Redwood Forest National Park

The redwoods, once seen, leave a mark or create a vision that stays with you always. No one has ever successfully painted or photographed a redwood tree. The feeling they produce is not transferable. From them comes silence and awe. It's not only their unbelievable stature, nor the color which seems to shift and vary under your eyes, no, they are not like any trees we know, they are ambassadors from another time. - John Steinbeck

Northern California is my favorite place ever, the land of fog and moss. When you add in huge ancient trees a magical land of freedom and dreaming is created. We had such a beautiful time exploring the redwood forest. We caught our first glimpse of the Pacific Ocean, climbed in giant trees and hiked until we fell into bed each night. It was lovely.

The girl's first look at the Pacific Ocean.

Fern Valley in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.

Where's Waldo?

These trees rock my world. I could sit with them forever!

We passed this big guy on the way out of the canyon.

                       
                                     Corkscrew Tree trail in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

                         

Damnation Trail in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.

(AKA: Brent's favorite trail ever.)

Homeschool Science class in action. Topic: nurse log.

Tidepools!

Hidden Beach trail in Klamath, CA.

Simpson-Reed Grove in Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park.

A beautiful beach we discovered while trying to find the tide pools at Enderts Beach. 

I think in all our travels we forgot how much salt water is a part of our souls. Once we remembered, on this trip, we found ourselves trying to get back to the beach every chance we got. What can I say, salt water will always be our home and Redwoods will never stop being amazing. 

The Deets:

Stay: 3 Days

Campground: Mystic Forest RV Park (We give it 5 stars!)

Trails: Fern Valley (short and easy)

            Damnation Trail (moderate to hard 4.5 miles)

            Hidden Beach from Lagoon Beach picnic area (about two miles and pretty easy- have to                                    

                                                                                         climb driftwood to get from trail to beach)

            Simpson-Reed Grove trail (very easy and short)