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Private Cottage! Easy Walk Through The Park To Encinitas And Moonlight Beach.

Family-friendly holiday home in Encinitas

Photo gallery for Private Cottage! Easy Walk Through The Park To Encinitas And Moonlight Beach.

TASTEFULLY RENOVATED 1940'S BUNGALOW
ENJOY THE BENCH SWING UNDER THE OLD CALIFORNIA PEPPER TREE
Large front yard with patio.
CUSTOM PLANTERS PROVIDE PRIVACY
PRIVATE FRONT PATIO WITH LOTS OF SEATING

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 374.3 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Air conditioning
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Fireplace

Explore the area

View map
Encinitas, CA
  • Place, Moonlight State Beach
    ‪8 min walk‬
  • Place, San Diego Botanic Garden
    ‪15 min walk‬
  • Place, Self Realization Fellowship Hermitage & Meditation Gardens
    ‪19 min walk‬
  • Airport, San Diego, CA (SAN-San Diego Intl.)
    ‪30 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 3)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Private Cottage! Easy Walk Through The Park To Encinitas And Moonlight Beach.

Relax and unwind in this fully restored and updated 1940’s beach cottage just two blocks east of historic highway 101. We’ve tried to think of all the little details that make for a perfect stay from the super quiet Fujitsu heating and cooling unit, to a six port USB charging station for your electronics, a blue tooth speaker, and quality hangers in the two closets. You will appreciate the California king bed, two luggage racks, ceiling fans, armoire, sectional sofa, 55 inch Roku TV in the great room and and Samsung TV in the bedroom. Access your Netflix and other subscription services. The kitchen has a 13.9 CF refrigerator/freezer with ice maker, a two burner induction cook-top, compact dishwasher, deep stainless steel sink, toaster oven with convection bake, a microwave, and a coffee maker. You’re an easy 10-20 minute walk to top notch coffee houses, the great shopping, and fantastic dining in historic Encinitas. Enchanting Moonlight Beach is close as well and we provide the beach chairs, umbrella, towels, cooler and a wagon to haul it all. Come home to an outdoor shower to remove the sand and salt. Bring your tennis or pickleball rackets as there are public courts 1 minute away.
Only 10 minutes from the Coaster station, you can leave your car at home. Ride the Coaster to San Diego or get on the Amtrak for a trip to LA and beyond. If you drive, we have off street parking for your vehicle.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Pack n Play, twin roll away or air bed available
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Events

No events allowed
Please check with owner.
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Please no smoking or vaping inside or outside.

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Strip any used beds and gather used towels
Remove personal items
Turn off the lights, lock the doors and return the keys
To help us prepare for our next guests, please be out by 11 AM unless you have arranged in advance for a late check out. Place all used towels, sheets and pillow cases on top of the washing machine.
Please put all dirty dishes and utensils in the dishwasher and start it. If you don’t hear the dishwasher start, push the button on the right side of the control panel.
Please report any stains, breakage, or lost items prior to departure. This helps us be ready for our next guests. Please text Tom 760-420-9098 when you leave so he can let our housekeeper know.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
Per City of Encinitas municipal code we have provided off street parking for you.
Per City of Encinitas municipal codes please respect the family nature of our neighborhood. No loud music. No large gatherings.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: Please check with owner.
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
Property Registration Number RNTL-006770-2016

We should mention

A car is not required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Encinitas

Located in Downtown Encinitas, a neighbourhood in Encinitas, this holiday home is near theme parks and near the beach. While the natural beauty of Moonlight State Beach and Del Mar Beach can be enjoyed by anyone, those looking for an activity can explore Torrey Pines Golf Course. Travelling with kids? Consider LEGOLAND® California and Self Realization Fellowship Hermitage & Meditation Gardens. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Encinitas, CA

What's nearby

  • Moonlight State Beach - 8 min walk - 0.8 km
  • San Diego Botanic Garden - 15 min walk - 1.3 km
  • Self Realization Fellowship - 19 min walk - 1.6 km
  • Self Realization Fellowship Hermitage & Meditation Gardens - 19 min walk - 1.6 km
  • LEGOLAND® California - 8 min drive - 12.3 km

Getting around

  • Solana Beach Station - 16 min drive
  • Carlsbad, CA (CLD-McClellan-Palomar) - 21 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Puntamar - ‬8 min walk
  • ‪Leucadia Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Buona Forchetta Encinitas - ‬15 min walk
  • ‪Wendy's - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Herb & Sea - ‬11 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Private Cottage! Easy Walk Through The Park To Encinitas And Moonlight Beach. pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Private Cottage! Easy Walk Through The Park To Encinitas And Moonlight Beach.?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Private Cottage! Easy Walk Through The Park To Encinitas And Moonlight Beach.?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Private Cottage! Easy Walk Through The Park To Encinitas And Moonlight Beach. located?

This family-friendly Encinitas holiday home is located by the sea, within 1 mi (2 km) of Moonlight State Beach, Self Realization Fellowship Hermitage & Meditation Gardens and Beacon Beach. San Diego Botanic Garden and Self Realization Fellowship are also within 1 mile (2 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy
Rating 10 - Excellent. 230 out of 234 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 234 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 234 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 234 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 234 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Bruce H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Another great stay

We live this property. Great location and it is like coming to our own vacation home. Tom is great to work with and will book again for next year.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Janelle W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fabulous!

Cute, clean, close to the beach, and great communication. ALSO, a fabulous bed which is a rare thing to find in a rental!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

zohreh m.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Loved the Casita

Really cute place and great location. Tom seemed to anticipate what we might need and communication was great
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lisa H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
What a perfect place to get away! Location is great! The casita is adorable! Comfortable, very well stocked, quiet. The owner responds quickly to messages. So happy I found this
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Meghan S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Escape

Wonderful home right next to the park and easy walk to the shops, restaurants and beach. It's very clean and plenty of space and parking which can be hard to find. Well appointed and clean and the owner is so friendly and communicative. We will hopefully be back!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jackie S., Ojai ca

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect location

Our second time here - just as good as the first time!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sandra G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely beach close cottage

The hosts, Tom & Peggy, have thought of everything a guest might want in their casita. Immaculately clean, comfortable bed, well-equipped kitchen and convenient parking make this a great find. Tom was readily available by text to answer any questions. The casita is tucked away in a quiet neighborhood, yet also only minutes away from freeway access and Pacific Coast Highway. We definitely plan to return to this property in the future.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Anne O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful stay

We loved the casita and hope to return. Beautiful garden and home with thoughtful hosts. Every detail helped to make our visit extra special. Thank you!
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Troy G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beach getaway

Fantastic cozy beach house near moonlight beach. Tom and company did a great job with all the little details. We are coming back soon!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rick H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This was our second visit to Tom & Peggy's beautiful vacation cottage. The location is beyond convenient, within a 5-minute walk to the park with tons of pickleball courts, Moonlight Beach, downtown shops, restaurants, and the commuter train to San Diego. The cottage is equipped with more amenities than most will ever need. We had a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the beautifully landscaped outdoor patio with our friends and ordered dinner from local restaurants. If you're looking for a wonderful spot to enjoy the Encinitas coastal area, you'd need not look any further. We had one small issue with a battery in a smoke alarm and Tom responded within minutes to address the issue. Tom and Peggy are the best hosts!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Christopher S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Second Stay

Perfect spot for our relaxing beach vacation. Convenient location to great beaches, shops and restaurants. Many extra touches that make you feel like you're at home, and the hosts are awesome. Thanks again!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Caroline D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cottonwood Creek Casita

Property exactly as described on Vrbo. Absolutely charming. Spotlessly clean. Fully stocked with everyday amenities. Friendly and helpful host. Our grandchildren loved the close proximity to park 😊
Stayed 10 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Leslie P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

My happy place

My go to place when staying in Encinitas. Tom and Peggy are the best hosts. They have thought of everything in their charming, comfortable, cozy cottonwood casita.
Stayed 8 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Vicki W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely little cottage

The property and cottage are well maintained. Shaded patio has comfortable seating that is surrounded by beautiful plants and shrubs. Having off-street parking is also a plus.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

lara a.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We loved our stay! Tom was super responsive and went above and beyond to make our stay enjoyable. His place was just as it looked in the photos and what I was expecting.I was traveling with my husband and almost 2 year old daughter. The bedroom had plenty of room for the crib. We also loved that the bathroom door was outside of the bedroom so that, once our daughter was down for the night, we were able to shut the bedroom door and freely use the restroom and other areas of the cottage. The playground being steps away from the cottage was also a huge bonus for us! The beach is so close that it doesn’t make sense to try to drive and find a parking space - you’ll be able to walk to the water quicker.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Chris M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cute Casita

Nice stay at this little casita. Great location close to beach. The outdoor security lights were a bit on the bright side at night. Other than that it's a great place to vacation.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Bernadette V.

Home away from home

This casita is fabulous! It is spotless, has a great bed, is steps away from everything you need (like the beach), the owners are lovely people, and the place has a zen vibe. What more could you want?
Stayed 9 nights in May 2019

10/10 Excellent

Caroline C., Barnstable, MA USA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Spot!

Happy to return to this sweet spot! Tom and Peggy are excellent hosts, and the cottage is perfectly situated to enjoy all that Encinitas has to offer with an easy walk to the beach and town. The cottage is spanking clean and nicely appointed with everything you might need for an extended stay. I love how they have a cache of games, puzzles, beach toys, etc for guests to enjoy while they visit! We have loved our stays here and look forward to returning soon... highly recommend
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lesley K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cotttonwood Casita

VRBO should use this listing as a perfect example of how a VRBO should be run. The unit was clean, beautifully thought out, and organized with well written outlines of directions of appliances if needed. it was the perfect vacation home.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

karren b.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fabulous in every way!

The property is actually better than the listing represents. This is going to be my new home away from home when I visit California. Peggy & Tom maintain the beautiful casita and grounds with love and attention to details. Their gracious hospitality and magnificent property are a rare find... I couldn’t have had a more enjoyable vacation!
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2020

10/10 Excellent

Christie R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Loved It

Very cozy and comfortable. Enjoyed the patio area just as much as the inside. Everything, and more, was provided. The information book was appreciated, too. Location was a plus, with everything, especially the beach, so close. Excellent! Would highly recommend. Thank you Tom and Peggy!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Bernadette V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Blissful Retreat!

Another wonderful stay at Cottonwood Casita. A beautiful property inside and out with a gorgeous garden. Provisioned with everything you need and more! The owners have considered all the details like quality linens and paper products to even a foam roller in the yoga studio! Excellent location, walking distance to grocery, shopping/restaurants on the 101, and beach. Thank you, Tom and Peggy, for sharing your space and providing a blissful retreat for us travellers.
Stayed 14 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Margaret Randi B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The Perfect Spot for us!

We loved this little gem! My husband and I came to visit our daughter as we do 3 to 4 times a year. Never have we had such a great experience where we stayed before. This little house is so perfectly done. We had a private patio with fire pit, dining table and garden. We had absolutely everything inside also to make it feel like home. We loved walking to the park (almost next door!) we hope to stay here each time we come from now on. It was very close to our kids and grandkids. Tom and Peggy are great hosts!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jenny B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Home Away from Home

This was our fourth year staying at the Casita Azul. It’s the perfect home away from home for my husband and I, and our two young daughters. The neighborhood is peaceful; the casita is beautiful, and has everything we need for a short getaway. The one bedroom is spacious enough for all four of us to sleep, with a single bed set up on either side of room. The kitchen is well appointed with an electric kettle, Keurig machine, small dishwasher, etc. We always prepare breakfasts at the casita, pack picnic lunches to bring to the beach, and will do a mix of going out to dinner and staying in to cook. There’s a pleasant outdoor space with a table, set amidst lovely landscaping, including succulents and native plants. The owners, Peggy and Tom, have truly set the standard when it comes to thoughtful vacation rental hosts.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Sherrill C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful cottage…beautifuly decorated, with everything you need for a perfect stay. Great location, and attentive host!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025

About the host

Hosted by Tom Cozens

Host profile image
Tom is Fourth Generation Encinitas, CA. Peggy was born in International Falls, Minnesota and moved to Oceanside, CA when she was 3. We both graduated from San Dieguito High School in Encinitas. The funny part of our story is that we re-met at our 10 year High School Class Reunion, fell in love and married. Peggy brought to the marriage her 5-year-old a son, Marc. December 2023 we celebrated our 46th wedding anniversary with our sons, daughters in law and 4 grandkids ages 20, 18, 15 and 13.

Tom earned his bachelor and master’s degrees in Biology at San Diego State University. While in college and for a few years after Tom made many field trips to northern Baja California by land and by sea. Life’s twist and turns have taken Tom from teaching, to contracting, expert witness work, and nonprofit management. Tom's spent the last 15 years of his working life as a residential Realtor. He retired in 2020.

After high school Peggy’s adventurous side took her to Hawaii for two years and then to NYC for a year where she worked at the Physics Institute. Peggy put her life lessons to good use and was a founder of TransWorld Skateboarding and Snowboarding Magazines. She retired in 2002 as VP of consumer marketing for TransWorld Media.

We have had the good fortune to travel extensively. We have visited Mexico, Costa Rica, Canada, Tahiti, the Caribbean by cruise ship, England, Scotland, Norway, Sweden, Estonia, Russia, Denmark, Holland, Finland, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, and Kenya.

Why they chose this property

Growing up in Encinitas was an amazing gift. The beach, town, and my elementary school were all an easy walk or bike ride from my home. Tom's grandparents lived just above Coast Hwy 101 in the home built by his great-great grandfather. Tom's great-great grandfather built the first Encinitas school house in 1883. Peggy moved from Oceanside to Encinitas while in high school. She lived on Briggs Avenue with an ocean view and a 5-minute walk to town. A local sports park was named after her father, Leo Mullen. Leo's passion for youth sports was legendary. Life twice took both of us away from Encinitas and finally brought us back home. The economic reality of starting a life together took us to Vista and then Carlsbad for nearly 37 years. During this time away the goal of living where we could walk to our home town crystalized. We knew the property would need some income potential to make this dream come true. And, we hoped to design and build our forever home. In 2013 the ideal property came on the market. It was a large lot with a funky old 1940's 860 SF block house. We out bid 13 other buyers and closed escrow early August. We started work to make the home livable for us. This was no small challenge as we were living in nearly 4,000 SF. We sold our Carlsbad home, put most of our belongings in storage and starting living our dream. A little over two years later we moved into our dream home. The next phase was to renovate the old block home and turn it into a charming cottage with all the modern amenities. We relied on our extensive travel experience to create a place that would be a retreat. We tried to include all the little details that we found ourselves wanting so many times when we were traveling.

What makes this property unique

Cottonwood Casita has much to offer. Tops on the list is location. You can easily walk to public transit, a jewel of a public library with a panoramic ocean view, Moonlight beach, several great restaurants and coffee houses, and some great shopping and night life. Your path to old Encinitas runs through neighboring Cottonwood Creek Park. Look for the quote from Tom’s great grandmother, Annie Cozens, on the walkway between the playground and bathrooms. Bring your binoculars as the park is a haven for birds. Speaking of birds, San Elijo Lagoon preserve is about 10 minutes away. When relaxing at the cottage try out the two-person swing hanging from the pepper tree. Practice your yoga or martial arts in the studio that is just for your use. Enjoy the large front patio. The Wi-Fi signal is strong and secure. The full size laundry with ironing board and iron are perfect for longer stays. There are two beach chairs, towels, an umbrella, cooler, and a wagon to haul it all to the beach. There is a pack and play and a few toys for your young child. There is also a single airbed and a roll away bed.

Languages:

English

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