The overuse of words paradise, perfect getaway, and yes, dream, in references to vacation destinations is too obvious to ponder. However, a newly renovated Dream Inn in Santa Cruz (ready for another cliché?) lives up to its name. The magic starts when you open the door to your room – all you can see is the shiny ocean, bursting in trough the glass balcony door. Blinded, you stop for a moment, overwhelmed with its sparkly shine, its salty smell, and its vibrant sound. Sitting on a hotel room balcony is not my idea of … um, a perfect getaway, but here it’s a must. Sit, inhale, exhale, look at the beach beneath, feel the joy. Managed by the San Francisco based boutique hotel company, Joie de Vivre, Dream Inn is the only beachfront hotel in Santa Cruz. Steps from the century-old Beach Boardwalk – the West Coast oldest seaside amusement park, and from the Municipal Wharf with its countless art and music festivals, busy shops and restaurants, Dream Inn is comfy and welcoming, well designed from luxurious beds to a playful color scheme, and brimming with life. Families with children come from Florida and Minnesota, and from everywhere in-between, forming instant friendships around the pool, where kiddies are splashing away and parents are sipping their mojitos, or basking in the sun, or reading under bright orange beach umbrellas.
While fearless surfers, feathery yachts, and playing seals can be observed right from the Inn balcony, a short drive will take you to a historic downtown, known for its tree-lined streets and Art Deco buildings, its clock tower, and its many galleries and bistros, or – to a string of state beaches, like Twin Lakes, Lighthouse Field, and Natural Bridges.
After an invigorating day of exploration/relaxation, for a culinary grand finale, head to the brand new fine dining restaurant on premises, appropriately named Aquarius. Whimsical design, floor to ceiling windows with Monterey Bay sunset views, stunning latticework chandeliers, and efficient service are just a prelude to a perfect meal offered here by Chef Philippe Breneman. Fresh sustainable seafood and seasonal organic produce is not news for fine California establishments, but Food and Beverage Director Joel Mootz makes a special emphasis on supporting local producers from vine growers to fishermen and farmers.
A dinner menu at Aquarius offers some creative choices, like seared tuna in yellow coconut curry sauce in Hooks category; clam chowder with whole mollusks and exquisitely delicious broth (honestly the best, despite other places’ claims) listed under Lines, and California white bass with udon noodles in miso-truffle broth, under Sinkers. Even if you indulge in all three, and swallowed your hook, line, and sinker, all perfectly seasoned and portioned, you must leave some room for house made Sweets. Something modestly called a candy bar is an elaborate construction of dreamy layers of sour cream chocolate cake, peanut butter mousse, hazelnut praline, crunchy chocolate gelato, and chocolate sauce. Perhaps, you won’t dine alone, so go ahead, press your dining companion to order devil’s food cake made of Valrhona chocolate mousse and accompanied by a pretzel-crusted Guinness gelato. Don’t worry; you can always take a run along the beach tomorrow morning… as long as you are sleeping and dreaming at the Dream Inn. Located at 175 West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, California. For more information and reservation, call 831-426-4330 or visit www.jdvhotels.com. For Aquarius reservations, call 831-460-5012 or visit www.aquariussantacruz.com. Photography by Yuri Krasov.
The overuse of words paradise, perfect getaway, and yes, dream, in references to vacation destinations is too obvious to ponder. However, a newly renovated Dream Inn in Santa Cruz (ready for another cliché?) lives up to its name. The magic starts when you open the door to your room – all you can see is the shiny ocean, bursting in trough the glass balcony door. Blinded, you stop for a moment, overwhelmed with its sparkly shine, its salty smell, and its vibrant sound. Sitting on a hotel room balcony is not my idea of … um, a perfect getaway, but here it’s a must. Sit, inhale, exhale, look at the beach beneath, feel the joy. Managed by the San Francisco based boutique hotel company, Joie de Vivre, Dream Inn is the only beachfront hotel in Santa Cruz. Steps from the century-old Beach Boardwalk – the West Coast oldest seaside amusement park, and from the Municipal Wharf with its countless art and music festivals, busy shops and restaurants, Dream Inn is comfy and welcoming, well designed from luxurious beds to a playful color scheme, and brimming with life. Families with children come from Florida and Minnesota, and from everywhere in-between, forming instant friendships around the pool, where kiddies are splashing away and parents are sipping their mojitos, or basking in the sun, or reading under bright orange beach umbrellas. 
While fearless surfers, feathery yachts, and playing seals can be observed right from the Inn balcony, a short drive will take you to a historic downtown, known for its tree-lined streets and Art Deco buildings, its clock tower, and its many galleries and bistros, or – to a string of state beaches, like Twin Lakes, Lighthouse Field, and Natural Bridges. 
After an invigorating day of exploration/relaxation, for a culinary grand finale, head to the brand new fine dining restaurant on premises, appropriately named Aquarius. Whimsical design, floor to ceiling windows with Monterey Bay sunset views, stunning latticework chandeliers, and efficient service are just a prelude to a perfect meal offered here by Chef Philippe Breneman. Fresh sustainable seafood and seasonal organic produce is not news for fine California establishments, but Food and Beverage Director Joel Mootz makes a special emphasis on supporting local producers from vine growers to fishermen and farmers. 
A dinner menu at Aquarius offers some creative choices, like seared tuna in yellow coconut curry sauce in Hooks category; clam chowder with whole mollusks and exquisitely delicious broth (honestly the best, despite other places’ claims) listed under Lines, and California white bass with udon noodles in miso-truffle broth, under Sinkers. Even if you indulge in all three, and swallowed your hook, line, and sinker, all perfectly seasoned and portioned, you must leave some room for house made Sweets. Something modestly called a candy bar is an elaborate construction of dreamy layers of sour cream chocolate cake, peanut butter mousse, hazelnut praline, crunchy chocolate gelato, and chocolate sauce. Perhaps, you won’t dine alone, so go ahead, press your dining companion to order devil’s food cake made of Valrhona chocolate mousse and accompanied by a pretzel-crusted Guinness gelato. Don’t worry; you can always take a run along the beach tomorrow morning… as long as you are sleeping and dreaming at the Dream Inn. Located at 175 West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, California. For more information and reservation, call 831-426-4330 or visit www.jdvhotels.com. For Aquarius reservations, call 831-460-5012 or visit www.aquariussantacruz.com. Photography by Yuri Krasov.
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