Wake up to the soothing sound of ocean waves at this four-bedroom Gualala retreat, an oceanfront home with a spectacular bluff-top position, a beautiful dog-friendly interior, and panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean from its private balconies, sunrooms, and hot tub.

Perched atop the iconic bluffs of the Northern California Coast, this two-level home sits two blocks west of an incredible stretch of California Highway 1. You'll be half a mile north of the charming galleries, markets, and restaurants in downtown Gualala; two miles south of Cooks Beach; and two miles north of Gualala Point Regional Park and the Sea Ranch Golf Links.

Comfortable, welcoming, and bathed in sunlight, this home is ideal for fun-filled summer vacations and quiet family holidays. You'll find plush seating and breathtaking views everywhere you look, whether you curl up on the sectional sofa with a book, set up a board game in the window seat, or turn on the sound dock and warm your toes by the wood-burning fireplace (logs are even provided).

Use the telescope to scan the horizon for whale spouts each morning and head into town to pick up a few breakfast fixings at the Surf Market. Back at home, you'll have a well-equipped full kitchen with a stainless steel refrigerator, specialty tools such as a coffee grinder, and a dishwasher to make clean-up fast and easy.

Sit down with pancakes, eggs, and the morning newspaper at the eight-person dining room table, or feel the warmth of the sunshine as you eat at the glassed-in patio table. Turn on the slow-cooker to get a head start on dinner, use the WiFi to plan the day's adventures, and grab your clean clothes from the washer/dryer as you head outside for the day.

Spend your afternoons walking in the sand on Cooks Beach, watching the harbor seals play near Gualala Point Regional Park, or wheeling the gas grill out of the garage for a barbecue on the deck. One adult dog is even welcome to join you here, but please be advised that he or she is not allowed on the furniture or to be unattended inside the home, and that a small nightly pet fee applies.

As the evening fog begins to roll in, there's no better time to enjoy the warmth of the private hot tub, which overlooks the ocean in a glass solarium. Spend the rest of the evening playing Wii with your children in the downstairs game room, choosing DVDs and videos to watch on the living room flatscreen TV, or staging a true cinematic experience on the Blu-ray with 3D capability.

At night, Windswept will accommodate as many as 12 guests in its four bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms. The master suite has floor-to-ceiling windows that face the ocean, as well as a king-size bed, a private fireplace, a flatscreen cable TV, and a bathroom that connects to the solarium with a soaking tub and a stall shower. Two bedrooms offer a queen-size bed each, while the fourth has two queen-size beds. The futon in the game room also folds out into a full-size bed.

Whether you're a beachcomber or a wildlife enthusiast, Gualala is perfectly positioned to help you escape the bustle of everyday life. Gorgeously secluded on the southern border of Mendocino County, this small town is surrounded by ocean cliffs, wild beaches, and hiking trails that meander through open meadows and redwood forests.

Take a morning walk at Cooks Beach before heading 18 miles north to see the stunningly situated Point Arena Lighthouse. Tee off among the oceanfront cypress trees at the Sea Ranch Golf Links, go whale-watching in Gualala Point Regional Park, or spend a day exploring the public access trails to Shell Beach and Stengel Beach in Sea Ranch to the south. You'll also be in a perfect spot to pick up a custom pie from Upper Crust Pizzeria on your way back home.

The striking beauty of the Northern California Coast is all around you - reserve your stay at this Gualala vacation home today!