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You are here: Home / Things to do / Rainy Day Activities at Sea Ranch Abalone Bay Vacation Rental

Rainy Day Activities at Sea Ranch Abalone Bay Vacation Rental

September 8, 2023 by Donna Martinez 11 Comments

What To Do If It Rains During Vacation?  

Lone woman with red umbrella is standing in the rain watching the sea

When it rains at Sea Ranch while on vacation all is not lost.

 Summer Rain 

The 2023 summer’s hurricanes means we no longer suffer a drought giving us great cause to celebrate rainy days. The map of California  below shows our current statewide precipitation statistics as of September 2023.

California Precipitation as of 09/07/2023
 
 

Winter Rain

But now we’re alerted that this coming 2023-2024 winter’s El Niño weather is expected to belt The Sea Ranch coast a good one too!
 
The peak influence of this El Niño event is anticipated for the winter December-February period. It could result in more frequent and intense storms, rainfall and high wave conditions on the California coast.  With what promises to be non-stop rains with added winds, our coast and vacation plans may take quite a blow.
 
But the good news is our drought is over 🤗…for now.
 

Climate Change Means We Must Adapt

Rainy days are not a sure thing in California. Unfortunately, annual precipitation can vary greatly from year to year and region to region. Climate change as a causal effect on our weather changes the amount of rain and snow we get. Reservoir levels, which receive water from melting snowpack, have been impaired over the years by a declining snowpack.

As can be seen in the NASA photos below that show the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California where much of our stored water comes, our snowpack is not guaranteed. The images below compare the snowpack from March 3, 2006, to March 30, 2021.

Therefore, we must adapt and adopt conservation as a way of life to make the most out of our limited water supplies across the state.

https://searanchabalonebay.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/sierrawocanim_tmo_202189.mp4
 
 

Rainy Day Worries Be Gone!

 

But what if that blessed rain happens to fall while you have booked a week at Abalone Bay 😳?

So Many Rainy Day Activities to Select

Don’t let rainy days at Abalone Bay get you down! You need not fret or let the rain spoil your dream vacation at the coast. Instead choose among these rainy day activities to make the most of a rain-drenched holiday.

Below are our recommendations for enjoying a rainy day at Sea Ranch Abalone Bay.

1. Celebrate the rain!

For those of us counting on the rain to nourish our plants, help squash the threat of fire, and provide sufficient water to refill our hot tubs, we do the happy dance.  

holding cup of tea, bare feet on ottoman watching rain on window in The Sea Ranch
Celebrating the rain with a cuppa 

That’s right, we celebrate! This is our favorite of all the rainy day activities.

So take a glass and fill it with the complimentary wine we set out for you upon your arrival and as you watch the meadow grasses turn from dusty brown to a luscious green, toast to Sea Ranch’s good luck for having a bit of that sorely needed and nourishing wetness.

Clear tray etched with Abalone Bay, The Sea Ranch, CA holds 2 wine glasses with white wine, red grapes and 2 crackers one with cheese. Red napkin near by
A welcome bottle of wine and a small bag of locally roasted coffee greats every visitor at Abalone Bay

 2. Snuggle and cuddle and make it romantic 

  • Turn the lights down low,
  • Put on a romantic tune found in our TV’s Music Apps
  • Select a romantic movie  whether its a DVD or from the TV networks, Netflix, or other available apps
  • Take out a warm cozy throw and wrap it around you and then…

rumbled bed meme "let's cuddle on a rainy day, watch old movies and make out"

3. Read a good book

If you did not pack a vacation novel then please help yourselves to one of ours in the bookcase.

Book titled Sea Ranch on bed

Pictured above is our copy of Sea Ranch~”The blazing saga of a proud California dynasty, battling ruthless enemies to survive, consumed by secret passions from within.”

We also have books on the history and development of Sea Ranch as well as everything you need to know about Abalone.

For the children there are leveled readers and young reader books on our natural, and now wet world.

Or visit Sea Ranch’s Free Children’s Library once the sun comes out.
young girl reading book sitting on a bench next to the free library

4. Journal or draw on a rainy day

Let the rain inspire great art projects for you and your children. Watercolor pencils, coloring book pages, and paper are available for rainy day artworks. 

art pencil and book

Take-home pocket journals provide all a mini-diary of how everyone made the best out of a wet day.

table with art pencils, journaling books and sketch pad

5. Play board and card games

Father and son play dice on ottoman's tray in game room, chess game is set up next to them

Added to Abalone Bay is our new game room, a favorite hang out for Jorge and our son, Andy. We really enjoy the fact that the tops of the two leather ottomans can flip over to provide a wooden tray perfect for a rowdy dice game, chess, or a couple of drinks. 

There’s plenty of card games, board games and other activities available too.


cribbage game board at Sea Ranch Abalone Bay

Gather the group together for a rousing game of Bingo. 

Bingo and Scrabble in the game room

Or challenge a loved one in a game of Scrabble, chess, or another of the board games we have stored for you in the game room. 

And if the lights go out we have you covered with plenty of battery-operated candles as we used to light our playing area one stormy day a few years ago.

Jorge and I play Scrabble by candlelight 

6. Solve puzzels

Select from a great assortment of jigsaw puzzles and make it a team activity as you enjoy the newly added game room

7. Build a blanket fort

And if the little ones (or big ones) need a special activity while the lights go out, feel free to build a blanket fort! We provide plenty of extra blankets and flashlights to make your lights-out adventure a memorable one.

Child reading book in bed under covers, blanket fort

8. Bake a rainy day treat

Abalone Bay’s well-equipped kitchen has just about every cooking appliance and tool need for a rainy day bake-a-thon. We also have cookbooks including some for children if needed. Gualala Market or Surf Market are great resources for any missing ingredients needed to make those chocolate chip or snickerdoodle cookies.

Click here to find recipes for Toll House chocolate chip cookies.

Chocolate chip cookies
Chocolate chip cookies on a rainy day–yum!

Bake a Traditional Bundt Cake 

Kitchen appliances on shelves, traditional and octopus form bundt pans on wall, next to picture window out to courtyard and small 3 tiered shelf under window.
Many small appliances and two bundt pans 

Our first bundt pan was actually gifted to us by a guest who, not wanting to bother us for one, gifted a traditional pan as a thank you for sharing our home with her and her family.

She also provided us with her favorite recipe inscribed in our Guest Book below that she prepared for their family celebration while at Sea Ranch Abalone Bay.

Bundt cake recipe given to us by a guest Winemakers’ Sherry Bundt Cake *Bundt Pan *1 Box yellow cake mix *1 packet (about 3oz) instant vanilla pudding *4 eggs *¾ C oil (Canola) *¾ C Sherry 🍷 *1 tsp Nutmeg 1. Blend all ingredients well. 2. Pour into greased and floured pan 2. Bake 350ºF 40-50 minutes. She adds: "I suggest you glaze it with your favorite glaze made with a wee bit more sherry🍷 for fun!"

How About an Octopus for Dessert?

Since then we’ve added another bundt pan in the shape of a friendly octopus. We’re so pleased that guests have had fun with it too!

From a guest’s review of Abalone Bay, September 2023:

I love to cook but seldom can in rentals. At this rental I found everything I needed and more. There was even an octopus mold which we had to use. It was a blast! There are great stores nearby in Gualala, so don’t worry about ingredients.

octopus bundt pan and cake
Successful extraction

9. Surf the internet

 Plugin your computer or iPad or other electronic device using our free WiFi then explore the world wide web. Or perhaps Skype with your friends and relatives sharing what a terrific place Abalone Bay is.  Abalone Bay provides multiple locations perfect for working or studying remotely with internet strength of up to 1 Gig. Our internet service offers the fastest connection available with over 900 Mbps upload and download speeds (average speeds are around 920 Mbps). But we must also add we warn against any illegal downloading during your stay.

Jorge’s favorite remote work location is at the desk strategically placed for stealing a moment to check for whales or deer passing by.

man looking through binoculars to ocean while working with computer on desk

Jorge also enjoys using the Laptop Stand, our Minder by obVus Solutions. 

Game Room workplace options

The game room with its sliding barn door provides a table with four chairs plus a wheeled computer tray table that can be moved to other locations in the house. 

 

Game room overall view

10. Jump into the hot tub

Why not jump into the hot tub while it’s raining? You’ll be wet anyway and this way you’ll be toasty warm while doing it!

family in hot tub in the rain
Our favorite rainy day activity

And now the run back into the house is a bit shorter!  You’ll enjoy the added access to the courtyard and hot tub with the addition of a sliding glass door into the principal bedroom.

hot tub at Abalone Bay vacation rental

 11. Take a walk in the rain

Rainy days,Sea Ranch Oceanfront, Abalone Bay, rainy day activities
Take a walk along the oceanfront trails

With 40 miles of trails in the Sea Ranch including the coastal bluff trail that is right outside Abalone Bay, what better way to enjoy the rain than to take a walk in it?  

Get lost in the dream-like ethereal presence of the coastal views.

Wispy Coastal fog in a cove at Sea Ranch
Wispy Coastal fog

Breathe in deep the wonderful smells of the moist meadow and the salty ocean spray splashing up in the air.

Raindrops, dew on meadow grass with high ocean waves in the background
Raindrop jewels

Listen to the crashing of the waves upon the rocks below as it breaks the hush around it.

High waves along The Sea Ranch Coast

 But do be careful in case the rain includes lightning. I was at the house a few years ago and was lucky to witness the electrical storm captured by Paul Kozal dancing across the horizon.

Lightening by Paul Kozal
Lightening by Paul Kozal

12. Challenge your partner to a game of table tennis

Man of Chinese descent, young man with Down syndrome and his father (Caucasian)play ping pong in the garage
Jorge and our son Andy take on friend, Doug

You say Ping Pong, I say Table Tennis… If you need to burn off some steam why not challenge each other to a game in the garage! Best thing is with the garage door down it morphs into a hybrid of racket ball and table tennis.

At least you don’t have to go far to find the ball. And if you DO lose there are extra balls (just let us know to replace them for the next guests).

4 paddles and 6 balls plus directions on setting up the Joola ping pong tabletab

 13.  Enjoy rainbows over Sea Ranch

This remarkable double rainbow was viewed from Abalone Bay’s front yard.

rainy day activities, Abalone Bay, Sea Ranch, oceanfront, vacation rental

Rainbows over the coast are another treasure that rainy days bring.

Rainbow over Sea RAnch

14. Visit Gualala and the Gualala Arts Center

Gualala’s community arts organization, located in Gualala, California, is dedicated to promoting public interest and participation in the arts since 1961. Here you can find art exhibits, workshops & classes, classical & popular music performances, theater, lectures and much more. Visit their Events Calendar for a complete listing of events, exhibits, and festivals. 

15. Go to an historic theater 

If you find there are no movies to your liking on TV or in our DVD collection, then drive about 15 minutes north to Point Arena and catch a movie at the Arena Theater. Built next to the burned remains of Scott’s Opera House, Arena Theater opened in 1929 as a vaudeville playhouse. In 1930 it was equipped for showing motion pictures, however after many years of service to the community, in 1995 it was condemned for structural shortcomings. The non-profit community group, Arena Renaissance Company, rallied to the cause of earth-quake retrofitting by rewiring and otherwise restoring all aspects of the building to modern standards. In 1997, through the tremendous fundraising efforts and coordination by ARC, our community of builders, organizers, artists, generous financial contributors, and volunteer workers of all skill levels, rebuilt the theater into the extraordinary gem it is today.

 

16. Tour the Point Arena Lighthouse

view of the ocean with gray skies stormy skies from the light house

A little further north you will love visiting the Point Arena Lighthouse. Climb to the top of the tallest Pacific Coast lighthouse as keeps have done for over 100 years. Then be sure to access the balcony for one of the best views on the entire Pacific Coast. Admission includes access to the renovated Fog Signal Building – the new home of the First Order Fresnel lens and a trip to the top of the tower. The hours for the Point Arena Lighthouse and Store are 10:00 am to 3:30 pm every day in Winter and until 4:30 between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend. The lighthouse is closed Thanksgiving Day & Christmas Day Only.

Just Simply Enjoy the Rain

No matter which of these rainy day activities you select during your visit to Abalone Bay be sure to be thankful that it is indeed raining, and with luck, our California drought will be relieved.

toasting to sea ranch

Book Now!

Filed Under: Abalone Bay Love, Holidays, Kid friendly, Things to do, Vacation Tips, What to do if it rains, What to do if it rains during vacation Tagged With: Abalone Bay, conserve water, homeschool, rain, Rainy Days at Sea Ranch, rainy-day, remote work, save water, Sea Ranch, vacation plans, vacation rental, water conservation, What to do on rainy days in Sea Ranch, where to work remotely

About Donna Martinez

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Comments

  1. Donna says

    July 4, 2014 at 8:20 pm

    Happy 4th of July Paola and thank you so much for the lovely comment! Given we use a property management company to book our guests I do not always know who has stayed with us. Have you visited our home recently? Are you aware we also have quite a lovely group of fans on our FaceBook page: http://www.facebook.com/SeaRanchAbaloneBayVacationHome I hope you join us there as well.

    Reply
  2. Paola says

    July 5, 2014 at 12:00 am

    🙂 I wish I had been there…..a heaven just by looking at the photos Donna..:-) I hope one day I can come and see stay there….

    Reply
  3. Donna says

    July 5, 2014 at 12:15 am

    We look forward to your visit and hope it will be soon. Please note that September 1 we will be releasing our 2015 calendar just in case you might be able to visit with us next year. In the meantime come on over to FB and hang out with us there ;-}
    Book here: https://searanchabalonebay.com/book-now

    Reply

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