Cathy and Ray were exceedingly kind, gracious, and considerate hosts. Their home is just as pictured - serene, beautiful, warm and inviting-- just what we had been searching for! The private room + bathroom offered is very comfortable, and we greatly appreciated having access to the lovely kitchen to prepare meals. We enjoyed having our dinner on the garden deck, followed by a walk on the beach. Cathy and Ray's home is a five minute drive from Manresa Beach, which has wonderful stretches of sand, perfect for after dinner walks at sunset.The neighborhood is quiet, private and lovely with homes featuring lyrical gardens and landscaping. I found the neighbors friendly on my early morning walks. The location is an excellent launching point for excursions to the area state parks, such as Point Lobos and the Henry Cowell Redwoods, as well as the towns of Santa Cruz, Capitola and Carmel, to name a few. Cathy has been an avid backpacker and shared her knowledge of the the area hiking offerings, which we found very helpful. The use of Cathy and Ray's annual pass to the state parks was a very nice perk!