For those of you wondering about us, I'm Donna Martinez and along with my husband, Jorge Martinez, we are owners of Sea Ranch vacation rental  Abalone Bay Vacation Home. It is my greatest pleasure to host you and others to our home. We have offered our second home to guests as a vacation rental since 2013.

Our Love Affair With Mendonoma 

We have always had a love affair with the "Mendonoma Coast", otherwise known as the coastline from Sonoma County to Mendocino County. It is here we would come to dive for abalone or fish for cod and salmon to later enjoy feasting on our catch with family and friends.

In fact, it was in the waters just outside our home that we found the 10” abalone that became the inspiration for the naming of our home: "Abalone Bay."

Assuring Your Visit Is Wonderful

I love not only Sea Ranch but also all of Sonoma and the Mendocino coast. So to be better equipped to share that love with you, in 2018 I became a Sonoma County Certified Tourism Ambassador. More recently in 2020 I became an Accredited Hospitality Professional. The classes covered key areas of Sonoma County and its hospitality economy.  I gained a greater understanding of the power of tourism; customer service and visitor safety; wineries and AVAs; natural environment and sustainability; and art, history and culture. My goal  in turn is to assure every visitor encounter is a positive experience.  I look forward to helping you, our visitors, to learn more about our wonderful location. More importantly, it is our hope you  love it as much as my family and I do.

On the Road Again...

One constant fact about us is we love to travel far and wide. We've done so mostly for work as USA ex-pats but we also enjoy exploring new places on holiday.  In fact, when people ask where am I from, my first inclination is to respond, "Which time?

Always on the the road

Ever since my first spark of life I've been on the road. Conceived in Panama, born in Virginia, and raised on the road as my military dad moved us on to the next base, my concept of community has always been fluid and self-created. It was a skill Mom imparted to all of us.

Though an Army nurse by training, in reality she was more the lead officer of our familial CBs (Construction Battalion). No matter where we landed, she immediately transformed any house into our old familiar home and built connections into the community. Then when it was time to leave, she was able to break it all down and do it again.

It's a pattern I have replicated over the last 40+ years of married life with my international construction engineer husband.

Sea Ranch Becomes our Anchor Point

We purchased Abalone Bay originally to become our retirement residence while living in Santiago, Chile where Jorge was working. It was our intention to leave Chile and live happily ever after there.  We did actually stay there for 3 joyful months when  we returned to the USA. But then we  moved again to stay in Fairfax County, Virginia for two years, after which we returned to Sonoma County. But this time, not to reside in Sea Ranch. Rather, I now call Windsor our home, and Sea Ranch, my shared little jewel box.

Return to  Home No Matter Where We Roam

Other places we have been to include Spain, our family’s homeland; Colombia, the birthplace of my son; Peru to visit Machu Picchu; Budapest, Hungary; Paris, and the Bahamas.

However,  no matter where we roam,  one constant about us is we always return home to Sea Ranch.  Settling back in the Adirondack chairs, wine glasses in hand. We love relaxing and recalling the good times. Naturally, that includes debating who among us caught the biggest fish over the years. And of course, it includes recalling the nuances of our abalone and paella recipes that make it uniquely our own.

Meet Our Dog(s)

When we purchased Abalone Bay, we had two dogs, a Maltese, Samson (Sammy), and a Vizsla, Ana Kissed by Rose Can d'Ijuma (or just Ana). 

Sammy, who crossed the rainbow bridge in 2022, was the king of the house.

Ana has always been our beauty queen having won Junior Champion of Chile. When Ana is not in dog shows she's hunting with Jorge, or giving full-face licks of love to our son,  Andy. So, of course, our home is pet-friendly.

A Bit More about Donna and Jorge

Prior to becoming a host to guests staying at Abalone Bay, I was a special education teacher. I received my doctorate in education from The George Washington University, during which I served as Director of The HEATH Resource Center. While living in Chile I served as a consultant for various disability support foundations in Santiago, Chile.