My Favorite Airbnb in Sea Ranch, CA: An Architecturally Impressive Forest Retreat with a Fire Pit and Hot Tub

Rocky outcrops appeared in the sea as we drove down the winding highway that traces the northern California coast. Previous trips had taken me to Sonoma County’s spectacular scenery, to coastal towns like Jenner and Bodega, but there was always a reason to return. This time my partner and I were heading to an Airbnb Sea Ranch in the far north of the county.

A vision of architect Al Boeke, the core design philosophy of this community focused on 1960s architecture is to live in the landscape caring for the land. The approach itself looks like a painting, with tall redwoods to the right, cypress-fringed cliffs to the left, and rolling meadows in between. Once you exit the highway, you immediately know you’ve reached Sea Ranch when homes with the community’s distinctive wood siding begin to appear in the meadows.

Invited by T2 Airbnb Sea Ranch House for one stay, we followed the winding driveway until the redwoods engulfed us completely. The house was warm as we entered the bright living room centered around a Morso wood burning stove. Built in the 1970s, the cabin has been updated with carefully detailed design touches – I even recognized the sculptural bentwood art by artist Katie Gong that hung in the dining area.

Greeted by the hosts with a warm message upon arrival, they shared their list of local restaurants, hikes and beaches to discover – I knew we were in good hands. After seeing numerous posts on my Instagram feed of this swoon-worthy cabin, I was eager to see how it would feel in person. Somewhere between slipping into the hot tub under the night sky and enjoying a crisp glass of local Sonoma Sauvignon Blanc by the outdoor fireplace, I realized this place was even better than I had imagined when I visited it. bookmarked on my phone.

Installed in space, we explored every corner of the cabin with a little more pause. The bedroom (with a teddy caspar mattress) facing the redwoods, providing a portal to nature every time we open the sliding glass door to the expansive deck and garden that merge into the forest. A Nespresso machine in the fully equipped kitchen made it easy to grab a quick coffee whipping around outside and enjoying the morning rays that made their way through the branches. In the late afternoon, we flipped through the selection of vinyl records, bookmarking our favorites for each night. Is there a sound more beautiful than a crackling fire and a Billy Joel record spinning?

While some nights I ran dinner at the Airbnb, it was thanks to a tip from our Airbnb host that we headed to the Sea Ranch Lodge for a bite. Recently and quite nicely renovated, the Lodge has become a kind of base camp for our meals and our activities. We went down one evening for a pre-dinner drink and the golden sunset over the Pacific turned into a pleasantly enjoyed meal, browsing through bright but hearty dishes like a ribeye of lamb served with a gremolata with fresh parsley and mint.