What to Know
- The Sea Ranch Lodge is a '60s-era Sonoma County getaway with mid-century lines and sweeping ocean views; a multi-year renovation was completed in 2023
- The lodge, which is home to a post office and store, just unveiled The Farm at the start of 2024
- Devoted to innovative farming, The Farm includes two colonies of Italian honeybees and on-site oyster mushroom composting
OUR OCEAN-ADJACENT ADVENTURES... can take on many fanciful forms, from days spent frolicking on the hot sand of a balmy destination to searching for sea glass in a hidden cove to enjoying a stroll on a sunny pier. But if you're in search of an atmospheric ocean-close overnight that boasts an unfussy and elegant style that's rife with SoCo vibes, you'll want to look to The Sea Ranch Lodge. It's a mid-century-ish gem that has stood on the Sonoma County coastline since 1968, offering guests a chance to unwind in a spot that is warm, woodsy, big-window'd, and well-porched; art and food have long been at the heart of the nature-centered experience, too. An extensive renovation, which burnished 17 rooms as well as the lodge's handsome public spaces, was completed in 2023; now The Farm, "a haven for regenerative farming practices," has made its debut.
BEEKEEPING TO CULTIVATING MUSHROOMS: Not many stay-over spots have their own farming and ranching arms, but the Sea Ranch landmark is devoted to a multi-pronged effort to bring its guests gourmet experiences that are both sustainable and forward-looking. This program includes "Regenerative Beef & Lamb Farming," where a flerd (that's a herd with both cattle and sheep) grazes outdoors throughout the calendar. The goodies in the vegetable garden grow with the foggy location in mind — a caterpillar tunnel is one intriguing addition — while a pair of Italian honeybee colonies will mark their first anniversary at the lodge in the spring of 2024. Mushroom cultivation can do well in a coastal environment, and the lodge's program involves coaxing flavorful fungi with the incorporation of composting, with used coffee grounds from the Lodge Café helping the process.
Get San Diego local news, weather forecasts, sports and lifestyle stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC San Diego newsletters.
OCEAN, FOOD, NATURE, PEACE: For more on this one-of-a-kind California idyll, which weaves together a scenic setting that brims with briny fog, fine dining, uncluttered elegance, and quietude, visit The Sea Ranch Lodge for more information.
