Family-friendly holiday rentals in Pajaro Dunes

I had a great stay here with my daighter and german shepherd. It was great to have the beach all to ourselves every morning by walking just a block over. The house was beautiful, comfortable, and the greenery outside was wonderful. Would definitely stay again!

We were so pleasantly surprised by this lovely spot! The property, location and amenities surpassed our expectations, and Shari was so welcoming and responsive. It was a perfect destination for our mini trip for our family of 4!

Place was great! Small, but that was great for us. Loved that it came with the bikes, surfboards, hot tub, fire pit, etc. we used everything! Evan was very responsive to questions and helpful with recommendations.

We had an incredible time staying this Airbnb. Our host, Pamela, has thought of every detail and there is nothing that you’ll need. She greeted us when we arrived and showed us where everything was. We truly felt welcomed and we look forward to staying here again. You cannot beat the location. When we first arrived we were so surprised by how quiet it was and we were there to disconnect from our stressful jobs. We really enjoyed the beautiful beaches and forest!

We had a lovely visit in Santa Cruz. We were in town for an event at UCSC and this place worked great for our needs. Erin was lovely and the Airbnb was cute and as described.

We had a wonderful time! Dog and kid friendly. Definitely recommend!

Julia’s house was perfect. Very clean, well decorated, but not cluttered. It has everything you could need for cooking. It is a very comfortable place to stay.

Delia was a wonderful host...personally walked me through the space and was readily available throughout my stay....and she and her family struck an easy and cozy balance with their availability and my privacy. The space is so tranquil and lovely...the bird songs throughout the day are absolutely dreamy. Everything about the experience was superb....I loved being within walking distance of some of my favorite local hiking trails. Definitely hope to stay here again :)

⸻ I had such a wonderful two-week stay at the farm. From the moment I arrived, everyone was incredibly friendly—especially the sweet little black cat named Teva, who wore a green collar and quickly became a favorite companion. Toni was so kind and responsive, always making sure everything was just right. The farm felt very safe and peaceful throughout my stay. Being in a cabin on a farm, a few bugs are to be expected, but it wasn’t an issue—I came prepared with essential oils, which worked well to keep them at bay. The cabin itself is cozy and compact, but the many windows let in so much natural light that it felt bright and open. The shower was great too—good water pressure and ventilation, though it might be a bit snug for some. Overall, it’s a lovely little escape—close enough to San Jose for convenience, but with a feeling of peaceful seclusion that makes it feel like a true retreat.

Sarah’s house was exactly what we were looking for. Very clean, comfortable and decorated well. The proximity to the ocean was an extra bonus and we enjoyed walking there each morning with coffee in hand. My 11 yr old niece LOVED the reading nook in the downstairs bedroom. The entire house was comfy especially the beds, kitchen well stocked for cooking and extra linens, towels, beach towels, and beach gear on hand. No A/C, but you get a cool ocean breeze all day long that keeps the noise to a comfortable temp. We have stayed at a handful of air bnb’s and this is our favorite. Wish we could have stayed longer. Thanks again Sarah for your great hospitality.

Perfect oasis in the beautiful Carmel. We enjoyed sitting on the deck watching the sunset, a perfect place!

A sweet house close to all the best of Santa Cruz! We were in town for a wedding and it was a perfect home base. We loved biking to Capitola and walking to get coffe and ice cream. The house was a nice size for two couples. The host was responsive and low key. We would definitely stay here again if we return.

We had a wonderful stay at this home—it was the perfect setting for our vacation with multiple families and young children. The house was incredibly well-equipped with everything we needed, from a fully stocked kitchen that made group meals a breeze to thoughtful amenities that made traveling with little ones so much easier. There was plenty of space for everyone to relax and spend quality time together, and the layout made it easy to keep an eye on the kids while still enjoying ourselves. The home was clean, comfortable, and clearly cared for with attention to detail. We’d gladly return and highly recommend it to anyone traveling with kids!

We had a large group that rented both properties - the Hacienda House and Vineyard House. Both were excellent, as described, stocked with anything you need and communication was fast and helpful. Our entire family loved it and felt like royalty. Would highly recommend it and would come back again for sure.

Exactly what I needed for my long weekend in Santa Cruz. Soquel is super quiet and it’s minutes from Capitola Beach. Great option for me as a solo traveler on a budget.

We loved the space, location, cleanliness, and vibe of our stay! The aquarium guest passes were a super nice touch and definitely added some fun to our trip. We had some issues at check in; when we arrived at our scheduled check in time of 4:00, the cleaning staff were still present and told us to come back in 30 minutes. We came back almost an hour later and they were still finishing up (we had to get the keys from them and they were in our parking spot). When we asked about check out instructions and informed the hosts of an issue in the bathroom (the shower curtain rod fell down while using the shower), we did not get a response. Overall we definitely enjoyed our stay and had a great time, just a few hiccups with communication. Our hosts were very nice when we met them on property and Willow the dog was very cute!

Really hard to describe how wonderful the whole back yard is. Sunset here were amazing. All kinds of wildlife. The smell of the California hills in springtime always refreshes. Dogs loved it (and couldn't quite believe it). We swung on the swing, sat in the gazebo, enjoyed basking in the balcony views.

My stay in Amy's home was relaxing, peaceful and comfortable. I loved the location - nested against the hills and so close to shops/restaurants. I loved walking the hills in the neighborhood and coming back to a quiet and comfortable space. You are in the backyard of the owners but they are friendly and respectful and the setting is idyllic.

Himani was super sweet! She made sure she was available when we arrived to give us the keys then gave us a run down of the place. My husband and I stayed with our friend and her fiancé so it was perfect as there were 2 private bedrooms, each with a private entrance outside. Each couple had our own half restroom and shared a shower, so if you don’t mind that, this place is perfect! Super close to Capitola and seascape resort where we attended a wedding.

We were in town for a weekend of trail racing and Valentina's place was perfect. It was less than a mile from our event at Toro Park and on a nice, quiet street. The place was very comfortable and the outdoor area was excellent for recovery and relaxing on Saturday. The beds were comfy and there was plenty of room for 5 of us. Valentina was very responsive throughout the entire process, I really appreciated her. Great place to stay!

It was a great stay. We loved our time there and would definitely visit again.

As expected, a gorgeous place. Location is great—right across the Tesla shop, walking distance to everywhere in Santana Row. Highly recommended.

Janice’s apartment had gorgeous views and was a short walk to a lovely and walkable beach. The kitchen had everything we needed to make easy meals and the whole place was clean and comfortable. We would definitely stay there again!

Wonderful place in a wonderful environment. We had an excellent time with the kids, very nice pool, beaches close by and in the middle of the nice green hills of California