Gail was a wonderful host who called before we left for California; within minutes we were chatting like old friends. She obviously loves her little cottage and wanted to ensure that we would, too. And we did!

The cottage was as she described it: compact, with everything needed to make our stay a pleasure. The place is cheery, bright, and well-kept; above all, it is comfortable and homey. It was a short walk down a nearby path to the seashore, where we could walk as far as we wished and observe the abundant wildlife. We were there for a wedding, and it was great to return to the cottage after each day's whirlwind of socializing with old friends. (One couple visited us at the cottage and decided they will rent it on their next visit to Santa Cruz.)

The surrounding neighborhood is pleasant and amazingly quiet. We didn't anticipate having such quiet and a feeling of solitude in a medium-sized city.

There is no wifi, but this seemed like a very minor inconvenience. Even though we could have gone to a nearby coffee shop to get our email fix, we chose instead to take a vacation from the internet. We didn't even turn on the TV. We highly recommend it for a truly relaxing experience!