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.

Private company Beach Party/Summer Picnic BBQ at The Grove in the Sun Room…read more Check in was at Entrance C, and wristbands for unlimited rides required for entry to the Sun Room access on the 2nd floor. We had the exclusive area from 11:00AM to 2:30PM, with drinks, unlimited BBQ lunch (potato salad, green salad, burgers, hot dogs, baked beans, chips, popcorn, and ice cream) and tailgate games. Soda, wine and beer at the bar from what I could tell. The main Sun Room with the glass ceiling was bright, and had two connected rooms. The views of the beach, water and wharf were awesome. You could open the windows to let the sea breeze in. I can see how this venue could be used for like a wedding reception. I can't speak to the cost of such a private corporate event but as an attendee it was very smooth, great service with the food and bar. Restroom was fine, water bottle dispenser, security staff too.

We liked The Grove! We used them for our send-off brunch after our wedding, and they provided a…read moregreat venue in a great location. The room itself was beautiful, and overall quite reasonably priced. The food itself was okay, not amazing but did the job for the send-off brunch (I don't think anyone from the brunch will be raving about how great the food was, nor will they be saying it was bad). They provided a marquee outside, too, which was a really nice touch. My only complaint is that, after our contract was signed, they sprung that the food service would only be for an hour, despite the event being contracted for 3 hours. I think that should have been made more clear from the beginning. Overall positive experience!

I absolutely love this conference center! I go here every year to attend camp and the staff is…read morealways super friendly especially the owner Tess! The food is always delicious and they are always super accommodating towards dietary restrictions. The property itself is beautiful with a really nice pool and a big swing under the redwoods! The campfire is under a circle of redwoods that just look magical when you look up!

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!!

I absolutely think this Santuary Exploration exhibit by Monterey is amazing, fun and educational…read more Here's a secret......it is totally FREE!!!!! If your in Santa Cruz area and need a cool off and a break for the young kids take them here. Lots to see, touch and explore. Even a coloring area where they display your picture. You can use a under water diving machine. You can watch a movie on the ocean. So much more. Time to explore!!

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

Victoria and Andrew the most amazing host ever! They treated me with so much respect and…read morehospitality I can't recommend this place enough! Thank you for the a great experience and staff!

We came to celebrate our anniversary and were in for a treat. The great experience started right at…read morecheck‑in. The staff was extremely friendly and efficient, offered us an early check‑in, and handed us glasses of sparkling wine. It was a thoughtful touch, though they definitely need a better system for collecting the glasses--we noticed them scattered around the hotel during our stay. The hotel is fairly new, less than a year old, and in excellent condition. The rooms show a lot of attention to detail: a well‑stocked minibar with a full bottle of wine, robes, slippers, and a laundry bag. At these prices, you expect that level of quality, and they deliver. The pool and jacuzzi area is very nice, with a bar and restaurant right by the water. One level up, there's a sundeck with fire pits where you can relax, watch the sunset, and enjoy the beach views. At night, turndown service includes a small bottle of after‑sun serum and slippers placed neatly by the bed. The pool service is excellent. There are plenty of chairs and towels, and staff check in regularly. During the day, they even brought around small boats of frozen grapes, a simple but very nice touch. Make time for the gym. It's small, but packed with equipment, including an Equinox Workout Mirror, which was fun to try out. Valet parking is pricey at $65 per night. If you arrive during a slower time, you can park at a meter for about $14 per night. Meters are free from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m., so take advantage of that if you can.

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!

Nice friendly staff and great location, but the facilities are severely lacking. The bathroom floor…read morewas covered in tiny ants, the shower did not work (cold with no water pressure), the cottage bedroom had one power outlet hidden behind the bed so very hard to charge your phone. The owner is selling the property and walks the grounds, but it's clear he's trying to avoid putting money into anything.

We can't express the pleasure of hosting a wedding at Hollins House. Giselle and Bella and their…read moreamazing staff make everything top notch and beautiful!! Thank you for the kindness, professionalism and luxury!!!

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

After having just finished a life changing meal at Olitas Cantina and Grill me and my husband were…read moredrawn like moths to Vino by the sea because of the beautiful sounds created by the 10oclock lunch band. The young man that served us was very patient and you could tell he enjoys introducing people to wine and has lots of knowledge. The space itself has so much character and the history and good vibes radiate in this place like solar energy radiates from Superman, it's not like anything back in San Francisco. I was telling my husband that never have any places felt like somewhere to go back to regularly and build history but because our our experience here it will now be a monthly tradition for us to visit Santa Cruz just so we can have dinner at Olitas followed by drinks and music at Vinos. Thank you so much for the core memories. Blessings!!!

I never post here but i am just so disappointed in my experience at Vino by the Sea on the wharf I…read morefeel I need to shout it from the roof tops. I am a 45 yr local to Santa Cruz. I go to shows all the time. Free shows at Shanty Shack, Midtown, Tue wharf series you name it. Vino by the Sea really went low and dirty tonight. Punishing sober patrons and losing my local business. Don't bring your sober friends here...they will be kicked out for not spending money. Met a group of friends here for a show and drinks. My friends had been at the bar for about two hours, ate food and ordered a couple hundred dollars worth of drinks. They had been over served and slurring their speech by the time I got there. I show up and try not to lose it when I order a glass of wine and it's $23. I have spent $500+ on a single dinner for two and still got sticker shock at $23 for a glass. Whatever it was good. My sober friends who came with me to join the group were asked to leave because they were not buying drinks. I explained to the owner/bar tender they are sober and we are with a group of highly intoxicated friends who are spending a lot of money. They were still asked to leave. So they left. The only thing I said to the staff was that my sober friends should not be forced to spend money and apparently that was rude. I was calm, smiling and did not raise my voice or cause a scene. The 2nd they saw me take out my phone and write a yelp review I was kicked out