There’s nothing like a night or two at the beach to recharge your batteries and enjoy time with your favorite travel companion. Santa Cruz is a favorite Northern California beach town, with a waterfront boardwalk full of all the retro rides, arcade games, and funnel cake vendors. Just a few steps from the crashing waves is West Cliff Inn, a boutique property with just 10 rooms ready to pamper guests on their next beach getaway.
Guests are welcomed with freshly baked cookies and an afternoon happy hour with red and white wine, and plentiful cheese, crackers, and veggies to snack on. Borrow a bike to head out and explore the coastal views, or snag a beach chair and towel to find your place in the sand on Cowell Beach (they even have sand toys if you have a little one with you).
Accommodations
My room at this Santa Cruz boutique hotel was both cozy and spacious, with a king bed, a fireplace in the corner, and a daybed that could accommodate a third guest if needed. I made full use of the room’s soaking tub in the evening, the perfect way to relax after a day by the ocean, before tucking into the pillow-top bed for the night.
Room amenities included a small fridge with bottled water, a Keurig coffee maker, two cozy robes, and spa-inspired bath products. If you wanted a soda, sparkling water, or ice, you could pick them up in the lobby along with bottles of wine for purchase.
Rooms at West Cliff Inn sleep two to three guests, with some offering ocean views and private balconies.
In addition to the plentiful happy hour spread, West Cliff Inn guests are treated to breakfast each morning. The hot entree during my stay was a Greek egg bake (delicious!), and I also snagged a slice of blueberry coffee cake to enjoy in my room.
There are plenty of dining options just a short walk from the property, including many seafood restaurants lining the wharf. After happy hour, I walked to the end of the wharf to Makai Island Kitchen & Groggery, where I snagged a seat at the rotating bar to enjoy my mai tai and coconut shrimp. My reward: a stunning sunset to end the perfect day.
Things to Do in Santa Cruz
You can easily spend your day in Santa Cruz walking along the cliff to watch surfers tackle the waves, and screaming your lungs out on the Giant Dipper. Here are some other favorite activities:
- Visit the sea lions at the end of the wharf (you’ll hear them before you see them!).
- Book a massage and hot tub session at Well Within Spa.
- Check out the monarch butterfly migration at Natural Bridges State Beach.
- Ride the beach train to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.
- Take a sunset sail along the coast with Chardonnay Sailing Charters.
- Learn about the area’s surfing history at the Surfing Museum housed in a former lighthouse.
- Get a Car Rental
- Buy Travel Insurance
Final Thoughts
West Cliff Inn is a member of Four Sisters Inns, a collection of 17 boutique properties offering elevated experiences from California’s Wine Country to the Mendocino coast.
Santa Cruz is about a 40-minute drive from San Jose Mineta International Airport, and an hour and a half from San Francisco Airport. Parking is included with your stay at West Cliff Inn, making it easy to stay a few nights. My room cost just over $300/night, but there are smaller rooms available at lower price points.
Check rates online at Expedia, Booking.com, Agoda.com, or Hotels.com.
My stay at West Cliff Inn was sponsored (paid for) by the property. The opinions expressed are my own.
@k8loweth Santa Cruz solo staycation at West Cliff Inn
