Holiday on the California Coast

Location

Our home is in Scotts Valley, a suburb of Santa Cruz - a small beach town on spectacular Monterey Bay, surrounded by redwood-covered hills and mountains. The beautiful campus of the University of California at Santa Cruz overlooks the town. We're 15 minutes from the beach for sunning, swimming and surfing. Redwood forests with excellent hiking trails are seven minutes away. The nationally-known Pasatiempo golf course is just five minutes from our house.

Special bicycle paths overlooking the sea make bicycling a popular sport. Bicycles - as well as roller blades and skates - can be rented locally. Also, jet skis, fishing boats and surfboards. This area has good deep-sea fishing, countless hiking trails, and excellent golf courses. The coast highway - both north and south of here - offers stunning scenery and an opportunity to view elephant seals, sea lions and otters just off shore.

Because Santa Cruz is a favorite holiday destination for San Franciscans, we have many fine restaurants that cater to discriminating diners. In the Santa Cruz mountains nearby, you'll find a number of small, excellent wineries with tasting rooms.