Santa Cruz is an oceanfront city in west-central California about 65 miles south of San Francisco. The city boasts 29 miles of beaches and mountains forested by the state's famous redwood trees. Along with agriculture, tourism is one of the area's top contributors to the economy, according to the Santa Cruz County website. For those looking to relax on the beach during their stay, the city offers a number of hotels right on the beach.
Situated across the street from the Santa Cruz Beach and just 200 feet from the boardwalk, the Coastview Inn is completely smoke-free; it offers a seasonal solar-heated swimming pool and a free continental breakfast. The hotel is within walking distance to the Fisherman's Wharf, an area filled with restaurants, such as Miramar, which offers seafood and Carniglia’s, where you can find authentic Italian cuisine. In addition, Fisherman's Wharf features outdoor events, such as the annual clam chowder cook-off in February and the Japanese Cultural Fair in June.
Dream Inn Santa Cruz is a beachfront hotel in the city; the hotel features its own on-site restaurant, Aquarius, which offers fresh local seafood. Guests receive free Wi-Fi and flat-screen high-definition televisions, as well as iPod docking stations and private balconies. Every room has a view of the ocean. The hotel caters to business meetings, offering spaces capable of hosting up to 250 people as well as necessary audio and visual equipment. Dream Inn also hosts weddings and is situated near a beach ceremony site. The banquet room has panoramic views of Monterey Bay.
The Terrace Court Motel, a family-owned motel in operation since 1955, is situated right on the beach, with views of the beach, wharf and boardwalk. Guests stay near local attractions such as the Seymour Marine Discovery Center, a laboratory that the University of California, Santa Cruz, uses as a base for research in Monterey Bay and the ocean, according to the lab's website. The Terrace Court is also located near the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, which is located in a lighthouse. The hotel has packages that allow guests to stay for a full month.
The Sea and Sand Inn offers views of the Monterey Bay, Fisherman's Wharf and the boardwalk. Each room has an ocean view, and the hotel is near shopping, restaurants and other attractions in the city, as well as recreational activities such as golf, water sports and fishing. Guests can get a room with a spa, or a suite with a hot tub on a private patio overlooking the ocean. The hotel offers packages at certain times of the year, including a "Wine and Dine" package between October and March that offers guests a wine-tasting at Bargetto Winery in nearby Soquel, as well as a $75 dinner certificate to use at any of four local restaurants, as of 2011.
