“OK, OK, would you rather live poor and with coastal views for your entire life, or live rich but in like, Iowa?”

“I don’t know, it’s hard to imagine a poor life exists if you’re watching the sun set over the Pacific every evening.”

This California roadtrip edition of “Would You Rather” seems to always be on the agenda for us — this time, a question evolved from chatting with Stewart Point’s Twofish Baking Company staff, who casually noted that the generational wealth dilemma dotting the northern Sonoma coast can at times have a deathgrip on lifelong residents. As it would — the meandering Highway 1 acts as a subtle hypnosis, ever so slowly winding you into deep thoughts of what sacrifices, if any, it would take to live here forever.

To further entertain this hypothetical scenario, we recently opted to indulge in a weekend at the Timber Cove Hideaway, a modern rustic cabin smack in the middle of the Sonoma Coast redwood forest — and with ocean views to boot. In this scenario, we also replaced “poor” with all the luxury you’d be surprised to find packed into a Hideaway, proving that small can denote wealth.

We chose the Timber Cove Hideaway because 1) it was my birthday weekend and therefore I get what I want (ha!) and 2) it was conveniently located right where we travel best: in the middle of small towns sprinkled with curiosities. From Fort Ross on up to Sea Ranch we learned so much about the region’s cultural and ecological history, preserved carefully by stewards of the land. Here is what we found:

Fort Ross

Is it a town? Is it strictly a State Historic Park? Google didn’t seem to confirm, but our vote for town of its own based on the fact that it comes with a general store. Any place on the map with a general store (and in this case, a state park, a winery, a lodge, a campground, etc.) surely is a town indeed.

Of course, the main attraction is not the general store (though their mural is a strong contender for main attraction) but rather the Fort Ross State Historic Park. Its museum and gift shop are stunning and thoughtful, and the recreated grounds of the Russian colony need no words as you walk from building to building, observing a life preserved in the 1840s.

Outside the colony you are met with trails that criss-cross the bluffs to see how ships came to port. Important to note is the current undertaking the park has embarked on, in order to more accurately tell the story of the Kashaya People, Alaska Natives and other groups that lived here.

Timber Cove

Arguably a possible shaded hike from the Hideaway itself, the resort is a home base for a quick (or leisurely?) bite at the Coast Kitchen, live music on many nights and also its own landmark, the “Peace Obelisk”, a 93-foot tall totem pole style sculpture created by Benny Bufano. It’s situated on the bluffs, within its own 60-foot state park apparently (you won’t see any signs touting this curiosity) and at times presents as an optical illusion from all its different vantage points. Is it towering? Is it relative in size? Is it far off, or is it looming over you?

Luckily there are trails all around to determine an answer, and you can even walk right up and give it a high five, after all this Madonna seems to be high fiving you to begin with.

Salt Point State Park

This particular state park is absolutely a must stop due to their wondrously curious rock formations you likely won’t find anywhere else. We did our homework, researched the science behind what forces created these phenomenons, and after reading up on pages of geological history, we can accurately summarize that it is all so cool.

Boulders that look like bubbles and seaweed were fossilized into the stone, massive rocks looking like bone joints missing their connections. It’s a walk on another planet you must experience for yourself. We found the bulk of them resting on the bluff of Salt Point itself but again, start at any trail within the state park and you’ll eventually find yourself here.

Sea Ranch

The community of Sea Ranch is itself worth a self guided tour, as it’s also a curious formation you won’t find anywhere else.

Envisioned by a group of architects in the 1960s, you’ll quickly notice that all of the homes in this 10-mile stretch are built to blend into the natural environment. But this isn’t just a home tour, there are also miles of trails weaving throughout it all and also down to the beaches, which are public access.

Park your car and take a hike, and before you leave the area also stop in to admire the Sea Ranch Chapel, another oddity designed to entice visitors to pause, reflect, and give thanks.

Which was the perfect ending to our stay at the Timber Cove Hideaway as well. Designed for moments of peace, the cabin manages to fit nothing short of a dozen spots to sit and relax both inside and out. Each seat positioned as a welcomed invitation to take in the ocean and forest views, both also a welcomed invitation to pause, reflect, and be grateful for this life.

In a game of “would you rather?” California edition, the answer is yes to experiencing everything.

To visit any of the many Sonoma Coast trails, check www.parks.ca.gov for up to date information. To stay at the Timber Cove Hideaway, visit www.timbercovehideaway.com For more travel tips in the area and all over the state, follow along on Instagram @Ca.love.fornia