How to Spend 3 Days in Sea Ranch, California
Originally published January 2024. Last updated January 7, 2026.
I live in San Francisco and whenever I need a break from the city, I almost always head north. As a hiker and cyclist, I love the nature and outdoors activities available in Marin, Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, and beyond—not to mention, there are also some pretty great restaurants and hotels in the area too.
But when winter rolls around, I’m often craving something a bit more low-key; a weekend getaway with a travel itinerary that leaves plenty of room for reading and relaxing. This getaway delivers just that. Read on for a relaxing, 48-hour travel itinerary in Sea Ranch, California, a small vacation community on the Mendocino Coast known for its architecture and nature.
Psst: although I wrote this with winter in mind, this itinerary works any time of the year :)
Quick Overview: Sea Ranch Itinerary
Day 1: Lunch at Nick’s Cove in Tomales Bay; end at Sea Ranch Lodge
Day 2: Relax and explore Sea Ranch, then take an afternoon drive to Point Arena, dinner at Gama
Day 3: Hike in Salt Point State Park and depart back to San Francisco
>> Download the Google Map guide: Get access to a custom Google Map List with all of the places mentioned in this weekend getaway guide—along with tips and notes—pinned to your map for easy on-the-go-access.
Day 1: Drive north and stop for seafood in Tomales Bay
Start your getaway from San Francisco or the Bay Area, and leave early so you can take the (slightly longer) route up Highway 1. Although most visitors stick to driving the Pacific Coast Highway portion of Highway 1—which runs from San Diego to San Francisco—the north of the city to the Oregon border delivers much of the same beautiful, dramatic, coastal scenery. In other words: it’s a scenic drive worth the detour.
Stop at Nick’s Cove for lunch
Break up your drive with a lunch pitstop in the Point Reyes / Tomales Bay area at Nick’s Cove. Although today it’s a restaurant and hotel, it got its start in the 1930s as a herring smokehouse and curing facility. Eventually, it evolved into a seafood shack and bar.
In 2023, Nick’s Cove brought on celebrity chef Chris Cosentino to revamp the menu, with delicious results. Drawing from both the rich natural bounty of Tomales Bay, and his New England roots, diners can now expect a menu of excellently executed seafood classics like fresh oysters, crab louie salad, and (according to my born-in-Boston husband) the best lobster roll west of the Mississippi.
In January 2024, the iconic boat shack at the end of Nick’s Cove’s pier burned down. After much anticipation, though, the shack is back and open for visitors as of late 2025. If you happen to catch a sunny day, it’s an excellent spot for a drink and a plate of oysters while enjoying views of the bay.
Catch sunset at Sea Ranch Lodge
After a filling and leisurely lunch, continue the rest of the drive up the coast to Sea Ranch, where you’ll check in to either a vacation rental or the 17-room Sea Ranch Lodge. This small, intentional vacation community, located on California’s rugged Mendocino Coast, has long been one of the area’s best-kept secrets.
Sea Ranch was initially developed in 1963 by Lawrence Halprin as a planned community with a unique ethos and distinct aesthetic. From the start, it emphasized minimal alteration of the coastal landscape while employing modernist architectural styles. Since then, more than 1,800 homes have been built, each blending beautifully into their tranquil surroundings with aged wood exteriors, large bay windows, and low-slung designs.
Although most visitors opt to stay in one of the vacation homes within the community, there is also a design-forward lodge with a post office and restaurant that serves as a hub in this remote coastal corner. The lodge completed its final round of renovations in July 2023 and is a welcome option for smaller groups who may not want to rent an entire house for their stay.
Tip: Try to arrive before sunset so you can enjoy a true sundowner with unobstructed coastal views on the lodge’s patio before heading in for dinner at the restaurant (the appetizers are the star) or a more casual meal at the bar.
>> Related: Read my full review of The Sea Ranch Lodge
Dinner at the Lodge or your rental
There’s not much else around Sea Ranch besides the community and Lodge—but that’s the point. Rather than spend more time driving after what’s already been a long-ish drive, treat yourself to dinner at the Lodge or your vacation rental. Guests at the newly reopened Sea Ranch Lodge will likely opt for the first option since rooms don’t have a kitchenette (only a mini fridge, kettle, and coffee set up). Personally, my favorite dishes were from the appetizer side of the menu, such as the mushroom bucatini. Order a few and share, family style, with your crew.
Day 2: Explore Sea Ranch and Point Arena
Start your second day leisurely: Grab breakfast at the lodge, make coffee, and (if it’s a Saturday) join for a session of community yoga. If that’s not your thing, take your coffee to go and take an easy, coastal hike on Sea Ranch’s trails as the fog rolls out, or play a round of golf at the their golf course, The Sea Ranch Links. Whatever you choose, this is your time to slowly enjoy Sea Ranch and its surrounds, which is kind of the whole point of taking a getaway here.
Head out on a mini-road trip to Point Arena
Once you’ve gotten your fill of the slow life, hop in the car to explore north of the community. You’ll be driving about an hour north, with plenty of pit stops in between, including:
See The Sea Ranch Cathedral: One of the most iconic landmarks of the Sea Ranch community, it’s worth a quick stop to see this quirky attraction, most notable for its unique shape and history.
Eat lunch at Trink’s in Gualala: If you haven’t already eaten lunch, the town of Gualala a good place to stop. Trink’s Cafe is a solid choice for sandwiches and classic diner breakfast options. There is also a gas station here.
Hike on Pelican Bluffs: If you need to stretch your legs, take an easy 1-mile long walk on this dramatic stretch of coast.
Visit Point Arena lighthouse: Stop for a quick tour of this historic lighthouse, which also happens to be an excellent place to watch for migrating whales December through February.
Eat dinner at Gama in Point Arena: End in time for dinner at Gama (opens at 5pm), a Japanese-style izakaya and sushi spot—and easily one of the best meals along this stretch of coast. Of all the stops on this mini road-trip, this is the one you won’t want to skip. If you get to town a bit early, grab a drink at The Record (opens at 3pm), a nautical bar and restaurant with a solid selection of beers, wines, and non-alcoholic mocktails.
Tip: Highway 1 is winding and very dark after sunset, so make sure your DD is comfortable with the one-hour drive back to Sea Ranch after dinner.
Day 3: Depart + hike in Salt Point State Park
Embrace a slow start to your day once again. Grab breakfast at the lodge, get that second cup of coffee and crack open your book, and stroll along the bluffs before you pack up and check out. Once on the road, plan to make your first stop just a few minutes south of Sea Ranch at Salt Point State Park. Here, you can either take it easy with a stroll down to Stump Beach, or opt for a longer hike like the 3.4 mile trail along the coast and down to Stump Beach or the 4.5 mile Pygmy Forest Trail.
After, continue another 10 minutes to Timber Cove, a coastal hotel with a casual restaurant open to non-guests. The beer is cold and coastal views are enjoyable but to be totally honest, the food is just fine. If you can hold out a little longer, it’s worth the wait to make the longer, 1-hour drive south to Jenner for coffee and sandwiches at locally-loved Cafe Aquatica. If you’re lucky, there might just be a bit of live music playing as you watch the kayakers in the Bay.
Additional tips
This area of the coast can get pretty foggy and wet, so be sure to bring appropriate shoes and a rain jacket for the weather—even in (especially in) the summer. Reception can be spotty in places, so I’d also recommend downloading the region’s map on your phone before you leave.
Note as well that while this area is fairly under-the-radar, it’s still popular enough among “those who know” to warrant booking well in advance, especially if you’re planning a trip for a holiday weekend.
📍Save all of these recs as a Google Map List
Save time adding all of these Sea Ranch recommendations to your Google Map—I’ve already done it for you!
This Sea Ranch Google Map includes 30+ places pinned along the drive from San Francisco to Sea Ranch including:
The best restaurants and cafes near Sea Ranch
Pit-stop recommendations for your drive up
Attractions and things to do while you’re in Sea Ranch
Notes for each place
Simply download, open, and see all of these spots starred on Google Maps.
