What are the “must see and do” while visiting the Redwoods & Patrick’s Point State Park, California?
We are camping at Patrick’s Point State Park in August. Any thoughts on what we “must see and do” while in the area? Hiking’s no problem and we love exploring.
Don’t want to drive too far but I already know we want to visit Humboldt State Park and I want to drive thru the tree in Leggett (it’s a tourist thing I guess).
Any ideas on what to expect for weather/temperature, and what kind or clothes to pack? Anything worth seeing in Eureka or Crescent City?
Places to eat, tourist spots, little know areas, best views….etc…..all advice and ideas welcome!
Thanks,
Al
One Response
It’s That
29 Jan 2010
Patrick’s Point is beautiful! You will really want to go for a hike along the cliffs, or down to the beach. You might want to drop by the town of Trinidad, just a sleepy little beach town.
Eureka and Crescent City are dull little towns. If you haven’t seen Victorian Ferndale, that’s worth seeing. It’s a town that was built in the 1800s, it’s on the west side of 101, opposite Fortuna. If you drive through Ferndale and keep going, you end up on Mattole Road, which goes along ‘California’s Lost Coast’, the part of the coast you don’t see from 101 or 1. It goes through the towns of Honeydew and Petrolia (not much to see) and into Humboldt Redwoods Nat’l Park. It’s a mountain road, very pretty, if you like mountain roads.
Humboldt Redwoods is the biggest chunk of redwoods left in California. The redwoods are really awesome. You want to go for a hike there.
On the way down 101 there is the Avenue of the Giants, we always do that. It’s the old 101. They wanted to widen it and they rerouted it rather than cut down all the redwoods.
Also, from Legget south you can do Hwy 1, the road that goes along the ocean. That will take you down to Mendocino, a very pretty little town, worth an afternoon walk, a good place to stop for lunch or dinner.
You never know what kind of weather to expect along the coast. During the Summer it could be 80 or it could be 50. Sometimes it’s foggy, sometimes it’s so sunny and the sky so crystal clear that you wish your sunglasses were stronger. So dress for Summer but bring a sweater. The north coast of California has some of the most spectacular scenery in the country, so don’t hurry, drive slow and enjoy it.