May 4-12, 2019: Road trip through the Redwoods + more! (Part II)

Heiken Road Trip: Southern Oregon + Northern California

May 4 - 12, 2019

Part II: Avenue of the Giants + Mendocino, CA + Sonoma, CA (5.7 - 5.8.2019):

We left the Eureka Inn and headed further south for the final pieces to our Redwoods adventure: drive through the Avenue of the Giants! We also walked the Founders Tree (height: 346.1 ft; diameter: 12.7 ft; circumference: 40.0 ft) trail in Founders Grove in Humboldt Redwoods State Park. Lunch at Avenue Cafe in Miranda, CA.

After our final tour of the Giants, we made our way south onto Hwy-1 toward Mendocino, CA.

We checked into our quaint hotel, Hill House, then we cruised the cute streets, coastal bluffs and beyond!

We saw the prettiest of flowers and ones that looked straight out of Dr Seuss. 

Dinner at Mendocino Cafe. Then, drinking with the locals at Dick's Place - complete with late night fresh crab!

A saunter through Mendocino Headlands State Park the next morning; succulents for days! 

Then, a quick stop at Garden Bakery before we hit the road to wine country & Sonoma!

Delicious lunch at El Molino Central. 

More unique flowers in Mendocino!

Sonoma Valley vineyards.

After lunch, we took the tram tour of Benziger Family Winery:

That's it for Part II of our road trip.

Next up: visit with Aunt Ruth and daughters + San Francisco!

Stay tuned.

May 4-12, 2019: Road trip through the Redwoods + more! (Part I)

Heiken Road Trip: Southern Oregon + Northern California

May 4 - 12, 2019

Part I: Ashland, OR + Crescent City, CA + Redwoods + Eureka, CA (5.4 - 5.6.2019):

Doug, Mary, Sam and I flew into Medford, OR then drove our rental van to Ashland, OR to meet up at Hank and Barb's lovely home. After an awesome lunch, we headed toward Crescent City, CA. 

Along the way, we made few stops:

Monkey puzzle tree in Ashland, OR!

Quick stop at a quirky gallery and shops with treehouses, burl art and more!

First glimpse of the Redwood trees at Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park's Stout Grove.

Loving the BIG trees!

Dinner at Chart Room Restaurant in Crescent City, then settled in to our adorable AirBnB with ocean views!

Noisy seals joined us for dinner

Adorable AirBnB with ocean views.

 

Ocean views from our bedroom!

Next day, we enjoyed a beautiful morning stroll among more Redwood forests, then had lunch at The Good Harvest Cafe in Crescent City.

We then drove a bit south through Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, where we took another quick hike in the mystical forest. At the Klamath River, we followed Klamath Beach Rd toward the coast - where we saw whales!

Whale-watching at the mouth of the Klamath River.

The next day, we drove the Newton B Drury Scenic Pkwy through Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park to see Big Tree (height: 286 ft; diameter 23.7 ft; circumference: 74.5 ft), stop at the Visitor's Center and hike to Trillium Falls. Lunch at the World Famous Palm Cafe, where we parted ways with Hank and Barb.

We finished the day in Eureka, CA, where we walked the streets of Old Town, looked in shops, grabbed a beer at Lost Coast Brewery and settled in to our hotel rooms at the Eureka Inn, a National Historic Landmark. 

Carson Mansion in Eureka, CA.

That's it for Part I of our road trip and adventure;
next stops are Avenue of the Giants & Mendocino!
Stay tuned.