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A California coast road trip---Stunningly gorgeous!
A California coast road trip is, hands down, the most SCENIC way to reach Southern California. In fact, it's one of the most scenic routes that you'll ever drive ANYWHERE. The only problem for vacationers is that unless you actually live along the Pacific Coast, then it will be out-of-the-way for you to get there. On the other hand...no matter how far away you're coming from, the California Coastal Drive will reward you with some of the best scenery in the entire USA!If you drive the California coastal route to Los Angeles, you'll take longer to reach Southern California than if you were to take Interstate 5. Ah...but isn't the whole purpose of taking a road trip to take a relaxing step away from the rush of everyday life? To refresh yourself with the "joy of living" by discovering new paths and byways that you never knew existed? The scenic route is slower because of its rustic, winding, 2-lane roads...but, on the other hand, these very "country lanes" are an integral part of the California Coast's charm and appeal. Northern California MapsTo get your bearings, first see an overview map of the state of California, so you can review the various major roads and freeways and see the California Coast Routes in relationship to Interstate 5 and the other routes through the state. At this link, you'll have your choice of highway maps. I recommend the GIF IMAGE MAP, because it's quick-loading. However, if you want a more detailed version, you may select the "flash map" (marked on this site by an "F.") Use the following link to access your choice of an...
"overview" roadmap of California.
Stunning Redwoods National ParkRedwood NP activities
If you enter northern California from Oregon via the coastal highway, one of your first family attraction-stops on your California coast road trip (headed south) will be the beautiful Redwoods National Park.Trees by the beach: Some of California's famous redwood groves lie inland, quite a drive from the shore. However, at this location the famous California Redwoods and the famous California beaches lie side-by-side together in a trees-by-the-beach setting. If you love scenery, Redwoods National Park has it in spades! Get your bearings at interpretive centers: You'll find not just one, but FIVE interpretive centers at Redwoods National Park. You'll enjoy exhibits which explain the park's plant & animal life. One reason there are so many Redwoods visitor's centers is that the US National Park Service combines forces with the California State Parks in this area to help protect the redwood trees. The Redwood National Park buddies with California's Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, Del Norte Coast State Park, and Jedediah Smith State Park to give you an outstanding tour of Redwood Country. Together, these 4 parks protect and display 45% of all old-growth redwood trees remaining. What activities can you and your family enjoy while visiting Redwoods National Park and its state park companions? You may go camping, take ranger-led walks, get the kids involved in Junior Ranger programs, learn from the interesting redwood and wildlife exhibits, scour the gift shops...or, if you've got less time, just enjoy a peaceful picnic in the shelter of the groves. Don't forget the coastline, either! Redwoods National Park doesn't just provide a "forest" experience; you'll find viewing areas for enjoying Pacific Ocean views, as well! The Redwood National Park Center's address is 111 Second Street, Crescent City, CA 95531. They suggest that you use this address when writing the park; it's actually also the address of the park's "main" visitor's center, the Crescent City Information Center. The Redwood National Park phone number is (707) 464-6101. Redwoods National Park MapsNext, here are 2 National Park Service web pages where you can see maps of the Redwood National Park and State Parks system. Quick-loading overview map: Here is a low-quality (but quick-loading) web page which has an overview of the Redwood National Park and its California State Parks "sisters." These are maps which will show you how these 4 parks "fit together" in relation to one another. (You'll need to click on the "maps" tab when you get to this page:)
Site with maps of Redwood National Park and its 3 California State "sister" parks.
US Hwy 101 turns inland, away from the coast---Humboldt Redwoods State Park
The California Coastal route doesn't actually hug the Pacific Ocean's shore for the entire length of your road trip. Don't worry, though. As US Highway 101 turns inland, you'll enter a wonderland of greenery. You may enjoy a lumber factory tour in the town of Scotia, and a drive along the redwood-lined Avenue of the Giants; we'll talk about both of those attractions further down on the page. First, however, you'll want to know about a can't-miss spot featuring great redwood-viewing, the Humboldt Redwoods State Park in Weott, California. Here's a Google map of Weott, CA to help you get your bearings. Humboldt Redwoods State Park activitiesHumboldt Redwoods State Park, is a great place to enjoy view towering California redwood trees, and learn all about these fascinating giants, as well. The photo to your left was taken at Humboldt Redwoods State Park. As you can see in the picture, just the BASE of a giant redwood makes my strapping then-teenage son look like a dwarf by comparison! There are some things in life that a photo just can't adequately portray, and these huge monster-sized trees are just that type of thing! One good thing for visitors traveling through the Humboldt State Park is that there are activities geared both to quick visits as well as more extended stays. You can tour fine old groves that are just off the highway, and require only a short walk from the parking lot to see. This takes a minimal amount of your time, yet you get to "see the best" of the California Redwood's beauty. If you have just a bit more time, you may also tour the Humboldt State Park visitors center and view the interesting explanatory exhibits. On the other hand, if you'd like to stay overnight, you'll find campgrounds at Humboldt State Park---both developed (with hot showers!) and "natural." My family camped for one night, and we enjoyed the experience immensely. Our campground was so tree-enshrouded that its paths never saw the full light of day! MMM! Nice aroma, too! If you'd enjoy a trip to Humboldt State Park, you'll want to check out the
Humboldt State Park official web pages.
The Humboldt State Park phone number is (707) 946-2409. Humboldt State Park directions: Humboldt State Park is located along US Highway 101. It's 45 miles south of Eureka (or, 20 miles north of Garberville, if you'd rather think of it that way.) The Park and Visitors Center are open year round, closing only for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. However, campgrounds close in mid-October and re-open in the spring. (Exact dates vary from year to year, so touch base with the park if you need the specific dates for camping.) California Coast Road Trip Ideas---Avenue of the Giants scenic drive
When you're at Humboldt State Park, you'll ALSO be right in the middle of another absolutely stunning California Redwoods attraction: The Avenue of the Giants. The Avenue of the Giants is a scenic drive...and it's one you WON'T want to miss! A ride through the awe-inspiring scenic drive, the "Avenue of the Giants," takes you past HUNDREDS of gorgeous Redwood specimens. The road lies in semi-darkness even during the bright noonday sun, because of the thick green canopy that the trees knit over your head.Even on your first visit to "redwoods territory" the area may look familiar to you. You're not dreaming---just about everyone in range of a movie theater has seen this area before. In the Star Wars series of movies, the California redwoods were used as a filming site to portray the Forest Moon of Endor in "Return of the Jedi!" California Coast Road Trip -- Scotia Lumber Company TourAnother activity that we enjoyed on this California coast road trip---which you might enjoy, too---was a visit to a working lumber mill. The Pacific Lumber Co. gives tours through its plant, and--to me--it was fascinating to see how trees go from the "whole trunk" stage to various sizes and shapes of finished lumber. The Pacific Lumber Sawmill is a state-of-the art plant which utilizes computer technology to "make the most" product out of each and every log.The Pacific Lumber Company address is 125 Main St, Scotia, CA 95565. The Pacific Lumber Company phone number is (707) 764-2222. Directions to the Pacific Lumber Company tour: The little town of Scotia, California is located on US Highway 101; Scotia is 30 miles south of Eureka. (You'll have to pass through Scotia on your way from Redwood National Park to the Avenue of the Giants and Humboldt State Park.) California Coast Road Trip -- Chandler Drive-thru Tree and the One-Log House
The California Redwoods region has a few more family attractions "up its sleeve" that make wilderness purists shudder...but which I, personally, enjoy. You can see in the photo to your left, the Chandler Drive-Through tree. Fortunately, the tree itself lives on hale and hearty, despite the tunnel running through it. (Well, if the tree weren't still healthy, it would be a SAD activity, not a fun one.)A small to mid-sized car fits through the tree just fine. Unfortunately, I was driving a large conversion van on this particular California coast road trip...and it WOULDN'T fit through! I had seen photos of this tree since I was a kid & I wasn't about to give up on my chance to finally take a photo there...after a lifetime of waiting. Solution? I backed the van up to the tree (from in front of it) and snapped my shot. By golly, in the photo I took, it really looks like that van made it through the tunnel! You may find the Chandler Drive-through Tree in Leggett, California. Leggett, CA is about 100 miles south of Eureka on US Highway 101 (near the junction of California Highway 1.) The Drive Thru Tree Park (another name for the Chandler Drive Thru tree) phone number is 707/925-6446. It's a small house to be sure...but no smaller than living in an RV. It gave me great fun to imagine living in it because of its "doll-house-like" quality. You may find the One-Log House on US Highway 101 south of Garberville, in Piercy, California. The One Log House phone number is 707/247-3717. The One-Log House address is 705 N. Highway 101, Piercy, CA 95587. If you'd like further info about visiting this unique attraction, you may use the upcoming link to look at the
One Log House official website (www.one-loghouse.com)
So far on your California Coast Road Trip, you haven't seen much of the California Coast! After viewing the Redwoods National Park, you headed inland in order to catch the spectacular California redwoods attractions located along US 101. But, when you reach Leggett, California (by the Chandler Drive-through tree), you'll FINALLY be able to catch California Highway 1, and head back to the coast for an ocean view. However, don't expect this to be an easy choice! If you stay on US 101 instead (and remain inland), your drive will bring you through the famous Napa Valley region! It's a tough choice---either route is a "winner!" Shoreline-hugging California Highway 1The Coastal Road south through Fort Bragg and Mendocino, CAThe first large town you'll reach...which happens to be the first town of any size since you left Eureka...will be Fort Bragg, CA. This isn't a major sight-seeing town...but it IS a chance to stock up on your provisions! Not only is this the FIRST major town you've entered since Eureka, California...but it's also the LAST big town you'll go through on the coastal route until you reach San Francisco. Therefore, tourists use Fort Bragg as a rest & supply base...and as a center for day-tripping to beaches and spectacular coastline views throughout the surrounding areas. Ft. Bragg, California has shopping centers with full-service stores, plus a number of fast food restaurants. (If you're like me, you've been just waiting to grab some fast food again! California redwood country is pretty "fastfood-less.") Of course, Fort Bragg has motels and plenty of sit-down restaurants, as well. Heading south from Ft. Bragg down the coastal road, you'll pass miles and miles of rocky shorelines and steep bluffs. You'll make your way to the small town of Mendocino, California. Mendocino hosts an artists colony and a selection of quaint bed and breakfast inns. Though it's a small town, Mendocino's stupendous natural beauty makes it a favorite destination for couples looking for an out-of-the-way romantic getaway. Of course, you can find family-oriented activities in Mendocino, as well. Personally, I haven't done any more than drive through Mendocino. I mean to stop someday...but I haven't, so far. Therefore, I'll direct you to
the Mendocino, California Chamber of Commerce official website.
One interesting state park near Mendocino preserves an interesting bit of RUSSIAN architecture! In the 19th century, the Russians explored Alaska and the West Coast. What I hadn't realized before a trip to Fort Ross State Park is that Russian explorers made it as far south as California! They did...and they built this fort which stands today for all to view and tour. Of course, you'll find educational exhibits at Fort Ross, so you can learn more about this interesting chapter in California history. Use the following link to view the
Fort Ross State Park official web pages at the California State website.
California Coast Road Trip -- Bodega Bay, filming site for Hitchcock's "The Birds"
Our family enjoys Alfred Hitchcock movies, so while on the coastal route, we made sure to drop by Bodega Bay to see the famous "The Birds" filming sites there. In the photo at left, you see a home in Bodega that was used as the school house in "The Birds." Actually, if you're headed on a roadtrip down the California coastal route, enjoying Hitchcock's movie, "The Birds," on DVD together with your older children might be a fun "pre-trip" activity. A recent viewing of the show will refresh your memory on "what to look for" before you visit the filming sites in Bodega and Bodega Bay! California Coast Road Trip -- Point Reyes National Seashore
Heading southward along the Pacific Coast towards San Francisco...when you're ALMOST there...you'll pass by the Point Reyes National Seashore. Here, you see a photo of Point Reyes at left. As you can see, it's a sandy, swimming beach rather than a rocky-but-beautiful one. (Which, as you'll know by the time you've driven this far down the coast, is a rare thing! Rocky beaches are fun for exploring; but sandy Point Reyes National Seashore is great for swimming!)Once you've past the Point Reyes National Seashore...then you're ALMOST to San Francisco! The Point Reyes National Seashore phone number is 415/464-5100. The Point Reyes National Seashore address is: 1 Bear Valley Rd, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956. For additional information about the Point Reyes beach facilities or the park's visitor's center...and many other questions you might have...use the following link to view the
Point Reyes National Seashore official website.
Get your brain in gear! Start making a list of your favorite vacation ideas today!
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See pictures, get plans for a breath-taking California coast road trip! Updated August 17, 2009. Related info--- 
