Hotels/Lodging

Sand Rock Farm

March 21, 2016 by Seb Frey

Aptos is full of natural wonders: miles of wide sandy beaches cling to the bay, yielding to warm and pleasant valleys stretching to pristine redwood forests smothering the rugged mountains. When it comes to man-made wonders of yester-year, relatively few remain – but the Sand Rock Farm on Freedom Boulevard is certainly one of them and is a true Aptos Gem.

The property has a long history, stretching back to at least the 1880’s when the property was initially developed as a ranch and winery. In the 1990s, the property was converted for use as a bed-and-breakfast and a stunning venue for fairy-tale weddings and intimate corporate events and retreats. The’s a fantastic Santa Cruz Sentinel article about the farm which gives many of the historic details.

Today, the property comprises 10 acres with a number of structures on it dating back over 100 years. The main house oozes with Victorian-era charm; it holds five guest suites, each with their own private bathroom and jetted bath tub. There’s also the former wine cellar, which is today covered in ivy and open to the sky above, the roof having collapsed in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. The redwood barn was also built over 100 years ago, and is constructed of clear-heart redwood. Today it houses a beautiful rustic bar and billiard table, perfect for events with dozens of attendees.

Individual suites can be booked from their web site with a two-day minimum stay. Longer stays may be available with a special rate especially during the off season, the perfect place to house your out-of-town guests or a wonderful stopover when moving from one home to another.

Sand Rock Farm Photo Gallery

The Historic Sand Rock Farm

Sand Rock Farm Wedding Video

Rio Sands Hotel in Aptos

November 30, 2014 by Seb Frey

The Rio Sands Hotel in Aptos is one of the largest hotels in the Aptos area, and is also the one that is closest to the beach. It is conveniently located just steps from the sands of Rio del Mar Beach. They also have a large community meeting room which can be rented for breakfasts and meetings, holding up to 120 people. They offer rooms including a continental breakfast, abundant and free parking, and free WiFi for paying guests. Each room is equipped with a microwave, refrigerator, in-room coffee, and hair dryer. They have a variety of room sizes, including full suites.
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Monte Toyon Camp and Conference Center

May 14, 2014 by Seb Frey

Monte Toyon Camp and Conference Center is located adjacent to the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park, just up Cathedral Drive from the Aptos Post Office. It’s a world away from the suburban life of Aptos lurking just a mile away.

The conference center serves non-profit organizations as a place to have camps and conferences, and can accommodate groups of 30-146 people.

Monte Toyon is owned by the California-Nevada Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and is operated by United Camps, Conferences, and Retreats.

Monte Toyon Camp

Monte Toyon, Aptos CA

Bayview Hotel Aptos

May 6, 2014 by Seb Frey

Located in the heart of Aptos Village, the Bayview Hotel, built in 1870, is one of the oldest buildings in Aptos. The hotel was built by Jose Arano, who was the son-in-law of Rafel Castro, the original recipient of the Aptos Rancho land grant from the government of Mexico.

It was listed on the national register of historic places in 1993, was made a State historic monument in 1974, and in 1994, the Bayview received a plaque designating it an official Santa Cruz County historic landmark. After the SS Palo Alto (the sunken concrete ship at Seacliff Beach), the old Bayview Hotel is perhaps the most widely recognized symbol of Aptos.

Out in front of the Bayview Hotel is a large, old magnolia tree, which is claimed to be the oldest magnolia tree in the northern hemisphere. Out in back there is a large patio and garden, which is mostly used when weddings are held at the hotel.

The hotel feature a total of six guest rooms, which are furnished and decorated in period style. The hotel is rumored to be haunted by “friendly spirits,” and a movie, Haunting at the Bayview, was released in 2013 and is available on Amazon.

A number of restaurants have been run in the Bayview over the years. Currently, the hotel is host to GG Restaurant, which features a full bar. In addition, the BFF Boutique clothing store is now located in the Bayview Hotel as well.

Seascape Resort

March 2, 2014 by Seb Frey

The Seascape Beach Resort in Aptos is truly unique in Santa Cruz county – and there’s not much else like it in the entire state of California. The resort is a CondoTel – each room or suite in the hotel is privately owned, but most of them are rented out to resort visitors when the owners are not using the units. In fact, owners of the units are restricted to a maximum of 90 days occupancy per year (so that the county can collect the transient occupancy tax on guests the rest of the time).

Seascape Resort is one of the most popular venues for a wedding in Santa Cruz county, with hundreds (thousands?) of area couples having married here. It’s also a popular spot for corporate retreats, and many weekend you can find any number of groups from Silicon Valley companies inhabiting the resort.

The resort also features one of the very few “private” stretches of beach in California. Several acres of sand in front of the resort is owned by the resort (and some neighboring properties). While alcohol is banned on all public beaches in Santa Cruz county (and that means, pretty much all beaches) – you are free to tipple on the Seascape Resort’s beach. The resort even arranges bonfire-and-s’mores fests for hotel guests, complete with golf cart rides down to the sand and back. You can’t beat it!

The Seascape Resort also features Sanderling’s Restaurant, which offers casual dining (and a full bar) with terrific sunset and whitewater ocean views.

Best Western Seacliff Inn

February 26, 2014 by Seb Frey

With its sublime climate and long stretches of beaches, Aptos has long been a draw for out-of-towners. When it comes to local accommodation, the Best Western Seacliff Inn is the largest hotel in the Aptos area. It offers free breakfasts for guests, as well as free WiFi. It also has a nicely landscaped center courtyard with a Koi pond, and features a heated swimming pool. Guests often complain about “paper thin” walls in the rooms, which can be a problem given the location next to the freeway and sometimes other guests can of course get rowdy – so man of them are, after all, on vacation.

Aside from the fact it’s right on the freeway, the Seacliff Inn has a prime location – less than a mile from Seacliff State Beach and the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park. It’s also practically across the street from the Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center, and it is literally right across the street from the Aptos History Museum.

The hotel is one of the few places in town with decent meeting space, and for this reason The Aptos Chamber of Commerce holds its monthly meetings at the Seacliff Inn.

The Seacliff Inn is also home to Severino’s Bar and Grill, which is a favorite for many locals.

Aptos Hotels Overview

November 16, 2013 by Seb Frey

The #1 business of Aptos – like the rest of Santa Cruz county – is tourism. People come from all around the world to enjoy our beaches, mountains, forests, and, of course, our sublime climate. When all these folks come to town, they’ll need a place to stay, of course – and there’s a wide selection of hotels in Aptos to accommodate them.

The largest and best known hotel is the Seascape Resort, located right on the coastline in south Aptos. There are few resorts of this type anywhere to be found in California, and it is unlikely any more will be built in the future, thanks to restrictions on coastal development enforced by the California Coastal Commission.