WHERE: The Sea Ranch, Sonoma County, Calif.

WHAT: From birth in 1965, Sea Ranch, 110 miles north of San Francisco near Gualala, has been a utopian experiment: top-drawer architects building low-key homes — and a 20-room lodge — in harmony with a 10-mile stretch of rugged Northern California coast.

The Sea Ranch is noted for its distinctive architecture, which consists of simple, weathered wood structures. The majority of the buildings are large, fully furnished rental houses. The architecture is postmodern vernacular in the Bay Area tradition, commonly referred to as "Sea Ranch" style.

Rather than structures dominating the landscape, buildings are merged into the landscape with the intention of harmonious coexistence with nature. Local building codes include various design guidelines such as exteriors of unpainted wood, a lack of overhanging eaves, and baffles on exterior lighting.

Most homes at The Sea Ranch do not have lawns or fences. All public landscaping must use native plants. A herd of sheep is used to keep grass low to the ground to reduce the threat of fire during the summer months. Fences, lawns and ostentation are banned (although the chapel is pretty wild), allowing the landscape to prevail. About 1,800 homes stand in the 3,500-acre community.

Hike along coastal trails, bike, ride a horse, play the resort's links-style golf course or kayak on the Gualala River.

OF SPECIAL INTEREST: Condominium One (completed in 1965) was awarded the American Institute of Architects 25-Year Award in 1991, and was added to The National Register of Historic Places in 2005.

WHERE TO STAY: Rooms at the 20-unit Sea Ranch Lodge — which don't come with pool and tennis-court access — run $169 to $395 nightly, 800-732-7262, www.searanchlodge.com.

Six agencies handle rental houses, at rates of about $170 to $715 nightly (taxes and cleaning fees included, two-night minimum):

Rams Head Realty & Rentals, 800-785-3455; Coasting Home, 800-773-8648; Ocean View Properties, 707-884-3538; Sea Ranch Escape Vacation Home Rentals, 888-732-7262; Sea Ranch Vacation Rentals, 800-643-8899; and Beach Rentals, 707-884-4235.

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