CAPITOLA VENETIAN LUXURY BEACH FRONT -- SLEEPS 10 -- 4BR/3 BA --12 STEPS TO SAND

My family of three generations came here and couldn't have been more pleased with all the amenities (3 bathrooms!), location (near everything-beach, shops, surfing, fancy and casual restaurants), and style of the house. The bay window table and banquet made for perfect breakfasts for the kids. The outdoor patio with chairs were perfect for adults to have morning coffee and sunset drinks. The bathroom with access from the front entrance made it possible to come in quick from the beach (40 ft away) and not drag sand through the house (a parents delight).

There was plenty of privacy and little areas where someone could be on the computer, another group playing games at the table and another discussing the interests of the world in the living room or kitchen area. The upstairs views are beautiful. The entire ocean-facing part of the residence is windows so there is beautiful light all the time.

My favorite part of the house is that there was so much to do. I rented surf boards ($15) and wetsuits ($10) for my kids at Freeline on 41st St. and taught them to surf on the very gentle Capitola Point just down the beach. We went to the ice cream shop across from Margaritaville and got $1 mini ice cream cones every day. My mom shopped till she dropped! We had a lovely romantic dinner at The Shadowbrook Restaurant . My brother and his wife listened to live music and went dancing at one of the bars on river. The whole family took miles of walks and spent days lounging on the beach looking for shells and sea glass.

Overall, it was the most delightful 5 nights of vacation I've ever had with my whole family. The house was very nicely set up for a large multi-aged group (the grandkids were able to play downstairs when the Grandparents went to bed).

There is so much more I could say that I liked about the house but I'd most like to say that the owner was absolutely terrific to work with. He was responsive to all our little questions prior to our arrival and really went out of his way to make sure that our vacation was special and that we enjoyed the house.

We liked Zelda's for breakfast and happy hour. Pizza My Heart was great delivery pizza. RipTide and Freeline Surf shops on 41st street teach surf lessons and rent gear. The clam chowder in a bread bowl beat the band at the restaurant on the wharf at lunch. The little tackle shop on the wharf had sweatshirts for half the price of those in town and fun sand toys... The place was great! We loved it!