porch for reading or just relaxing. Our room had a private porch, too. So much here. So many ways to really unwind. Walking around the grounds is inspiring. I ran into Derek a time or two who was relaxed but busy on the many projects that keep him focused here. The whole place looks perfect for a wedding, or a family gathering, or even a business get-away. Or, of course, just a simple, lowkey retreat. Lovely hidden (but easy to find) gem. Can't wait to return.

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!!!! It is an older building, but you would not know. It is gated…read moreand protected. Right on the water. The views, amazing!!! I highly recommend the second floor rooms. You can still see the view from the first, but they have plants growing up over the fence so it is harder to have the full view. They serve fresh cookies, breakfast in the morning, and always have tea, water, and coffee in the office. It's nice and cozy in there with a couple tables to enjoy your food or drink. There are also tables outside. Unfortunately they do not have a spa or pool. They do have some rooms with a spa tub. Our room was on the smaller size. There are no air conditioners in the room. In the closet was a fan and a space heater. We had our window open at night for the fresh ocean breeze and that kept Us cool enough for an August evening. We had a mini fridge, microwave, and safe in another closet. No coffee maker or complimentary water in the room. That is all located in the office. The bathroom was a great size for two of us. It was stocked with shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, and soap. I don't recall seeing a blow dryer. The bed was ok. Not uncomfortable, but not comfortable. Location is great. The pier and boardwalk are all walking distance. Lots of restaurants and shops. The hotel is on a cliff so there is not direct access to the beach. You do need to walk a little bit down the street to gain access, but it is a very short walk. I highly recommend staying here. I can not wait to go back.

I'm surprised at the great reviews for this place. It is a motel but with a fantastic view. We paid…read more$500 for a tiny room with a great view. I felt ripped off. Yes, you get breakfast, a cookie and wine if you want it but I think it's to distract you from how much money you are paying for a tiny little room. And oddly, there no glasses in the room to even have a glass of water. Bathroom door was a strange sliding door that didn't close properly. A certain lack of privacy.No air conditioning. Definitely a lovely view - no question - but is it worth $500? Not to me.

The Aloha Cottage is Amazing. It gives you so much privacy and is in immaculate condition…read more Everything is brand new but still has that welcome home feel. You can definitely tell the owners really have put a lot of thought and effort into their cottage. It is just a block from an amazing surf spot and the neighborhood is very welcoming. For all you get the price is ridiculously good. Has everything you need for a perfect getaway; even has a BBQ and full kitchen!!!

We had a wonderful stay here at Bella Notte. We were looking for a place that was dog friendly…read moresince we had our 11 yr old Pikachu (Pekingese/Chihuahua mix) ESA -Emotional Support Animal with us. Our room was very Spacious and felt Luxurious. The location is perfect since the Beach and some restaurants were walking distance away. Downtown and the Boardwalk was only about 15 minutes driving distance. Their Hospitality was excellent and were just a phone call away. Enjoyed our stay and would highly recommend! Thanks again Bella Notte

Place is clean, staff freindly and location is conveninent…read more The only con is that it just needs to be updated a bit. The shower curtain has a funky smell. Otherwise, it's a decent place to sleep.

Cozy ambiance, spacious well designed and well kept rooms. AMAZING staff, genuinely have never felt…read moreso well taken care of in a hotel in my life. I wouldn't stay anywhere else in Santa Cruz. Short walk to downtown and the boardwalk. Nothing comes close in any regard until you're spending about 3 times what this hotel costs, and even then it's a tie at best. Feels too good to be true. No need to look further, stay here when you're coming to Santa Cruz!

Terrible hotel to stay at. The AC in my room was leaking water and it was all over the floor…read more Manager or staff said someone would come and fix it and wipe the floor. NO One came! Very noisy AC . Loud ppl above me and flies everywhere in the hallway . First time staying here and my last. Definitely not worth the $$$$ I paid for! The area is pretty sketchy too. Homeless ppl around. Beware!

Decided to stay here myself to see what's what. Wellstone Center in the Redwoods sounds like a…read morewriter's paradise, but buyer before - as others before have mentioned, it is assuredly not. (Check the filtered/hidden reviews.) Wellstone is marketed as a retreat center for aspiring writers, but it does indeed feel more like a shoddy youth hostel. The main house may have once been majestic, but it has fallen into a state of disrepair. The accommodations were poorly maintained and unsanitary, with ripped furniture, non-functioning lamps, and mildew in my bathroom. The grounds were in a sad state, with a filthy pool and unusable hot tub that had only a few inches of dirty water. The mattress was so old, uncomfortable, and sagging that I simply didn't sleep. The bedding had some unidentifiable stains that appeared to be fluids, which was quite concerning. When I brought it up with the hosts, they seemed completely unconcerned and dismissed me. The bath towels were old, scratchy, and smelled of mildew. As others have mentioned, the hosts request that you use cloth napkins - which is great, except that they do not wash theses napkins between meals. They instead instructed us to re-use other guests' napkins at subsequent meals, which is dangerously unhygienic. Reminder that I came here to write. It was a terrible place for me to write, in part because there's a loud family that lives in the house, and in part because there were no lights. That's right -- no lights bright enough to read by. A few mood lamps, nothing more. I am not a morning person and do most of my writing in the evenings. At sundown, I was forced to be done with all reading. It was too dark to read my book drafts, which I'd printed out; let alone any primary sources, books I was using for research. Unless you happen to bring a headlamp or a bevy of your favorite floor-lamps, you will also be out of luck. Make sure to read the other reviews that have been filtered out before you decide to apply for this "writing retreat." For me, it was neither a retreat nor a useful place to write. I wish I'd booked a hotel instead. You might want to consider the same.

Beautiful space to work as a writer. Peaceful, delicious food and invaluable feedback from fellow…read morewriters.