Simply wonderful. Beautiful setting, gorgeously maintained. Rustic yet clearly cared for with love, hard 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. read more

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Really beautiful venue for a wedding, beautiful displays on tables. (However, food: was so-so. )

Every positive review you can find is absolutely true... (I dont think there are any reviews but positive!) I want to mention how wonderful all of the staff were and especially how accommodating they were for me, being wheelchair and crutch bound... Looking online in advance of my fiancé Daughters wedding I was thinking it was going to be a rough trip, Ill try to be quick...every staff member was so great and always had an eye out for myself and any others needs without being pushy or neglecting any single guest... I really want to say to anyone similar to me...raka...no prosthetic...can crutch it... This beautiful place is very doable...they have a golf cart if needed and the roads are level here and there if you want to flex a bit there are a couple inclines/declines to tackle...or not... The best room has maybe 6/8 steps to it and a porch with as many steps to the path to all the events... So if you can use you arms and crutches a bit please dont pass this place up if you have the chance to go... Thank you Sand Rock! read more

We recently stayed at this B&B for two nights and were thrilled with our experience. Travelling mid-week in mid-January comes with the benefit of tranquility. I appreciated the self check-in approach to arrival and followed that by a self-guided walk around the grounds, trail and gardens. Everything was clearly marked and absolutely lovely and well maintained. We were in The Sun Porch Suite and it was roomy and I really appreciated the door between the bedroom and sun porch because it made temperature control feasible. We were comfortable throughout our stay and would be happy to return. The space had the charm of another era (picture craftsman style build) but was upgraded for modern day use. The common areas were welcoming but the star of the show was breakfast. When booking our stay I requested vegan breakfast and Jen made vegan magic happen. Each breakfast was multiple courses, thoughtful, interesting, flavorful and each day was completely different. It was an absolute joy to be pampered in that way and feel well cared for. read more

To say that Sand Rock Farm is magical, dreamy and ideal is underselling this location. But it also wouldn't even start to summarize the amazing team that actually RUNS SRF. Yes...the grounds, gardens, redwood grove, event spaces, house, rooms...everything is as if you tore pictures out of every magazine describing "tranquil getaway" and stepped right in. But it is really Jen, Derek and the teams they surround themselves with that made our reception worth the time, money and effort. For anyone planning an event...especially a special event like a wedding or family celebration...let me break down a couple things that made our experience amazing. (Sorry for the LONG review...I didn't have time to write a short one! LOL!) The Event Space and Venue: This is NOT your cookie cutter event space. It is tucked away in Aptos...so much so that locals who attended our event...including one person who lived UP THE ROAD for 7 years had NO idea this charmer of a B&B and event location was even there. We hosted a reception outside of their barn where the restrooms were literally the talk of the party -- airstream turned most elegant toilets you will ever see! The barn itself is this chic, rustic and totally charming space that welcomes you inside...but trust me, people won't want to stay in there because the barn yard is just way too much fun. Trust me when I tell you...invest in Amanda Connors as your florist and get the games package! Also invest in Revival Rentals for a lounge. AMAZING! We held our dinner in the barrel room and...this eclectic ruins of a vineyard barrel room now covered in a lush blanket of ivy with sting lights overhead. The spot is gorgeous in the daytime, but at dusk, just as a cool breeze kicks in and guests are laughing...it is other worldly. We had a group of 30 and the barrel room was perfect. Jen worked with me on seating and table arrangements as we danced the careful social-distanced-pandemic-event dance trying to make sure that everyone from our guests to the team at SRF stayed safe. SRF offered a package for our small gathering that included amazing food, floral by the incredible Amanda Connors, music by the ridiculously talented team at Ivy Hill Entertainment, a photo booth and even the best drone video EVER. Thanks to Jen and Derek's expertise and experience in catering and event planning I literally didn't have ANY OF THE HEADACHE a bride typically has in trying to line up vendors. They were AMAZING. Jen was so terrific to work with and she has surrounded herself with the best team, best partners and best vendors to make everything a snap. The B&B itself: WITHOUT QUESTION...I WILL be back for retreats or just getaways with the girls. There are five well appointed, comfortable and charming suites. There is even an rPod camper that can be rented on site which was a BIG BIG hit with some guests of the nearly 20 variety that did NOT want to deal with uncool mom and dad! The Food: OH. MY. GOODNESS. Everything was amazing. I still day dream about the veggie hash from BREAKFAST...that is when I'm not wishing I had stolen a massive platter of pork belly appetizers. But here is the thing I will ALWAYS cherish as part of my wedding story: Our wedding cake...BAKED on site by Jen and the team. I'm not a fan of cloyingly sweet cakes. The brown sugar cake was AMAZING. Here is what I will remember the most...emailing Jen and Amanda (who decorated the cake with floral) with the surprise...hey so I got these things I wanna put on the cake...email...1 DAY before the event. UNFLAPPABLE. They both just said, sure...let's do it! No push back...no grumbling about the late surprise. Just there with a let's go for it! Sand Rock Farm will hold a dear place in my heart, not just as a venue and a location, but for the care, support, understanding and laughter that the team put in through the wild and crazy planning year known as 2020. Oh and I should mention...we WERE supposed to get married at SRF in December...but DAYS before the date the governor shut down the state and shut down our wedding. Without batting an eye Jen just said, OK, let's pick another date. It's going to be OK. They never pushed back or demanded...never made us feel like we should be grateful they let us book there. It was always about US...about our day. Jen and Derek, thank you guys SO much for being great business owners...but also just being great people. read more

Sand Rock Farm Bed and Breakfast - Venue by Sand Rock Farm. Lounge by Revival Rental. Floral by Amanda Connor Designs in Bloom. This might have been everyone's favorite spot! - Bed & Breakfast Near Me - Aptos, California

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When my husband and I decided to plan a micro wedding during a pandemic it was hard to figure where to start. After emailing with 30+ venues we were underwhelmed by what was offered for a small elopement. It was a mixture of how personal Jen was and the array of options that Sand Rock Farm offered that piqued our interest. It was the one and the only venue we looked at in person. After our tour, we sat back astonished that we couldn't come up with a single nit-pick with the venue. It had everything we dreamed of and more. The venue is stunning, there are charming accommodations that could house our whole family and a dog. Jen is a wedding coordinator and her husband is a caterer and there are both indoor and outdoor venue options, and the list goes on. Working with Sand Rock Farm was the best decision we made. Jen made the planning process extremely easy. We shared a google sheet of the itinerary and items to rent and asked and answered questions through comments. We only really needed to speak once on the phone the week before to touch base, but everything was already set and ready to go. It was refreshing to feel confident in putting our complete trust in Jen and the team at Sand Rock Farm. They are seasoned pros who thought through every detail. Our intention for our wedding was to have the most stress-free and present-focused day and they delivered. Jen and Kelsey (her partner coordinator) are mind readers. Before something happened they were already solving for it, if we needed something it was already being handed to us if we thought of a question someone was there to answer. Kelsey also bonded with our dog Skyler and removed any anxiety I had of him becoming a nuisance. We have never worked with anyone as skilled, intuitive, and thoughtful as we did that day. And that was just coordinating! On top of everything running smoothly, we basked in the glow of the sun as we said our vows under a breathtaking redwood tree. We were only 10 people but we relished every corner of the property. We had a relaxing cocktail hour at the carriage house, family photos and cake among the ivy-covered walls of the wine barrel room, and savored every bite of dinner on the wine terrace. Speaking of dinner, we would like to give Derek a standing ovation with the spectacular dinner and appetizers he masterfully created. Our families still talk about the duck fritters, crab cakes, and pork belly to this day, and that was just the appetizers. My mom always brings up the amuse-bouche, a tomato soup in a darling mini mason jar. We enjoyed every bit of our burrata salad and are still in awe of the file mignon and short ribs we picked for our main course. Yes unorthodox, but our families loved it. Now the cake was next level. We have a great candid photo that shows the joy on our faces with the first bite of the chocolate raspberry cake. Everyone wanted to take home a slice the next day. The evening continued to be perfect, Chris and I performed a choreographed waltz in the barrel room. All of our friends and family have watched the video of our dance on repeat, the space was breathtaking. Everyone was able to relax by the fire pit nearby and enjoy each other's company. But wait, there's more! We moved our gathering to the living room of the B&B and connected talking till midnight until we rolled into our beds. The morning we were greeted with a divine breakfast in the dining room. We didn't want to leave. We can't thank you enough for making our wedding day the most magical experience of our lives. Photography by anneclairebrun.com read more

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Claire really said it all: "The setting and service was beyond my wildest imagination for my daughter and son-in-law's wedding. I give it a 10 star! It was so magical! Thank you Jen, Derek, and Amanda! You guys do an awesome job!" We also had the rehearsal dinner at Sand Rock - beautiful evening, gorgeous table decor, great food!!!! It was a wonderful setting for the wedding party members living on different coasts to get to know each other better before the wedding celebration. Everyone at the wedding fell in love with Sand Rock Farm - from the ceremony in the redwood grove, to the reception in the barn, the amazing dinner (thank you, Five Star!) in the meadow, and the dancing in the "castle wall" alcove, it was the perfect way to celebrate the wedding of two wonderful people. (Also, Jen's wedding cake was GREAT!!!!!) read more

Loved this beautiful hidden oasis in the Santa Cruz mountains! We came for a wedding under the redwoods so I can't speak about the lodging, but the venue, food, and service was top notch. The wedding space was in a clearing under the Redwoods then happy hour was in a quaint barn just few feet from the wedding space. We are on outdoor tables and danced the night away in their barrel room. It's such a unique and special place for a wedding. If you're looking for wedding locations, this is definitely one to consider! read more

The setting and service was beyond my wildest imagination for my daughter and son-in-law's wedding. I give it a 10 star! It was so magical! Thank you Jen, Derek, and Amanda! You guys do an awesome job! Claire read more

Beautiful atmosphere. I visited for my daughter's wedding where the ceremony and reception were held, and some of the guests had rooms to spend the night. I was delighted as I drove up to the 19th century cottage, to see the 10 acres including redwoods, oaks. A beautiful setting for a wedding. I was impressed: gourmet food, excellent (I hesitate to say "service") hosting. Everyone was happy, accommodating, efficient. OMG they were happy. I've only been to a few weddings but every one of them, the servers have been nonchalant about their jobs; some actually dull and distasteful. Not these guys; they were outstanding. the rooms were clean, retro, alive with atmosphere and antiques from the 19th and 20th centuries and comfortable. read more

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My photos do not do this amazing property justice! Came for a wedding and fell in love with the house and grounds. At night, everything sparkles. All our meals the owners prepared were amazing!!!!! Love love love the property for an amazing wedding or to just get some downtime and enjoy the energy of the gardens. We'll be back for sure. Much aloha to the owners for a great stay at their well cared for property. read more

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This beyond charming location was the site of a very intimate wedding to which we were privileged to have been invited. The bride and groom booked the whole house for them and two other families, so we descended on the venue and never left the site the whole weekend. And when it was over, we didn't want to leave. The setting is enchanted. Redwoods all around, beautiful greenery, woodland paths. The wedding site includes a chic barn for the cocktail hour followed by dinner and dancing in an ivy-laden former wine cellar. Staying at the house made the whole weekend seem like a week-long vacation. Waking up and coming down in PJs to a crackling fire and delicious breakfast with your friends and family. Buffet lunch as we all got ready. Fantastic menu for dinner. All meals included vegetarian and even vegan options. Welcoming staff made us all feel like royalty for the weekend. If you are considering this location for a unique, intimate, and amazing wedding event, don't hesitate. You will create beautiful memories for a lifetime. read more

My husband and I were married at Sand Rock in April, and are so happy we chose this venue! The grounds are incredible... redwood trees, climbing ivy, lush gardens--perfect for all of the photo opps. The B&B (where I got ready) has a gorgeous craftsman feel, the barn is magical and the ruins where we sat everyone for dinner was so special. Over the past year, Jen and Derek have done an incredible job improving the space. Every time we visited, there was a new surprise (in a good way!). New staircases, plantings, cleaned up areas--by the time our wedding came around the venue looked even more fantastic than when we'd first set eyes on it. Beyond the aesthetics, the entire team was amazing to work with. Sand Rock handled all of the wedding coordination--from food to flowers to rentals. That's not to say this was a cookie cutter wedding, at all. I sent Jen Pinterest boards of what I wanted my wedding to look like and she took my vision above and beyond. They were also incredibly flexible with vendors. I was able to bring in friends to DJ, do my makeup and photograph/video the day. We were also able to bring in our own alcohol, which was a real cost-saver. We ordered from the local BevMo and had everything delivered to the venue, so we didn't need to worry it. Amanda's flowers were absolutely amazing. She did an incredible job filling the space with arrangements, and the colors/style were exactly what I'd asked for. The bouquets, boutonnieres, a flower crown for me--she made us all look great. What else? The FOOD! I'm still getting compliments about it months later. This wasn't "wedding" food at all... I would have paid big bucks at a fine restaurant for the same experience. For the menu selection, Sand Rock invited all of the couples getting married this year to a dinner at their barn to sample nearly everything on the menu. It was a really fun way to meet the other couples, stuff ourselves silly and see examples of possible wedding decor. Jen is also an incredible baker and made us a two-tier cake for the cake cutting ceremony, as well as these super delicious cupcakes. If you get married here, you should definitely go with the cupcakes. So to sum things up, Sand Rock is an incredible venue. We can't think of anywhere in the world we would have rather been married. If you choose this venue, you won't regret it! Thank you, Jen and Derek! read more

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Our daughter was married at Sand Rock Farm(SRF) in October 2019. One year prior, after visiting a number of wedding venues in Santa Cruz County, we knew immediately, upon visiting SRF, that it would be THE PERFECT VENUE for us. Plus we live in Aptos, so it was local! Overall, we are extremely happy with the wedding weekend and feel that SRF is a magical and special place. First and very important, owners Jen and Derek are wonderful. They come from a wedding planning and catering background, so they know ALL of the special touches that make for a magical wedding day (and weekend)! The property is amazing. Tucked off the road, nestled in redwoods and trees, complete with dogs, cats, chickens, and only 10 minutes from the beach. The beautiful B&B sleeps 18 so we were able to have the wedding party stay for Friday and Saturday nights of the wedding weekend, and breakfast was provided for everyone both mornings, and lunch before the 3pm wedding (a great cost saving for the bridal party and fun to have everyone hanging out together). A shout out to Riley who cooked and served the delicious meals and even made the spectacular and delicious wedding cake! We also had the rehearsal dinner on their beautiful deck on Friday night (catered tacos - reasonably priced - fun and casual). My husband and I stayed in the "Eva's Garden" room upstairs. Very comfortable and the morning of the wedding I relished a luxurious and relaxing bath in the jacuzzi tub! The bridal couple stayed in the lovely "Morning Glory" room. We used the "Hidden Garden Suite" for everyone to get ready. We set up the two HMU artists next to each other and it was so much fun to all hang out there while getting ready. We had 80 wedding guests which was a perfect size for the ceremony in the spectacular Redwood Grove and dinner (family style) in the gorgeous old Barrel Room. On the day of the wedding, the SRF team (owners, florist, caterer) worked very hard to set everything up and make it look amazing and just as we dreamed of. When I look at our wedding photos I feel like they look like something out of a bridal magazine! When we booked SRF for the wedding venue we were advised that we were required to use their vendors: E Events (wedding planner), Five Star Catering, Amanda Connors Designs in Bloom, Ivy Hill Entertainment (DJ). I was relieved to not have to search for these vendors and felt confident that if Jen and Derek had confidence in these vendors then they would do an excellent job. Five Star Catering was absolutely amazing! We had so many wedding guests comment on how excellent the food was. They did a beautiful job in the presentation as well. We highly recommend them. And Amanda Connors (Designs in Bloom) was outstanding. She worked within our budget and we were in awe of all the beauty she created and we cannot recommend her enough. We were disappointed with the wedding planner E Events. We feel she has gotten too busy and taken on too many weddings. It created a lot of extra stress for us in the wedding planning that we thought would be taken care of. We also felt that the DJ (Ivy Hill Entertainment) fell short of what we had hoped from them. Shuttles are required for SRF. We used Santa Cruz Experience roundtrip from the BW Seacliff Inn in Aptos. It all worked very smoothly and we had the after-party at Severino's in the BW Seacliff so it was perfect and very fun! Our other highly recommended vendors we found on our own (you can see my reviews for them on Yelp): Photography: De Joy Videography: Iz Cinema Hair: Kendra Guisado, Evolve Beauty Lounge HMU: Jamie Skocko, Vanity Beauty Parlour if you are lucky enough to get a wedding booking at SRF I think you will be very happy. If you are looking for a venue for a family reunion or any group of 18 or less, I think you would love the property too! It is a very special place! read more

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I got married here last month and it was absolutely magical. Jen and Derek are the nicest people you will ever meet. Jen was our wedding coordinator and absolutely everything went smoothly. We did not have to worry about anything during the entire planning process and the actual wedding day was well-executed. We stayed at Sand Rock Farm Friday through Sunday and included a dinner rehearsal at the venue to make things simple. The food was soooo delicious. My dad wouldn't stop talking about how much he enjoyed Derek's cooking. Aryela was part of the Sand Rock Farm team that weekend and she was so nice as well! We felt so welcome and at home the entire weekend. The whole package included breakfast Saturday/Sunday and lunch on Saturday. We were all able to eat well before the wedding! The morning of our wedding, my family and vendors kept commenting on how calm I seemed. I'm typically a calm person, but I think it was because of Jen that I knew I didn't have to worry about a thing. If you decide to get married at Sand Rock Farm, know that you will need to go through their preferred vendors. We didn't have to search for a catering company or a florist. I wish we could have used our own DJ instead of using Ivy Hill Entertainment. The music was too low, songs were repeated, and there were pauses between songs. The delicious food was through Five Star Catering and their team was amazing. Our florist was Amanda from Designs in Blooms. I didn't really tell her much and I wasn't too picky, so all I told her was the look I was going for and she went with it. Everything from the bouquets to the table settings came out gorgeous. I wish I could redo that whole day again. read more

My fiance and I finally tied the knot last weekend at Sand Rock Farm. It's been a few days since the wedding and I've finally gotten the chance to decompress and reflect on the wedding, the venue, Kris, and her staff. I have nothing but kind words to say for Kris and her staff (especially Dean). Kris is detail oriented, Dean is smart and friendly, and the rest of the service staff made our guests feel welcome. Some details regarding the wedding: 160 people Ceremony: Redwood Grove Cocktail hour: Barrel Cellar Reception: Winery meadow Dancing: Barrel Cellar Between Kris, her field manager (Patty), my day-of planner extraordinaire (Shirin) and my MOH, the day went by with as few errors as possible. We even had comments about how smooth the entire day went. At some point, at the end of dinner I noticed people were starting to mingle so I thought "hey, I should tell Patty to get the champagne started so we can get into the toasts." Turned out there was no need to tell Patty what to do - she already had the champagne ready for 1/2 the tables! I've had comments from guests about how accommodating the service staff was - from grabbing clean plates for second helpings (of food) and how nice they were when serving food/wine/water/booze. As for the location itself, it was an overcast day but I felt it just added to the beauty of SRF. The ceremony was laid out better than I had pictured and the reception literally glowed with candles once the sun set. The redwood grove was perfect for 160 people. The space felt full without feeling cramped. We also got a lot of comments on how "unexpected" and different the venue was compared to most weddings. One thing I would suggest, is to rent out the entire B&B if you plan to have your wedding here - it allows Kris to be much more accommodating and you'll just have an easier time getting things set up. We were there from Friday to Sunday and it felt like home away from home. I've got a big family - and Kris was welcoming to every one who showed up early and began setting up the wedding. For BRIDES: I would suggest using the hidden garden room as your main camp for getting dressed, etc. There are 3 different ways to get into the room and it's really convenient for the day-of when vendors are going in and out and members of your family want to see you. The room is also HUGE and it was comfortable to fit me + 4 bridesmaids + 2 moms + 4 makeup artists + 4 onlookers the day-of for our pampering needs. I can't begin to properly express the gratitude I felt for having such an awesome group of family and friends who were there to help execute the wedding - and the gratitude that I have for Kris and her team for being not only competent, but warm and caring in executing the wedding of our dreams. read more

No pancakes and eggs, just some goat cheese souffle and fresh blueberry bread pudding. No TV in your room, just a big hot tub plus some really neat books. No nearby shops or busy restaurants, just a beautiful garden around outside and some really architectural treats on the inside. If you are a B&B type of a person, it may be just what you are looking for. read more

What a wonderful place. We made a reservation that included Easter, and when I called, the delightful owner of the property said that if we were in the area early, we could call and see if our room was ready- as we would be the only guests. Wasn't that nice? The way up to the house is lovely. You feel like you're in the country. There are millions of birds, and the gardens are just lovely. The house is perfect. Everything a romantic B&B should be. It's all furnished in antiques, and i loved the wall coverings and rugs. The redwood doors and paneling and flooring are delightful. We stayed in the morning glory room. Luscious large jacuzzi tub at the foot of your bed, with a lacy curtained window at the end of the tub. The little basket on the tub not only had shampoo and soap, but also herbal salts for the tub. There's also a shower in the bathroom. The wallpapers and tile and rugs and bed coverings were just exquisite. This room is a little jewel box, and it's super clean. Everything is just perfect. Out the window you can see trees and the garden and you will wake to the sound of birds. There's even a little personal stove you can sit by, in the two wicker chairs. The breakfasts are first rate, and beautifully served. For our first breakfast we had a goat cheese, egg and asparagus wrap, with a lovely spray of flowering rosemary to decorate the plate. We are spending a personal anniversary here (first date! Many many years ago) but this would be a wonderful place to honeymoon. read more

We were married here on September 27, 2014. The year before my husband had decided to take me on a romantic weekend and, so by chance, chose this bed and breakfast. Immediately, we fell in love with the place and when we walked down to the meadow, we knew it would be the place to be married at (only after five months). The wedding was beautiful. All of our guests loved the venue and continue to mention how lovely our wedding was. Dancing in the wine cellar was definitely a highlight Our wedding day was perfect - yay! A year later, we came back to new owners and found there to be some really nice improvements: a new trail to walk, tv in room, updated furniture, retro airstream, and a cool bar in the barn (it's for weddings; we wish we had it for ours!). The new owners are really friendly and a pleasure to chat with. They seemed like they would put on a fantastic wedding. Whether you are looking for a charming bed and breakfast or romantic wedding venue, you will find what you are searching for. read more

Sand Rock Farm Bed and Breakfast - Cute vintage, yet modern decor. Comfy! - Bed & Breakfast Near Me - Aptos, California

We were married here in October 2010 on what was probably the nicest day of the month. We had a small outdoor wedding of about 30 people and chose to have the ceremony in the Pavilion and the reception was held in the 1885 Barrel Aging Cellar. The owner, Kris, was always professional, enthusiastic, and demonstrated great attention to detail. The people on her staff were also really nice, helpful, and friendly. In addition to the gorgeous grounds, one of the main reasons that we chose this venue was the fact that Kris had relationships with outside vendors and it felt like there were fewer moving parts for us to worry about...Kris handled it all from her end and we just had to make our selections. Kris gave us sample menus to review and we set up a tasting. She was honest about our choices (the first go-round we chose food that was all brown!) and she was receptive to our feedback. The caterer (I'm sorry, I've forgotten her name) was also really helpful and was willing to help us plan a menu for people with dietary concerns (egg allergies/gluten-free/vegetarian, etc). Our guests were really pleased with dinner! Our guests also really loved the site and people kept talking about how unique it was. The Barrel Aging Cellar was heated through the day by the sun and retained that warmth at night. We did not have to turn on the heating lamps until about 30 minutes before the reception ended. We stayed the night in one of the guest rooms at the B&B. We were really impressed with the jacuzzi and our shower had some nifty red lights. Breakfast was wonderful! Kris makes everything herself and she is such a good cook! Yum yum! We never felt slighted in any way because our wedding was on the small side. In fact, Kris was eager to hear about details during the planning stages as well as over breakfast the next day. Thank you so much for a wonderful experience, start to finish! read more

Sand Rock Farm Bed and Breakfast - Bed & Breakfast Near Me - Aptos, California

I have photographed several weddings at this location and it is perfect. Lovely gardens, lots of privacy, wonderful hosts, great rooms and yummy breakfast. read more

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Beautiful bed and breakfast located on 10 acres. Owners very friendly and can cook a mean gourmet breakfast . Rooms are comfortable and cats are friendly. Definitely a place to relax and enjoy. All rooms have Jacuzzi tubs . Location is close to numerous restaurants. Nice accommodations for weddings and other events. read more

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I'm a wedding photographer and have been working in northern California since 2010. I want to give a shout out to one of my favorite wedding venues. I absolutely LOVE Sand Rock Farm because it gives me the most beautiful locations to photograph my awesome clients. The towering redwoods, charming paths, and event spaces are killer! Definitely check this place out if you're considering a woodsy wedding :) You and your photographer will love it! read more

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The people who run the place are amazing. The place is amazing, and the food was incredible. I would definitely without question come back here. It's ideal for couples looking for a romantic getaway. It was quiet, peaceful, idyllic, and the grounds were beautiful. read more

I can't help but feel sort of jerked around by my experience with this B&B. Here's the thing; I enquired about booking a room for a weekend in April of this year, for my best friends and I, since we've always heard of this place and how magical it is and they would be in town that weekend. A few days later I received a response informing me that there was a possibility of a wedding that weekend in which case the whole place would be unavailable, but that they would let me know in the coming week if I was able to book the room. They followed up, as promised, to let me know (joy!) that I could book the room, charged my credit card, and everything was all set. I let my lady friends know the date and exact address and we were all looking forward to it. Then ten days later I received another email letting me know that they had to cancel my reservation because I had been "double-booked" and there was a lack of communication with their events coordinator who had already rented out the entire place for that week. My problem isn't with the information or emails (they were very polite and refunded me immediately as they said they would, and offered some other lodging suggestions), but rather with the feeling that a wedding party wanting the grounds must have come along after I had already booked a room and since there is much more profit in the wedding than in my paltry $350, I was bumped. It just seems like bad business practice- maybe focus on being a wedding venue during wedding season and focus on being a b&b in the off season, instead of trying to be both and having to cancel accommodations and lose potential customers. And if there was a mix-up and the whole place was already booked, then they really need to work on their communications between events organizer and all other staff. I'd still like to stay here someday, I just don't know if it's worth the process of simply trying to book a room. read more

Absolutely fantastic. We stayed here after purchasing an overnight trip from a charity event. The night we stayed there was no one else there. It was amazing. The inn Keeper was very polite and gracious even though we had purchased our stay 2 years earlier. The grounds are amazing, the rooms are rustic and original, the glass in the windows is hand crafted and provides an extra pop. They cooked us a very good breakfast and we actually felt bad not paying even though we paid as significant amount of money to stay from the charity event. read more

Sand Rock Farm Bed and Breakfast - Bed & Breakfast Near Me - Aptos, California

I am still pinching myself that we were able to have our wedding at Sand Rock Farm. Sand Rock Farm is truly such a magical place! Jen and Derek are amazing and you can tell they truly love the property and being incredible hosts. Whether you are staying at a room in Sand Rock Farm or attending a wedding there, you will be treated to impeccable service and hospitality, all in an enchanting setting. I first found Sand Rock Farm when looking for redwood wedding venues in the Bay Area, but I immediately fell in love with the ceiling-less barrel room instead. The beautiful old stone walls are covered with ivy and string lights strung from wall to wall complete the effect. The barrel room is hands down my favorite part of the venue, but literally everywhere you walk is picturesque. There's charming furniture in the bed and breakfast, an arch covered with wisteria vines, a garden filled with beautiful old-fashioned garden roses, and so much more. We had our intimate (less than 30 people!) ceremony and reception in the barrel room and Derek catered the food... which was incredible! I'm a wedding photographer, so I have actually had quite a bit of wedding dinners, but I would have to say our wedding dinner was the best I have ever had!! The flavors were amazing, everything was cooked perfectly. All of our guests raved about the food, especially my grandmother who literally said she had never had a better meal in her life. Not only was everything perfect for the wedding, it was amazing staying at Sand Rock Farm for the weekend! The rooms are so charming, the food is amazing, the beds are super comfortable and, of course, the grounds are beautiful. I cannot recommend Sand Rock Farm enough and highly highly recommend having your intimate wedding there!! It was perfect and a huge part of the best weekend of our lives. Thank you Jen and Derek!! You guys are amazing!! read more

Let me just start with Sand Rock Farm is a BEAUTIFUL location. The grounds are lovely and the rooms are quaint and comfy. The breakfast we had there was decent (first day was pretty good, second day was awful.) We were there for a good friends wedding that was being held at the location. Location - Five Stars Rooms - Four Stars Derek - Five Stars (seriously, this guy is awesome, sweet and helpful) Food - Three Stars Jen - Zero Stars Jen ruined the bride and grooms night. She was rude to the groom, two of the bridesmaids, the sound guy and their family. The wedding party got ready in two rooms (ladies in one, men in the other). When the reception was over, the wedding party not staying there entered the rooms (attended by the people responsible for the rooms, they weren't wondering around aimlessly) to retrieve their belongings. Jen came out and yelled at multiple people at this time including the groom (who had a room there, but was grabbing his stuff from our room). The wedding was supposed to end at 9:30 pm, at 9:20 pm the bride announces it's time to go. This all took place at 9:35 pm. You know, maybe she was just having a bad night, but she completely ruined what is supposed to be the happiest day for two of my good friends and that is inexcusable. I hope everyone else has had a happy stay here, but for those of us that were witness to this, we will never return. read more

This place is beautiful and we were highly considering having our wedding there. We had a tour of the property and could not have though of a better and more beautiful place in town to get married at. We went in for a bid meeting with the owner Kris. Right off the bat she told us we didn't have enough money to get married there even though I her I was still working out the numbers and wanted a quote anyways. In going through the bid meeting she kept mentioned that we should look other places that were more budget friendly, it almost seemed like she didn't want our business. I will mention that we were not totally looking out side our budget, it was a matter of $3-5 thousands which was totally do-able and looking at what we have to spend now it would not have been a problem. We also got the feeling in the meeting that we would have had no flexibility to do things the way we wanted. When I told her we didn't want a cake and were thinking of other things for dessert she was very pushy that we had to have a cake since it was traditional. I don't understand why that was any of her business anyways if we dont want a cake and want something else? We came out of the meeting feeling terrible and discouraged. I guess she didn't need the business because we never got a bid from her after she told us she would send it to us in the next week. Its been over a month and still no bid. I am very disappointed because that place is so pretty and I was hoping to have the experience that everyone else who reviewed it had. read more

We did not end up having our wedding at Sand Rock, and I am usually hesitant to give any venue such a high rating without completely experiencing their services, but I am confident that Kris and Sand Rock would have delivered. The owner Kris is absolutely warm, friendly and takes great pride in her work. We were tempted to book the venue and the bed and breakfast for the weekend just because we liked her so much. Of course the venue is tempting too. The bed and breakfast itself is lovely, and each of the rooms have been updated retaining their cozy feel, but with the very important inclusion of updated bathrooms. If you are going to have a very small wedding during the winter or on a wet day - or want a small cocktail reception for guests staying at the inn - the living room lend itself nicely. The gardens are absolutely lovely as well, complete with Luna the cat who seemed to magically appear in spots of sunlight or comfy cushions throughout our tour. The remains of the cask room from when the site was a winery nearly broke my heart they were so beautiful and unique but too small for our wedding. Still there is a larger out door area, and the barn in case of rain. The only draw back is that the outdoor areas aren't completely handicap accessible (particularly) when the ground is soft, and it is a little hard to see from the main road, but I'm sure Kris would do her best to accommodate if these were major problems for your guests. read more

This is our second stay celebrating an anniversary at Sand Rock Farm! Jen & Derek went above and beyond to make sure that we were comfortable during our stay and very well taken care of. We were provided delicious breakfasts during our stay and the use of the grounds and main house at our leisure. Jen made sure that my requests were met with detail and for that I am particularly appreciative. We hope to visit again soon and appreciate the kind hospitality we were extended during our stay. Thanks Jen & Derek! You have a beautiful home! read more

Stayed here a couple weeks ago... Was not sure what to expect, but it's everything I'd imagine a B&B to be. It's isolated up on a hill and it's very pretty up there. Quaint and charming house. The floor boards creak, the light fixtures are turn of the century old. You definitly feel as if you're in another time/place. We stayed in the Honeycomb suite and wow it was super nice, but kind of weird. The room was spacious and clean and nice... lots of olden charm and character to it. Some other notes: There was an electric fake-fireplace heater thing that fanned out some warm air. The bathroom was remodeled and modern (the shower had two working shower heads on opposite ends of the shower!) There was a hottub jacuzzi on the other side of the room.. IN THE ROOM. it was large, it worked great, they didn't run out of hot water! Breakfast was great as well. Both days you start off w/ a fruit place, which is so fresh and good. First day we had goat cheese souffle with asparagus and cinnamon buns. It was very tasty. The second day we had berry sauced frenchtoast and chicken apple sausage. The frenchtoast was so-so. Portions were large. The owner, Kris was nice and helpful. Cooked everything herself, told us about the property, made suggestions, but didn't bother anyone. Her employee, Dean was also super nice and helpful. It was a great place to stay... had a wonderful time! read more

Best Place EVER to have a wedding!! Lynne and her crew are professional down to every minute little detail we picky brides desire - and she never tired of me going over things what probably seemed like a thousand times. We rented out the entire B & B for the weekend, so both my fiance and I were able to have our own rooms, big enough for our attendants and even other friends and family. All the meals were delicious, fresh and in season. The grounds were spectacular. We used the redwood grove for the ceremony and then the meadow with the Winery Ruins for the reception. Use these guys! After all, I think there's something like only 30 places to have a decent (125+) size wedding in the Santa Cruz area, so we felt really REALLY lucky to find them. read more

My fiance and I came very close to booking a wedding at Sand Rock Farm. We ended up choosing elsewhere due to a few personal reasons, but I would highly recommend Kris and Sand Rock Farm for a wedding venue. When we first visited, Kris gave us a very friendly greeting, showed us some photos, and gave us a map of the property and then told us to check it out on our own. She felt it was important that a venue "speak to you" and Sand Rock Farm definitely did. My favorite part was the wine cellar with its tall cement walls and globe lights that are strung across. We thought that it would be a very cool room to have dancing and cocktails in. Their pricing is very fair for the area, the caterer's food was superb (we did a tasting), and Kris was an absolute delight to work with. She answered all of my (many) questions and really took the time to make us feel comfortable. If you like the mountain feeling, redwood grove, very cool outdoor wine cellar, private garden, a B&B look, and excellent service, Sand Rock Farm would be great wedding venue. read more

We just held our wedding at the Sand Rock Farm, and it was absolute perfection. Words just don't do this place justice -- you MUST see it. First (and to us, most importantly), the grounds are spectacular. The B&B is situated on 10 lush, beautifully landscaped acres, complete with majestic redwoods, an old wine cellar, and one of the prettiest gardens I've seen outside the pages of Sunset magazine. We chose to have our ceremony in the Spiral Garden, and one of my favorite moments of the ceremony was walking down the aisle enveloped in the heavy scent of lavender. For me, it was one of those rare moments in life when I suddenly realized that things couldn't be more perfect. The house is also lovely. I don't remember precisely when it was built, although I did read the building's history, but I believe it's at least a hundred years old. It's got the sort of charm, craftmanship, and attention to detail that are all-too-rare these days. Despite its age, however, it has been thoughtfully modernized, and offers the sort of amenities that most people expect of a nice place -- big showers, jacuzzi tubs, and gas-powered fireplaces. In fact, Kris told us that she was particularly proud of the bathroom in the Sunporch Suite, which she had just had redone, and which she had personally designed. We had a chance to check it out, and it was, in fact, quite lovely (it's got a huge jacuzzi tub, too!) :) Kris herself is a gem. She handled EVERYTHING for me! Food, linens, tables and tableware, wait staff, caterer, cake -- she does it all! So awesome if you're not a particularly detail-oriented bride (I'm not). She's gracious and kind, and she's very accomodating. It was clear to me that she wanted us to have the best wedding possible, and I found her thoughtfulness quite touching. As a watchout, I would second the comment made by another reviewer: large weddings are generally restricted to the outdoors. This house, with its beautiful, delicate antiques, is not meant to have hundreds of people tromping in and out, nor is it meant to have little children running around bumping into its treasures. If you are having a big wedding, this is probably worth keeping in mind. I don't personally see this as a problem, but I've seen reviews in the past that would indicate that some people do, so it seems to bear mentioning. Having said that, I consider myself very lucky to have found this place. It is divine, and I couldn't have asked for a better place to get married, nor a more professional hostess to execute the details (thanks Kris!) We will be back for our first anniversary, and I can hardly wait! read more

Sand Rock Farm Bed and Breakfast is a beautiful place to unwind and rejuvenate. I recently stayed on an Sunday night (Mother's Day) in Spring. Surprisingly, the entire place was empty and I had the whole house to myself. What a treat! Gardens - In the afternoon I sat in the upper and lower garden areas. Both gardens have small fountains with sitting areas. The lower garden is shaded by a redwood tree and it is moist and cool. The upper garden was in full bloom, with a gorgeous tulip tree, bush roses, regular roses and many others. Room - My room was located in the corner of the building, overlooking the upper garden, directly over the kitchen. I didn't hear any kitchen noises.... I was happy that my room was quiet and serene as I am a light sleeper. Service - Excellent service. When I checked in, they asked if I had any special requests. Wow - My wishes were fulfilled were exactly as I requested and delivered on time. Kris is awesome. She really cares for her guests and tirelessly works to please them. In my case, she bent over backwards to satisfy my retreat schedule (I commuted to Mt Madonna). I highly recommend Sand Rock Farm Bed and Breakfast and I look forward to visiting again soon! read more

My husband recently brought me to Sand Rock Farm for a quiet, relaxing weekend and it was absolutely perfect! The historic home is cozy and beautiful, the grounds are gorgeous, and the proprieter, Kris, was so welcoming and helpful -- she made amazing breakfasts and provided us with great recommendations to fill our weekend, including restaurants, wine tasting, antiquing and local sites. The rooms were the perfect combination of quant and comfortable, but with all the amenities (including in-room jacuzzis!). We spent Sunday morning walking around the property and if I hadn't already had my wedding, I would look into having it here. The property is beautiful -- gardens and trees galore, with lighting and open areas for ceremony, dinner and dancing. We had the most lovely weekend at Sand Rock Farm and I can't wait to go back!! read more

We stayed at Sand Rock Farm a fews years ago and enjoyed the quiet atmosphere of the house, the tasty breakfast and it's location - tucked in the redwoods of Aptos. We ended up thinking so fondly of Sand Rock Farm, that we chose the venue for our wedding - which was just a few weeks ago. Prior to the wedding, Kris and I exchanged many emails - detail oriented and always with a quick response. She gave us fantastic local vendor suggestions (so many positive reviews to write!). Her high standards for hospitality were very evident in every aspect of her event planning and how she runs her B&B. My family (who came in from out of the country) stayed at the B&B for the wedding weekend. Kris made a terrific breakfast for them both mornings, also accommodating me and my bridesmaids on the morning of the wedding. Our wedding day was perfect. We had around 75 guests, our ceremony (in the cellar) and our reception (in the winery meadow). It felt intimate and gave us the outdoor rustic environment we were looking for, without being too manicured. With the help of Kris' staff and the recommended vendors, our day blew by flawlessly. Our friends and families raved about the venue, the food & the overall feel of the wedding. Most importantly, we all felt at ease - and pretty laid back (considering it was our wedding day)! I cannot thank Kris & Dean (her awesome side kick) enough, for making it happen. I don't think I could have imagined a better day. Sand Rock Farm will always hold a special place in our hearts! One final note - after visiting multiple B&B's on our honeymoon, the atmosphere at Sand Rock Farm is top notch; relaxing, quiet, yummy breakfast, no pressure to hang around and make conversation (if you're not into that). A fantastic little get-a-way! read more

This was our first time to a B&B. I wanted a weekend getaway and he chose the city. In Aptos, Ca, there is the most wonderful place that you could ever imagine. Our weekend is in the middle of the week, Tues. and Wed, so we had the place to ourselves. SOOOOO BEAUTIFUL!! You turn off the street and enter this jungle of green with flowers every where. Ten acres of beauty. We were greeted by Claire, who showed us to our room. Kris, the owner, is just delightful. She helped us with our plans for the day and recommended wonderful dinner places. Plus helped us with an adventure to the aquarium. We walked the grounds finding so many wonderful things. White wisteria growing out our one entrance to our room. We had the Hidden garden room, three ways to enter, all gorgeous. We did not have a jacuzzi in our room, ours was in the hidden garden. Flowers, champagne, and peaceful all around. Does not get any better than this. Breakfast was an experience all by its self. You will not think that you are getting shorted, everything is plentiful. Everything was delicious with great coffee. If you are looking for a little getaway, honeymoon spot, wedding place or vacation, this is it. I have already told my family that I'm ready to go back. The only down side is that our stay was not longer. read more

We love this place and its amazing winemaker dinners. Chef Lynn Sheehan is extraordinarily talented in her ability to bring out delicious flavors in various wines. We experienced such an excellent winemaker dinner at the B&B (prepared by Lynn) that we decided to give her our own selection of wine and have her create dishes for those wines. She did so for our pre-wedding dinner for our closest friends and family. The B&B itself is a wonderful getaway. Comfortable, convenient, and beautiful. I can't wait to stay there again! read more