CALIFORNIA OCEANFRONT VACATION

I'm still on a high from our wonderful beach vacation at Pajaro Dunes! This Shorebirds unit was perfect for our family of 3. We entered to the breathtaking view that I just couldn't get enough of! The giant picture window with chaise lounging couch in front of it was perfect for enjoying the view if we didn't feel like bundling up on a chili morning to get out. The proximity of the condo to the water was exactly what I was hoping for. The crashing waves lulled us to sleep each night and we enjoyed getting to see the seals & dolphins bobbing by multiple times a day (so close our binoculars weren't really needed!) Loved the quick walk down to the beach - especially when we'd forget to take something down with us or needed a bathroom break; it was no problem to zip back up to the condo. Our 4-year-old loved having the upstairs loft as her own space; she slept very well there. The condo was well-stocked w/everything that was needed for preparing meals. (Though if you're like me & don't like cooking every night of vacation, you'll be pleased that there's a good Chinese restaurant & a Round Table pizza that deliver!) We were also happy to find beach toys available for our use since we forgot our daughter's toys at home! Another reason I'd recommend this unit is that the owner is very responsive. Anna always replied immediately to emails and answered her phone each time I called. I considered rating this 4 stars instead of 5 only because there were a few minor maintenance issues that needed to be taken care of while we were there & probably should've been done before our arrival. However, since this did not hinder our enjoyment one bit and the owner did take care of things and because there are way too many good things to recommend, it still deserves the 5 stars! Also, the on-site management is extremely professional & friendly; we appreciated the warm greeting we received upon our arrival. The resort has a little market on site, which we were pleased to find all the supplies for making s'mores, including the firewood - saving us a 15-minute drive to town. There are plenty of firepits all along the beach to enjoy. The beach itself is very nice, quiet, clean & family-friendly; not at all crowded or touristy. But if you want things to do besides the beach, the Santa Cruz Boardwalk & Monterey Bay Aquarium are close by. This place truly had everything we wanted for our vacation! I'm already telling my other beach-loving friends about it!

Wonderful fit for our family. Modestly furnished and perfectly situated for excellent views and easy beach access. We rented wetsuits for $10/day from Freeline on 41st and played in the ocean 3-4 hours straight each day. Also read a book on the comfortable sofa in front of the wall sized windows and cat napped almost every day. We relished the ability to do laundry and cook rather than living in sand filled clothes and paying for dining out all the time (though Phil's in Moss Landing is AWESOME). The kids enjoyed the Boardwalk one night and all of us enjoyed the beach camp fires and smores at night. Excellent vacation and planning to book again.

Our week stay in this condo by the sea was wonderful! The view upon entering the unit is breathtaking. Situated just steps away from the water and offering the best in sunsets, this is truly a home away from home. The unit was a bit in need of updating as far as appliances, carpet, and linens. After telling the owner about the exposed carpet tack strip by the wall, she informed me of her intent to replace the carpet and furnishings in the near future. Those updates would make this unit the perfect place to spend a relaxing vacation by the sea.