There are so many wonderful things to say about Jacquelini and her place. The pictures of the house and yard on Airbnb are enough to draw you in, but seeing everything in person totally raised the bar. The outside is adorned with a lovely leaf ironwork gate opening up into a succulent oasis. As my family entered the house, you could hear our collective oohs and aahs as we went from room to room checking out the colorful, yet warm and inviting decor. The same leaf ironwork carries into the house and is a focal point from the living room looking up to the loft. The entire house is open and spacious. Jacquelini is clearly talented in interior design. The bath towels were super soft, there were plenty of blankets to keep us cozy and warm as we huddled for family nights in the living room. Our first night we took a walk from the house to the boardwalk. Downtown was less than two miles away, plenty of hiking was also nearby.
My family and I came to Santa Cruz to celebrate my 50th birthday and the real kicker that puts Jacquelini over the top was the birthday balloons, birthday card, bottle of wine, and chocolates that Jacquelini thoughtfully placed front and center when I walked into the kitchen. I was blown away at her efforts to make this a truly special weekend. She left notes that we could help ourselves to any staples in the kitchen. All the cookware, knives, dishes, etc., were top quality. My daughters whipped up a delicious vegan meal for my birthday and we celebrated along with my husband and my parents at the large kitchen table that easily accommodated all of us.
Not only would I stay there again, I came home wanting to redecorate my house after being filled with inspiration from Jacquelini's Santa Cruz sanctuary. Many thanks Jacquelini for everything!!
P.S. We even left a few photos that Jacquelini was quick to mail back to us.