Gualala Vacation Rentals

Gualala, a 3 hour drive north of San Francisco, but oh so remote:
Pronounced Gualala or “Walalla”, like the natives do. It comes from the Pomo Indian word meaning “where the water comes down”. Gualala lies within the “Banana Belt”, a nearly fogless micro-climate involving about five miles of coastline from Gualala thru Anchor Bay. When the marine layer of fog blankets the coastline, to the north and south, Gualala often basks under clear blue skies watching the huge bank of fog offshore.
The village of Gualala lies at the southernmost edge of Mendocino County along Shoreline Highway One and perches on the bluffs overlooking the Gualala River and the Pacific Ocean beyond. Just ¼ mile east of Highway One is the magnificent Gualala Arts Center, which hosts ongoing art openings and exhibits, concerts and live theatrical productions, lectures, classes and both arts-related & community events. Pick up a print at Gualala’s prestigious Art in the Redwoods Festival (a mid August weekend) or get behind the scenes at the Studio Discovery Tour for a peek into the working spaces of nearly 50 North Coast artists (first & second weekend of September).
The beautiful Gualala River runs to the sea right in front of the village, and is home to river otter, osprey, egret, heron, sea lions and many varieties of flora. Along the coast you can frequently sight migrating whales. The Gualala Bluff Trail is right in town providing great views of both the river mouth and ocean, especially at sunset.
Within a few miles north and south lay seaside parks, historic haunts, pastoral scenery and and places to sample products from gourmet kitchens and from the studios of local artists. To the south, within an hour’s drive, is Ft. Ross State Park, the reconstructed site of the original Russian fur trappers and settlers. Closer is Salt Point State Park with numerous points of access to the rugged and beautiful coast for hikers, picnickers and abalone fisherman. The Sea Ranch, a ten mile stretch of unique architecture and seaside community has a chapel well worth seeing near the highway approximately 3 miles south of Gualala.
To the north of Gualala are 4-5 “pocket beaches” nestled down among the rugged rocks in hidden coves with paths leading to them and with names like Schooner’s Gulch, Bowling Ball beach, Bourns Landing & St. Orres Creek Beach. Eight miles north is the quaint town of Point Arena with galleries of local art, Point Arena pier and the famed Point Arena Lighthouse, tallest on the California coast. Don’t forget the well known village of Mendocino, one hour’s drive north, with its iconic placement on an ocean bluff, its famous movie history in Hitchcock’s “The Birds” and the galleries, shops and turn-of-the-century architecture.
Gualala is remote, yet in the heart of the California North Coast. You’ll find it sunny and scenic with lots to see and do.