APTOS VACATION RENTALS, CALIFORNIA

The seaside village of Aptos boasts of coastal hills and mountains, towering redwoods, fertile farmlands, beaches with ocean cliffs and wonderful vacation rental homes.

A rental agreement may have to be signed. Look for minimum stay requirements and the amount of deposit to be paid. Some rentals require non-refundable damage deposits and security deposits. Few allow pets. Smoking is usually not allowed on most Aptos vacation rental premises, but check with the individual owner.

This beautiful seaside community combines all the charm of small town America with an endless variety of activities.

Nature enthusiasts, water lovers and anglers will find plenty of places to enjoy the outdoors in Aptos.

The Seascape Golf Club is 6,116 yards of lush greenery with an 18-hole par-72 course. Barely a half-mile from the crashing waves of the Santa Cruz coast, Seascape's classic design features well positioned bunkers that guard small tricky greens. Or, try Pasatiempo Golf Club in Santa Cruz, which overlooks the magnificent Monterey Bay. It was rated in Golf Digest's "Top 100 Golf Courses." World-renowned golf architect Alister MacKenzie designed the course.

Local restaurants include cafes, delis, diners and pizzerias. The cuisines offered vary between Continental, French, Mexican, Italian, Chinese, and of course, seafood. Manuel’s Mexican Restaurant requests reservations, especially on weekends. Carried Away offers fresh seasonal dishes as take-out meals perfect for a day at the beach or a picnic in a park. Bittersweet Bistro offers a gourmet menu with Mediterranean influences. The Aptos Club and the Britannia Arms Pub are just a couple of the hopping nighttime spots.

Nearby Capitola Beach offers free Wednesday evening concerts. Pack a picnic or come early and dine alfresco. All concerts begin at 6 PM. Santa Cruz’s Kuumbwa Jazz Center has a Thursday evening Jazz and Dinner series you may enjoy. Tickets for the concert can be purchased at the door, while the dinner and show tickets must be purchased in advance.

Check local tourist information and newspapers as there are special events and evening performances in the Santa Cruz area year-round.

Aptos visitors can savor Saturday morning shopping at the farmers' market. Visitors can also find everything they need in the heart of this historic village. Lined with great boutiques and shops where you can find antiques at terrific prices, Aptos is definitely shopper friendly. Several other shopping areas are available in Aptos, such as Aptos Center, which features retail and natural foods shops. Aptos Square and Aptos Station offer a variety of services and shopping specialty stores. Deerpark Marketplace has fine dining, as well as gourmet coffee and grocery stores. Rancho Del Mar Center, midway between Santa Cruz and Watsonville, has specialty clothing stores, entertainment venues and much more.

Even though it is considered a year-round vacation spot, the best time to visit Aptos is in the summer, when Aptos enjoys a Mediterranean-type climate. The temperatures are moderate and the days are sunny, warm and dry. Aptos has a cloudy and damp winter; though temperatures throughout the year remain between 40º F and 75º F. Occasional fog occurs due to changing Pacific currents.