Bob and Sharon Porter of Gualala, Calif.,...

Bob and Sharon Porter of Gualala, Calif., have published a handy map that pinpoints 25 towns/villages along a 209-mile route from San Francisco north to Leggett, Calif. Tells about B&Bs;, vacation rentals, motels/inns, camping, restaurants, galleries. Among the lodgings are the Sea Horse Guest Ranch (six rooms on 700 acres), the Old Milano Hotel (a National Historic Monument with ocean views), St. Orres (cottages with fireplaces and more ocean views) and the Little River Inn (faces the storm-tossed Mendocino Coast). For a free copy, write to the Porters, P.O. Box 999, Gualala, Calif. 95445. We also mentioned a magazine-size booklet several Sundays ago that provides pages of details on the same area. Available for $1 from the Redwood Empire Assn., 1 Market Plaza, San Francisco 94105.

Discounts

Five Scandinavian nations have gotten together to offer a hotel pass for travelers. Costs $17 for two adults (including two children). Provides discounts of 15%-40% at hotels operated by Danway in Denmark, Arctia (Finland), Inter Nor (Norway), Sara (Sweden) and Icelandic (Iceland). The pass must be purchased before you leave the United States. Your travel agent books reservations for your first and last nights. In between, bookings are made as you leave each hotel (call ahead daily as you check out). Discount rates guaranteed. Other details from the Scandinavian National Tourist Offices, 655 3rd Ave., New York 10017.

Dry Ranch

The skies are mostly blue all day, but the ranch is drier than a saloon during Prohibition. At Gunnison, Colo., the Waunita Hot Springs Ranch caters to families, forbids alcoholic beverages. Serves only coffee, tea, hot chocolate, punch. Guests ride, fish, join float trips, Jeep rides, overnight campouts. The ranch has a hot springs pool that remains a constant 95 degrees. Meals are served buffet style. Family vacationers are welcomed June through Labor Day. Winter visitors are accommodated mid-December through early April (cross-country skiing, ice skating, sledding). Space for 45 guests in carpeted rooms with private baths. Summer rates: $495 per person per week. The ranch is eight miles north of U.S. 50 between Monarch Pass and Gunnison. If you write ahead, the hosts will meet your flight (no charge) at Gunnison Airport. See your travel agent or write to Waunita Hot Springs Ranch, 8007 County Road 887, Gunnison, Colo. 81230. Telephone (303) 641-1266. (Note: This ranch is at an altitude of 8,946 feet.)

Montana Ranch

Meanwhile, a ranch in Montana has the hook out for guests in search of special comforts. Triple Creek Mountain Hideaway is a 400-acre retreat that attracts “the world’s most affluent vacationers,” according to the owner. Features fully stocked bars, steam showers, hot tubs, king-size beds. Guests fish year-round (lakes, ponds, streams). There’s tennis, swimming. In winter go cross-country skiing, snowmobiling. Breakfast is served whenever you pop out of bed. The chef packs picnic lunches for riders, hikers; also serves gourmet dinners. The ranch is open May through February. Rates, $145/$350 per couple per night. Includes meals, drinks. Contact Triple Creek Mountain Hideaway, West Fork Stage Route, Darby, Mont. 59829. (The airport at nearby Missoula, Mont., is served by Northwest, Continental, Delta.)

New England

If you’re thinking of taking in the fall foliage in New England, now’s the time to start planning. The 30th anniversary issue of “The Original New England Guide” zeros in on Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine. This 200-page publication describes dozens of attractions, destinations. Contains more than 100 color pictures. Tells where to go, what to do, whatever the season. Copies available at bookstores or from Mt. Morris Service Center, H. T. Travel File, P.O. Box 1620, Mt. Morris, Ill. 61054. Price: $2.95 plus $1.50 for postage.

For other details on New England, write to Yankee Holidays, 20 Spring St., Saugus, Mass. 01906. These people supply information free. Brochures, etc. Among travel sources in New England, Yankee Holidays tops the list. They’ll load you down with information on every corner of this special corner of America.

New York

New York continues to draw big crowds of Californians. Now the Department of Commerce has come out with a free discount book. A total of 500 coupons that could save you hundreds of dollars. Reductions on car rentals, campgrounds, hotel/motel rooms, B&Bs;, restaurants, museums. Covers 11 vacation areas of New York state, from Manhattan to the Adirondacks, the Catskills and Niagara Falls. Details on wineries, resorts, sports events. For a free copy of the “I Love New York” discount book, drop a post card to Savers, Box 992, Latham, N.Y. 12110.

Country Homes/Castles

Kate Fuentes of Country Homes and Castles tells us that her company’s latest brochure is ready for mailing. Describes Britain’s elegant castles, manor houses, homes. Hosts provide welcome cocktails, dinners, wine, coffee, tea, liqueurs. A full English breakfast. Some owners offer to rent the entire home/castle, complete with cooks, maids, butlers. Dozens of choices. In East Sussex there’s a Tudor manor home set on a 23-acre estate for easy access to the coast, Brighton, Royal Tunbridge Wells and other destinations. Another in Surrey rises on 1,500 acres (lakes, woods, wildlife). Others in Yorkshire, including a 30,000-acre estate in the heart of Herriott country. Or there’s a Georgian mill house in Oxfordshire. In Scotland you can move into a 17th-Century castle overlooking the River Don at Aberdeenshire or a 15th-Century home with an ancient rose garden in Perthshire. Contact Fuentes c/o Country Homes and Castles, 900 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 830, Los Angeles 90017. Telephone (213) 629-4861.

Wagon Train

We made mention of two wagon train trips in Wyoming recently. Now comes a note from Cliff Wilcott of Long Beach who tells us he joined the Bar T5 outfit last summer, was disappointed. On the other hand, reports have been good about the second outfitter, Wagons West (RFD, Afton, Wyo. 83110). If the idea of all that solitude appeals to you, write to Wagons West or make reservations through Old West Tours, P.O. Box 423, Jackson, Wyo. 83001. Telephone toll-free (800) 443-6846.

Reader Recommendations

Switzerland--Jack and Bernice Du Long, Sherman Oaks: “We had the good fortune of finding accommodations at the Hostatt pension run by Herr and Frau A. Rothlin. Frau Rothlin lived in California for three years, speaks excellent English. The spacious corner room overlooking a vast meadow and view of the mountains had a private bath with shower. The rate, including generous buffet breakfast, was about $61 for two. Address: 6390 Engelberg, Switzerland.”

England--Dale Kinnamon, La Crescenta: “Small, charming cottage in High Swinton, near Ripon, North Yorkshire. Hostess is Maise Garside. Rates 15 (about $24.50 U.S.) per person. Another B&B; in the village of Clovelly. Owned by Christine and George Giddy, who make guests feel like part of the family. Rates 9 each. Write Mrs. Giddy, Temple Bar, High Street, Clovelly, North Devon. And yet another is Fernside in Bodmin. A clean, friendly home with good breakfasts and rates of 9 each. Write Sylvia Harding, 41 St. Nicholas St., Bodmin, Cornwall PL3 1AF.”

California--Mary Gardner, Los Angeles: “My family loved the beautiful park-like grounds, high recessed pool and spa area at the Sheraton Smuggler’s Inn in Fresno. Our room was large, with two queen-size beds, hair dryer and coffee maker. Rates $60 to $78. Write Sheraton Smuggler’s Inn, 3737 N. Blackstone, Fresno. Phone (800) 742-1911.”