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Vacation rentals in The Sea Ranch and Gualala area are a popular way to enjoy a civilized and comfortable escape to the wilderness; most have hot tubs, fireplaces or woodstoves, and typical modern amenities. There are numerous vacation homes and hotels on the coast.
Step outside your weekend home, and you enter a land famous for centuries of colorful and exciting history. Originally home to Pomo and Coast Miwok Native American peoples, the Spanish and Russians came later, dividing the land and altering its use. Soon, the great Gold Rush created an insatiable demand for the natural resources along coast. This land provided  forest-fulls of towering Redwoods, boatloads of tanbark, and abundant fisheries to the fastest-growing cities in Northern California! Now you can see sheep and cattle grazing the open meadows, and your family can explore Fort Ross, the fully restored Russian fort just south of The Sea Ranch.
“In town” you’ll find a wide selection of great restaurants, lots of shops and galleries, and for those times when nothing else will do, there are even two video rental stores with a very good variety of titles. “Town” is Gualala, pronounced “wa-LAH-lah” (the Pomo word roughly translates to “where the water meets the sea”). Gualala is a tiny little village at the southern tip of Mendocino County, right across the Gualala River from The Sea Ranch.
Once you have re-discovered a real getaway, you’ll have to plan soon to return. You still didn’t kayak the river, go fishing, see the Lighthouse, visit our local winery, practice your nature photography, count the baby sea lions, gasp at the whale spouts in the ocean, thrill at a visiting symphony orchestra concert, or enjoy the Monarch butterfly migration!
--Cathleen McAllister March 2004
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A little disoriented at first, the kids are now getting their wiggles out while you two unload the weekend’s provisions. With a couple hours of daylight left it’s time to decide what to do first. You could hit the pool, but the warmest part of the day has already passed…save that for tomorrow. Ah! A long walk would feel really good after the drive, so you settle on a survey mission to scout out the best kite flying spots for Sunday morning’s adventure. Already, you have Friday late afternoon and Sunday morning planned, and part of Saturday will be at the pool. The open spots will fill in beautifully with leisurely meals (remember those?) funny stories, and the memory strain that comes from trying to recall all those constellations you used to know.
This is a weekend family holiday done like they have been done for generations. No Play Station, no laptops, cell phones don’t even work in most places on the coast! A couple days at the shore can do wonders for each member of the modern family. Youngsters may need a little encouragement to slow down on the hike long enough to appreciate the natural beauty and wildlife, but they’ll never forget sighting their first fawn in the meadow. And when was the last time you two walked a sandy beach holding hands?
Whether you  rent an expensive oceanfront condo, or unwind in a hillside home with a view, the opportunities for simple pleasures and old-fashioned discoveries are endless.
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