Sea Ranch Abalone Bay

05/09/2026

California’s coast belongs to all of us.

A proposed California bill, SB-1318, could significantly affect coastal access, visitor accommodations, and short-term rentals in communities like The Sea Ranch and other rural coastal regions.

I’ve spent time researching the bill, reviewing current housing and STR studies, and reflecting on what this could mean not only for hosts, but also for:
• Families seeking affordable coastal stays
• Local small businesses that rely on tourism
• Housekeepers, service workers, restaurants, and shops
• Visitors who may not otherwise be able to experience California’s coast

I encourage friends, guests, fellow travelers, neighbors, and anyone who cares about coastal access to become informed about SB-1318 and reach out to members of the California Senate Appropriations Committee to respectfully share your own thoughts, experiences, and perspective.

Whether you support the bill, oppose it, or are still learning, your voice matters.

Attached is the letter I submitted expressing my concerns regarding:
• Coastal access
• Visitor-serving accommodations
• Economic impacts on coastal communities
• Housing affordability research and current evidence

Thoughtful civic participation matters, especially on issues that may shape who can experience California’s coast in the future.

Thank you for taking the time to learn more and engage respectfully.

Learn more of the SB 1318 here:
https://legiscan.com/CA/bill/SB1318/2025

05/03/2026

We’re counting the days until our return to Sea Ranch Abalone Bay this June… and bringing with us something especially meaningful.

An original 1837 hand-colored lithograph of red abalone shells by F. H. Martini—now beautifully framed and ready to find its place in our home.

The abalone is more than art to us. It’s part of our story. Long before Abalone Bay had a name, our family spent days diving these very waters—exploring, harvesting, and simply being immersed in the rhythm of the ocean. Those memories are woven into everything this home represents.

Today, red abalone are endangered, and harvesting is no longer part of that story. That reality carries both sadness and responsibility.

This piece is our quiet tribute—a way to honor what once was, and to hold close our deep love for the Sea Ranch coast, its waters, and the life it sustains.

When you stay with us, you’re not just visiting a place… you’re stepping into a story shaped by the ocean, time, and care for what matters most. 🌊

05/03/2026

Remembering the great Donlyn Lyndon.

Donlyn Lyndon, one of the original architects of California’s Sea Ranch and a longtime educator, has died at 90. He spent his life creating and teaching about environmentally-conscious design. (The Architect's Newspaper)

Architect and educator Donlyn Lyndon died on April 5 at the age of 90. He passed away at Sea Ranch, the planned community he helped build in Sonoma County, California.

04/30/2026

🐋🐋They're coming! Are you?
As of late April 2026, blue whales are moving north/northwest along the California coast, having been spotted unusually early. These whales are migrating from their winter breeding grounds in Mexico toward California for summer feeding, with recent sightings reported near Point Loma and San Diego.

This is an early arrival for the season, which usually sees higher numbers starting in summer. This early arrival is primarily a response to shifting food availability and changing ocean conditions. Blue whales are highly specialized eaters that time their migrations based on where and when their primary prey - krill - is most abundant.

Of course you can book a whale watching boat trip or you can book a stay at Sea Ranch Abalone Bay and watch them in the comfort of the living room.
🏠

Blue Whale diving for krill photo Credit: Ivan Pantic

04/24/2026

Donlyn Lyndon’s Berkeley architectural firm had been in business for about an hour, he liked to say, when business walked in the door that would shape his practice for the next 60 years.

The prospective client was the developer of 10 miles of craggy California coastline in Sonoma County. The job, pitched to Lyndon and his fellow partners from architecture school at Princeton in the early 1960s, was to design a condominium complex on a former sheep ranch that would serve as a prototype and showcase for all future construction at an ecocentric vacation home project to be called the Sea Ranch.

That first big commission to the firm Moore Lyndon Turnbull Whitaker, or MLTW, opened on a bluff above the Pacific Ocean in 1965, and was on its way to multiple prestigious design and architecture awards, including listing on the National Register of Historic Places. It is known internationally for design elements including sloping rooflines that follow the hillside, as well as use of redwood and other natural, unpainted materials.

Lyndon himself occupied Unit One in Condominium One, which was supposed to be followed by Condominiums Two through Nine. But the idea of clustering residential units together to “live lightly on the land,” as the saying went, ran into the economic reality of buyer preferences in the vacation real estate market. Condo construction ended with Condominium Two, as most demand was for individual homes that fit into a naturalistic landscape master plan that emphasized common outdoor space.

Among several thousand stand-alone homes built at the Sea Ranch, Lyndon designed nine, including one for his brother and one for himself after he moved out of Condominium One. Along the way, he outlived the developer who hired him; Al Boeke of Oceanic Properties; the lead landscape architect, Lawrence Halprin; the Sea Ranch Store designer, Joe Esherick; and the graphic and logo designer, Bobbie Stuffacher Solomon. Lyndon also outlived his partners at MLTW, Charles Moore, William Turnbull Jr. and Richard Whitaker.

The architect and UC Berkeley professor helped shape the iconic Sonoma County community and spent decades refining its landscape-driven design philosophy.

04/22/2026

🌎 HAPPY EARTH DAY🐟🦪 🌱🌳🦉! Here's to keeping and protecting what we have on this planet, while remembering, regretting what we have lost.

Photos attached are of red abalone, our home's name sake, taken at The Sea Ranch.
http://zagwap.com/seahunt/sr05/sr05.htm
The link above will take you to a blog post written many years ago on what it was like to enjoy a day's dive at our Sea Ranch coast.
While the harvesting of abalone is no longer an option, our family still goes diving-- with a speargun rather than an ab-iron.
Learn more about fishing and diving at Sea Ranch Abalone Bay:
https://searanchabalonebay.com/diving-and-fishing/

04/22/2026

🔥9 Days until tickets go on sale!! 🔥 And we have the weekend available!!

🔥9 Days until tickets go on sale!! 🔥

Have you set your alarms yet?
May 1st, 8am! - russianriverrodeo.com

Don’t wait, get yours before they sell out!

04/15/2026

When crossing the street...🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑
- Stop at the Edge: Stand at the curb or the edge of the road before proceeding.
- Look Left-Right-Left: Always look left, then right, and then left again to check for oncoming traffic. Looking left twice is critical because traffic on that side is closer to you.
- Listen for Danger: Use your ears to listen for engines, sirens, or the sound of approaching bicycles and scooters that might not be immediately visible.
- Make Eye Contact: Establish eye contact with drivers to ensure they have actually seen you before you step into their path.
- Walk, Don't Run: Cross the street at a steady, quick pace. - - - - - Running increases your risk of tripping, and drivers have a harder time reacting to sudden movements.🐏
- Stay Alert While Crossing: Continue scanning for traffic in both directions until you have safely reached the other side.
- Have Camera Ready... enjoy!
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1850757612277481

04/08/2026

To all Southwest Airlines passengers and the crew who fly them- Welcome to Sonoma County!
Welcome to The Sea Ranch!!
Welcome To Sea Ranch Abalone Bay!!!

Sonoma County leaders and families turned out Tuesday to welcome Southwest Airlines as the air carrier made its inaugural flight into Charles M. Schulz-Sonom...

04/05/2026

Our latest blog is posted: Discover the Best Vacation Rental in The Sea Ranch Today!
There are places you visit… and places you feel.

The Sea Ranch is the latter. A stretch of Northern California coastline where time slows, the horizon widens, and nature quietly takes the lead. And where you stay? That makes all the difference.

If you’re searching for the best vacation rental in The Sea Ranch—one that brings together oceanfront views, comfort, and a sense of ease—you’re in exactly the right place to begin.

Experience unforgettable moments at the Best Vacation Rental in The Sea Ranch, where nature and comfort harmonize beautifully.