There couldn’t be a more quintessential summer experience than Santa Cruz. With its mild weather, expansive beaches, charming downtown, busy wharf, and bustling boardwalk (featuring the famous wooden rollercoaster, The Giant Dipper), Santa Cruz is an iconic getaway destination.

And where the water meets the sand you’ll find the Dream Inn—the formerly funky, 60s beachfront motel that was renovated in 2008 into a hip, retro-chic luxury hotel. The 165 guestrooms and suites facing the ocean are brightly accented with color and host contemporary furnishings, including luxurious beds and bedding. There are private balconies or patios from which you can watch the waves and surfers during the day, or the bright lights of the boardwalk at night. The property also has a beachfront deck, heated pool and Jacuzzi, poolside bar, and a new restaurant, Aquarius.

Regardless of the amenities, The Dream Inn has one thing that only four other properties in the state can claim: it is literally located on the beach. And since it isn’t likely that any other ocean-side stays will be built in the future, this is one property that can never be duplicated.