Mara's place was lovely and I would definitely rent it again in the future. It's a cabin in the back yard of their house, with it's own fenced in yard and porch. A high fence surrounds it so it felt private at all times. Inside the main room is like a large studio with the bed separated from the living area by a series of stylish book cases, and the full kitchen is off the main room. The bathroom was particularly pleasant, with a stone shower with two shower heads. It was a bit too chilly for us to use the porch, but the hottub was clean and hidden in a bamboo garden (though you still need to be a bit quiet to not disturb the near by neighbors). Hikes and retuarants were just a 5 minute drive away. I'd easily recommend it to any couples wanting to spend the weekend in Santa Cruz.