Mendocino Stone Ranch sits on 30 acres of quiet Mendocino County land near Gualala, offering two distinct places to stay plus something you won’t find at typical vacation rentals—over 30 stone masonry art installations scattered across the property and connected by trails. If you’re staying with your dog, you have two options. The Redwood Stone Art Retreat is a five-bedroom, two-bathroom home with a sprawling patio and deck that overlooks a working redwood forest. It’s the kind of place where you can watch the trees while drinking coffee in the morning, and your dog can explore the grounds without feeling hemmed in. The Yurt is smaller and more intimate, offering ocean views and a quieter, more secluded experience if you’re looking to really step back.

What makes this place different is the art. Local and international artisans have created these stone installations over time, and they’re genuinely interesting to walk past—not the kind of thing you’d normally see at a ranch. The trails linking them are dog-friendly, and you can either pick up a self-guided map for a small fee or join a guided tour on the first Sunday of each month from 11 am to 1 pm (those operate on a sliding-scale donation basis). Your dog is welcome on both types of tours as long they’re leashed and well-behaved.

Both rental properties allow dogs for an additional pet fee. The whole setup is designed around actually spending time in nature rather than just looking at it from a window. Bring comfortable walking shoes and plan to spend a few hours exploring the property on foot—that’s really where the experience lives, especially if you have a dog who enjoys hiking through forests and discovering odd, beautiful things along the way.