Sea Ranch, California

Located about 100 miles north of San Francisco, Sea Ranch is an intentional community developed in the 1960s by architect Al Boeke to demonstrate that people can inhabit a beautiful and fragile land along a wild stretch of California coast -- without destroying it. The icon of modern architecture instills in its membership an enduring commitment to "live lightly on the land" through environmental stewardship and community service. The enclave of 2,225 private homes and undeveloped lots is open to everyone via public access trails from Highway 1 or by renting a home in the community. The idyllic seaside community encompasses more than 2,200 acres of commons, 50-plus miles of trails, swimming pools, tennis courts, playgrounds and a library. Sea Ranch is also home to the 18-hole Sea Ranch Golf Links, one of the first Scottish-style links built in the western United States and one of the most picturesque courses in the country. Sea Ranch Chapel, a non-denominational work of art, is open to the public 365 days a year for prayer, meditation or reflection. Artist and architect James Hubbell combined local natural materials to create the structure, which is protected by a carefully designed native habitat. Plantings of native shrubs, trees and grasses are grown in an informal pattern to form a gateway to the chapel entry plaza. Frequent visitors to the chapel include Sea Ranch's native deer, rabbits and foxes.