Looking to stay in one of the area’s unique bed and breakfasts? Ready to indulge in a spa day? The following list maps out some stellar options. For more information on bed and breakfasts, check websites for each B&B, or call the California Association of Bed & Breakfast Inns at 831-462-9191 or visit cabbi.com .
ResortsChaminade at Santa Cruz
1 Chaminade Lane, Santa Cruz
831-475-5600
The Lowdown: It’s a Spanish mission-style building originally built in 1929 that was remodeled as a Benchmark Hospitality resort in 1988. You’ll find unprecedented views of Monterey Bay here. Full gym with daily aerobics classes, game room, sports lawn, indoor basketball court, sand volleyball, badminton, croquet, four outdoor tennis courts and three miles of hiking trails. Massage therapy and body treatments available.
Thing To Know: Guestrooms have full amenities and room service, plus, there’s conference, wedding and small group packages available.
Coast Santa Cruz Hotel
This resort hotel offers a heated pool and two whirlpool spas with some of the best views in town, overlooking the surf at Cowell Beach. All rooms overlook the Monterey Bay, and are equipped with refrigerators, color TVs, safes and coffeemakers. Meeting rooms, all with ocean views, can accommodate eight to 150 people. The hotel can accommodate 275 guests, and has complete conference services, staff and audio/visual services. Take note: The hotel’s restaurant has become a popular haunt.
(175 Westcliff Drive, Santa Cruz, 831-426-4330.)
Photo: Charles Mixson 
Costanoa Coastal Lodge and Camp
2001 Rossi Road, Pescadero
650-879-1100
The Lowdown: It’s just a half hour north of Santa Cruz on Highway 1 and it was created for people who prefer a gentler kind of camping. The cool thing here is that there are furnished canvas cabins with heaters, down comforters and tent service. You can also stay in the 40-room lodge in real style, or in one of the Douglas Fir cabins with shared “comfort station” facilities. Spa treatments include massage, sauna, steam room and outdoor hot tub. Activities include: Weekend yoga retreats, guided nature hikes with resident naturalist, Trek 6500 mountain bikes for rent, horseback riding on private trails, conference facilities, catered events, tidepooling and other ocean adventures.
Thing to Know: You can say you went camping and still enjoy a bottle of wine and poached seabass from the on-site General Store.
The Hilton Scotts Valley
6001 La Madrona Drive, Scotts Valley
831-440-1000
The Lowdown: It’s three miles from the Santa Cruz beaches and one of the area’s finest establishments, featuring top-notch service, comfy oversized guestrooms and amenities, such as videocassette recorders, access to a complimentary film library, microwave oven and a coffee maker with Starbucks coffee. Most of all, the Hilton is close to many hotspots in the area, from woody Ben Lomond to the sprawling beaches up and down the coast.
Thing to Know: Cafe Max is the hotel’s premier restaurant.
Seascape Resort—Monterey Bay
1 Seascape Resort Drive, Aptos
831-688-6800
The Lowdown: Set on the bluffs above the Bay, there are 284 rooms, suites and villas, many with stunning views. Sanderlings Restaurant features fresh seafood and more—plus a heated patio. Conference and wedding facilities accommodate up to 350 people, and guests can use the Seascape Sports Center.
Thing to Know: Resort guests are awarded special privileges at the nearby Seascape Golf Course, plus there’s a full-service spa available.
B&B’sApple Lane Inn
6265 Soquel Drive, Aptos
831-475-6868, applelaneinn.com
The Lowdown: A Victorian farmhouse on two acres of sunny Aptos hillside property in close proximity to beaches, restaurants and Aptos, Soquel and Capitola villages. Beautiful gardens, farm animals, barn, orchards and serene outdoor sitting areas. The property has a casual feel and kids and pets are welcome most of the time. Decor is Victorian country, with period antiques and claw foot tubs. Five guest rooms in the four-stories, with meadow and garden views are featured.
Thing to Know: Full breakfast is served.
Babbling Brook Bed & Breakfast Inn
1025 Laurel St., Santa Cruz
831-427-2437
The Lowdown: Brookside B&B is on one of the few redwood acres of land in downtown Santa Cruz. Modern rooms in separate chalet-style buildings have private entrances, some with jet tubs, fireplaces and decks overlooking a historic waterwheel, shade gardens and waterfalls. Thirteen rooms, full breakfast and wine and cheese are served in the parlor. Five minutes to the beach, Boardwalk, and downtown.
Thing to Know: If you’re a die-hard exercise fanatic, the Santa Cruz High School pool and tennis courts are across the street.
Bayview Hotel Bed & Breakfast
8041 Soquel Dr., Aptos
831-688-8654
The Lowdown: The most beautiful building in Aptos village for the last 125 years, the Bayview Hotel’s façade brings you back to the days of horse-drawn carriages, bustle dresses and a flourishing logging industry. Restored to the original grandeur of hotel builder Jose Arano, the 11 guest rooms each have their own private bath and modern amenities, including TVs, phones and modem hook-ups, offset by Victorian antiques, fluffy beds and fine linens.
Thing to Know: Extended continental breakfast is served on the veranda.
Cliff Crest Bed & Breakfast Inn
407 Cliff St., Santa Cruz
831-427-2609, cliffcrestinn.com
The Lowdown: From the exquisite garden area, shrieks of delight can be heard from the Big Dipper roller coaster at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. The 1887 Queen Anne Victorian estate overlooks the ocean and Loma Prieta Mountains. Black and white vintage photos of historic Santa Cruz and the original owners grace the walls. A cluster of redwoods, lilacs, rockroses, bamboo and jasmine surround the original carriage house. Full breakfast, including fresh fruit, homemade muffins, eggs to order and mint tea from the garden is served in the sunny solarium. It’s a short walk to the Wharf, Boardwalk, beaches and downtown.
Thing to Know: Each of the five rooms has its own bath, some with original claw foot tubs and ocean views.
The Compassion Flower Inn
216 Laurel St., Santa Cruz
831-466-0420
The Lowdown: The use of medical marijuana is permitted outdoors on the premises, and all people are welcome. Vegan, vegetarian and special diets are deliciously catered to, with local organic ingredients. Located in the heart of downtown Santa Cruz, this restored 1865 Gothic Revival Victorian has four antique-filled rooms, two with private baths and fireplaces. Beautifully hand-painted faux and marble wall finishes. A Jacuzzi spa is available for all guests and it’s only a short walk to the beach and boardwalk.
Thing to Know: It’s America’s first “Bed, Bud & Breakfast,” says Andrea Tischler, who runs the inn with her partner, Maria, and their children.
Darling House Bed & Breakfast Inn by the Sea
314 West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz
831-458-1958
The Lowdown: Location, location, location. This 1910 cliffside beauty designed by William Weeks overlooks the surf break at Cowell Beach and the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf. Stroll or bike along the path on West Cliff Drive in front of the inn, or relax on the lawn or patio with a book. Established gardens, a citrus orchard, vine arbor and palms surround the stunning property.
Thing to Know: Some rooms come with views and private baths.
Fairview Manor Bed & Breakfast Inn
245 Fairview Ave, Ben Lomond
831-336-3355
The Lowdown: On the banks of the San Lorenzo River, this country home on three acres is ideal for getting away from it all for a weekend holiday, or a quiet mid-week retreat. It features expansive lawns, a deck and a common room for lounging and afternoon wine and appetizers. Five guest rooms are decorated in “country eclectic” decor, all with private baths. Full breakfast.
Thing to Know: Close to miles of hiking trails through redwood forests and a quick drive to Big Basin and Henry Cowell Redwoods state parks, Roaring Camp Railroads and quaint restaurants.
Inn at Depot Hill
250 Monterey Ave., Capitola
831-462-3376, 800-572-2632
The Lowdown: The Inn at Depot Hill was once the site of the original railroad depot built in 1881 to connect Capitola, the new Mediterranean-style resort, with the main California rail line. Each of the 12 rooms is decorated to bring different parts of the world to your bedroom: Portofino, Costa del Sol, St. Tropez, Paris, Valencia. All rooms have fireplaces, stereo systems, modems, phones, featherbeds, TV/VCR and robes, and most have private hot tubs on their patios. On-site chef prepares gourmet full breakfasts, hot hors d’oeuvres for the complimentary evening wine pouring, and an assortment of after-dinner desserts. The inn is a short walk to quaint restaurants, cafes and beaches.
Thing to Know: Named as one of the Top 10 inns in the country.
New Davenport Bed & Breakfast Inn
31 Davenport Ave., Davenport
831-425-1818, davenportinn.com
The Lowdown: If you like whale watching, windsurfing, rugged beaches and sleepy coastal villages, this B&B could be your perfect landing. An eclectic comfortable decor in a California-style building found on Hwy 1. Beautiful hikes, artichoke fields, pumpkins and kiwis are in season at nearby farms. Ten minutes to Año Nuevo Elephant Seal Reserve and world-renowned windsurfing beaches. It’s also become a great spot for a weekend breakfast.
Thing to Know: The restaurant serves quality California cuisine, local wines and fresh fish specials.
Pleasure Point Inn
2-3665 East Cliff Dr., Santa Cruz
831-475-4657
The Lowdown: You won’t find lace curtains at this modern, upscale B&B on the cliffs above Pleasure Point in Santa Cruz. It has minimalist, eclectic, nautical decor with sleek hardwood floors. Huge new rooftop deck, complete with gas heaters, eight-person hot tub and chaise longues for soaking up the sun and bay view. Innkeeper Tom Perry hosts an expanded continental breakfast each morning and is available to visit and suggest daily activities for guests. Two-and-a-half miles from Capitola Village is a nice walk along the Coastal Trail. Rooms have gas fireplaces, ocean views, private patios and digital cable. On-location spa services are available.
Thing to Know: A surf package, including two-night stay and surf lessons for two, is a specialty.
Redwood Croft Bed & Breakfast
275 Northwest Drive, Bonny Doon
831-458-1939
The Lowdown: “European style with an artist’s eye and a grandmother’s heart,” is the way owner Sitah Cummings describes her inn. This cedar home with wrap-around veranda and rural country Bonny Doon setting is a place where pets and children are welcome. All three rooms are plush and clean, each with fireplace, antiques, leather couches and quality linens. It is located two country blocks from Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve, with miles of trails for hiking nearby.
Thing to Know: Breakfast is prepared from all organic ingredients and fruit and vegetables from the property. (Try buttermilk biscuits, sticky buns, polenta with grilled veggies, or fresh eggs from hens down the street.)
Redwood Reflections Bed & Breakfast
4600 Smith Grade, Santa Cruz
831-423-7221
The Lowdown: The inn is found in a serene and private destination on 10 redwood-filled acres in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It features three country-style rooms (Bridal Suite, Bear’s Den and Barn room) with decks and woodstove fireplaces. Additional features include a vintage recreation room with soda fountain, piano and merry-go-round. Swimming pool, evening bonfire pit and trail walks on the property. Full breakfast—strawberry waffles with whipped cream is a favorite.
Thing to Know: It’s just a short walk to a nature reserve and Bonny Doon Vineyards’ tasting room.
Day SpasCaress Day Spa
911 Capitola Ave., Capitola
831-462-4422
The Lowdown: The moment you step into the entry courtyard of Capitola’s historic Carriage House, you are surrounded by sensual delights. A sprawling magnolia tree, outdoor tables where guests of the adjacent Country Court Tea Room are enjoying high tea, French doors that open into a spotless spa lobby with wide-plank pine floors and a fireside lounge with comfy chairs and plush rugs. From sports massage to permanent makeup, they offer an extraordinary array of bodywork and practical esthetic services. Most popular treatments are the Aromatherapy Massage, airbrush Tanning Treatment (natural, lasts eight to 10 days), Aromatherapy Facial and Microdermabrasion.
Bottom Line: Everything about this full-service day spa/retreat says luxury.
Heaven, A Day Spa
4301 Scotts Valley Dr., Scotts Valley
831-438-3888
The Lowdown, Heaven is a perfect antidote to a day at the office or a blissful complement to a day at the beach. When you walk in the door, you’ll enter a lavender-scented, clean, homey seating area with a fountain, sink-into velvet couch and gauze curtains. Toasty yellow walls and a warm family of professionals, behind the desk and performing treatments, allows you to relax and think about nothing more than indulging. Full body massage, including pre-natal, in various styles are available. Skin care specialists use the Yonka product line from Paris.
Bottom Line: The only full-service day spa in Scotts Valley.
Kiva Retreat House
Kiva has been a Santa Cruz fixture for the past 20 years. Located appropriately in a small Victorian house, much of the clientele are regular members who have integrated the Kiva family into their everyday life. Two clothing-optional community tubs and two private tubs are available, in addition to a large communal sauna and fireplace room where it’s not uncommon to exchange a massage or chat over tea. Two manicured gardens accentuate the holistic atmosphere. Sundays from 9am to 1:30pm are Women’s Mornings in the communal tubs. Professional massages in private rooms are offered in all styles of therapies.
(702 Water St., Santa Cruz, 831-429-1142, www.kivaretreat.com )
Photo: Courtesy of Kiva Retreat House 
Pacific Skin Care
879 41st Ave.( Near Portola), Santa Cruz
831-476-1060.
The Lowdown: If you’re looking for some rejuvenation and a treat for your self or loved one, this is the spot. From facials, waxing, mineral makeup, diamond microdermabrasion and massage, you will feel like a new person. By appointment only.
Bottom Line: Great attitude and service make for a great zen experience.
The Sanctuary Day Spa
16A Seascape Village, Aptos
831-688-SPAS (7727)
The Lowdown: It’s a full-service spa adjacent to Seascape Resort in Aptos ad it’s ideal for integrating bodywork. Clean, upscale and minimalist, they offer massage, skin care, hand and foot care, makeup, waxing, body care and water therapy.
Bottom Line: Everything glows here but try their combination packages.
Serene Skin Care
108 Magnolia St., Santa Cruz
831-427-1912
The Buzz: Serene Skin Care is simply that—serene. Enter the day spa and those tense shoulders will be relaxed in moments. Melt away your troubles here at Serene. Myriad facials, massages and nail treatments are yours to choose from.
Bottom Line: A perfect treat for yourself. (And you deserve it.)
Tea House Spa
112 Elm St., Santa Cruz
831-426-9700
The Lowdown: A comfortable mix of East meets West with redwood decks, private ozone-purified hot tubs with jets, cedar-lined saunas and shoji windows that open into a 1940s Japanese bamboo garden. The Tea House is known for its fine Triple Leaf and Tibetan teas in either green, black or herbal offerings. They feature massage in a variety of techniques to fit your needs and preferences, in addition to facials, aromatherapy and herbal or salt scrubs.
Bottom Line: One of the bright spots in downtown Santa Cruz.
Tonic Salon & Spa
765 Cedar St., Santa Cruz
831-426-4311 or tonic-salon.com
The Lowdown: Voted the Best Salon in a GT Readers’ Poll, Tonic offers complete makeovers and exceptional customer service. Tonic wins points for its color specialists, anti-aging facial treatments, microdermabrasion, makeup sessions, hair extensions, bridal packages, color corrections and more. Clients can choose from an array of customized facials designed for different skin types or enjoy a pampering signature massage. Tonic’s rain forest shower body treatment is a knockout. Botox and Collagen treatments are also offered. Between treatments, clients wrap themselves in robe and slippers and rest in a lounge fragrant with scented candles, and are offered hot, soothing tea. You can also find Joanna Eskilson here, voted “Best Massage Therapist in a 2007 poll.
Bottom Line: Exceptional spot to relax and rejuvenate the mind, body and soul.
Well Within Spa
417 Cedar St., Santa Cruz
831-458-9355
The Lowdown: Voted Best Day Spa in GT’s 2007 Readers’ Poll, this downtown Santa Cruz enclave offers private tub and sauna rooms (some with outdoor tubs), which overlook Japanese gardens with waterfalls, bamboo, maple, blossoming cherry trees and floating water plants. In your massage room on a warm day, your therapist may open the shoji screens, so you can relax to the sounds of falling water. Indulge in a 70-minute Warm Stone Massage, or Monarch Body Wrap. A full line of organic Well Within bodycare products formulated by a California herbalist is available for sale.
Bottom Line: One of the best spots for a “Wellness Retreat.”
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