Santa Cruz, California

Hey everyone!

I wanted to share this amazing trip that I took to Santa Cruz, California while I was visiting before I moved out and started my new life there. If you haven’t seen the blog post from my San Jose trip, go check it out!

My boyfriend and I planned a weekend getaway at an Airbnb/event venue called Pacific Oaks Vineyard, in a small California beach town called Aptos.

Just after sunset, we hopped on Highway 17 and drove up the winding road that cuts through the Santa Cruz mountains. The Airbnb was an estate tucked away in the hills above Aptos. The main building is available for guests, but we chose to stay in the guest house, a spacious and luxurious cottage detached from the main house. We settled in for the night after our long commute, and passed out.

The next morning, we woke up to a breathtaking view. From our bedroom window, we could see miles of rolling green hills, vineyards, and the Pacific Ocean. We were greeted with a complimentary bottle of wine from the winery, which was a delicious Pinot Noir!

Over the next couple of days, we relaxed and enjoyed everything the estate had to offer. Each morning, we whipped up a simple homemade breakfast and coffee, all while enjoying the surrounding view from our guest house. Deer would often graze by the window the cottage, allowing us to admire them from just a few feet away! Friendly goats roamed between the vineyard rows. The estate was also home of one of the friendliest cats I have ever met, named “Bo”! He was such a sweetheart. Whenever we were outside, he was never more than a few steps behind us.

Our trip to the Pacific Oaks Vineyard was an amazing experience. I would highly recommend checking it out if you are looking for a wedding venue, or even if you are just looking for the perfect weekend getaway like my boyfriend and I were. Whether it was the secluded atmosphere, the beautiful natural sights, or the comfortable amenities of the estate, I have a feeling that I will remember this trip for the rest of my life.