Kris's BnB is truly a refreshing experience and a compass-reset for what a BnB should feel like.
I have lived in Santa Cruz and can tell you that it was a great choice to stay outside of the beach town for the evenings.
Firstly, I found that Corralitos was a charming farming outpost outside of the industrial center of Watsonville. There is a General Store and Sausage company and a huge array of hot sauces and mustards to enjoy them with. There are also a plethora of wineries offering tastings at a cheaper price than the wine rooms in Santa Cruz.
Secondly, it was really cool to step into culture with a different socioeconomic, political, and/or spiritual value system than that of Santa Cruz. We have all been to the wealthy beach front cities of SC, Santa Barbara, Venice... But to walk around and chat with folks living in the hills, the agricultural and inland valleys, it paints a more diverse picture of life and this is part of the experience. I happen to have the opportunity to attend the Corralitos Open Mic and it was a pleasant experience (even though I am not a modern-bluegrass fan)
Kris's place is an oasis of comfort in a seemingly not-so-comfortable neck of the woods. You can pick fresh berries from her lush garden, and feel quite private with the attached bath and private entrance. Kris herself is so friendly that she went out and bought fresh coffee for me when the current supply was expired. The minifridge came stocked with apples, cookies, energy bars and more goodies that made the stay that much more sweet (literally).
All in all, if you are visiting Santa Cruz, stay HERE, it is 10 min away from the ocean and 20 from Downtown. Definitely don't miss out on checking out the old growth redwoods of Forest of Nisene Marks, which is 10 minutes away from Kris's place! Totally worth the money!