Let’s be honest: vacationing with kids can sometimes feel like we’re just parenting in a prettier location. But at Seascape Resort in Aptos, family downtime doesn’t mean being crammed in one room – it means ocean views, open lawn areas, and room to breathe.
Seascape is a hybrid of a rental beach house and a resort. Our room had everything we needed to feel at home: a fireplace, separate living and sleeping areas, a kitchen and dining space, a private balcony, and views that made morning coffee feel like a real treat.
Here’s why I recommend this as a vacation with kids: It’s only 90 minutes from the (510)—close enough for an easy escape without the hefty airfare, but far enough to feel like you really got away.
One evening, we rented a private fire pit at the beach and sat around roasting s’mores with the kids – easily the memory I’ll hold onto the most! (Pro tip: make reservations in advance, the bonfire spots go fast!)
Aptos is one of our favorite picks for a summer or spring break getaway. Browse the whole list of Spring Break ideas for more >
Seascape Resort in Aptos, CA
The amenities at Seascape Resort make vacationing with kids a lot easier with plenty to keep everyone happy.
- Spacious suites and villas
- Dining options on and near the property
- Total of 3 swimming pools for all ages
- Easy beach access
- Free parking onsite
- Walking trails right outside your door
- Golf carts to shuttle you (and your gear) to the beach and around the resort
- Play structure and putting green for kids
- In room massage and spa services (hello, mommas!)
- Golf course and lessons available
- Grocery store, tennis and pickleball courts, shops, and more right across the street
See available suites on VRBO >
The Grounds at Seascape Resort
During the day, the kids had plenty to keep them busy. There are three pools at the resort, one just for adults near the registration area and two for families located on each end of the resort. Each comes with a hot tub, which is perfect for the mostly overcast Aptos weather.
If the pools aren’t enough to combat the kids’ adrenaline, there is an area onsite referred to as the “island”, where our kids ran around an oasis of ponds and bridges, while we (adults) parked ourselves around a fire pit.
At the far end of the resort, there’s even a small playground with swings and slides. Nothing fancy, but enough to make my little ones’ faces light up. The park also has picnic benches and restrooms for convenience.
What to Expect when Visiting Aptos Beach
Of course, no trip to Aptos is complete without the beach. Like most NorCal beaches, we wore sweatshirts and jackets over our swimsuits.
Getting down there is its own adventure—you can walk the long, winding nature path or hop on a golf cart if you’ve got tired toddlers or way too much gear (guilty!). The walk back up definitely calls for a golf cart after a long day at the beach.
We appreciate that this beach is not overpopulated, making it feel more quaint and relaxing. We flew kites, built sandcastles for hours, hula-hooped, played stomp rockets, and searched for sand crabs. The low tides made us feel more comfortable taking the younger ones near the water.
The Aptos beach also proves to be a great place to walk dogs, bike along, and even ride horses! At one point, we spotted porpoises swimming by, and later in the afternoon, parachuters landed right on the sand. The kids couldn’t believe people had actually jumped out of an airplane, and the skydivers were kind enough to answer their questions.
Parent Tip: There are no restrooms on the beach, so plan ahead with the littles! Maybe a portable potty or extra diapers for the newly toilet-trained.
Dining at the Seascape Resort
When it came to food, we had a good amount of options. Seascape rooms come with fully equipped kitchens if you feel like cooking, and nearby restaurants if you don’t.
For beach day, we bought pizza and drinks from Village Host Pizza, located in the plaza across the street from the hotel (and with the golf cart service, lugging pizza boxes to the beach wasn’t an issue).
For dinner, we made reservations at the Sanderlings Restaurant onsite. With plenty of heat lamps, we enjoyed eating outdoors and taking in the beautiful views of the ocean. Sanderlings has a kids menu, and is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and happy hours. There is also music during dinner on Fridays.
Though the restaurants around the perimeter are a little pricey, it’s the ease of not having to rush or drive for food that we appreciated.
Another option for food is to bring plenty from home. The fully equipped in-suite kitchens includes all the appliances, cookware, and cutlery you need to make your meals. My mom even baked cupcakes with frosting from scratch with my kids (not often you can have that kind of homey fun on vacation).
Venturing Outside of Aptos
There is plenty to explore near Aptos as well. We’ve visited Capitola Village, Santa Cruz Boardwalk and the UC Santa Cruz on-campus aquarium. Families can also make the 45-minute trek to Monterey Aquarium or enjoy a sweet outing of fruit picking in Watsonville with the kids!
Every time we visit Aptos, we come home with happy kids tired out from playing, and adults who aren’t exhausted. Seascape has that perfect mix of adventure and downtime, and with a few extra layers for those cool evenings, the nights can end in the best way: around a cozy fire.
Need more vacation insp? See our Spring Break Guide for Bay Area Families >
