In 1964 Hawaii-based Castle and Cooke purchased the 5,000-acre ranch that was to become The Sea Ranch, and in 1968, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approved The Sea Ranch for development. Today, The Sea Ranch consists of 10 miles of coastline between Stewarts Point and the Mendocino County line.  It's bounded on the north and east by the South Fork of the Gualala River and to the west by the rugged coastline of the Pacific Ocean. The Sea Ranch features beaches and ocean bluffs, redwood forests, recreation centers with pools and tennis, a private airstrip, championship-length 18-hole golf links, and several points for limited public access to the ocean.

Approximately 90 miles north of San Francisco, traveling by auto takes about 3 hours, the last hour of which is filled with sweeping vistas, charming places to stop, and sometimes even cows grazing on the county road.  Most people make the trip by car, but flying in is an option, with a briefing for the private airstrip available on The Sea Ranch Association Web site.

The weather can be changeable along the rugged Northern California Coast.  It's always "fresh" with an ocean breeze and pure air.  Except for the very occasional heat wave when the Coast reaches 85 degrees, temperatures are very moderate, ranging around 55-65 degrees near the shore, and warmer up on the ridges of the hills.  Summertime can be cool when fog rolls in or the off-shore winds pick up.  Layered clothing is best, and be sure to bring a warm jacket and long pants.  And don't forget the comfortable shoes, because you'll have a lot of exploring to do.  Sunglasses and a hat are a good idea too, as the climate is generally quite sunny.  In the winter, add rain gear, in case we get the sunshine in liquid form!

To check on the ocean diving conditions during abalone season, check http://www.saltpointoceanconditions.com/.  It is maintained by the lifeguards on duty at Salt Point, and they have a good opportunity to observe conditions with an expert eye.