We got back from the most dreamy trip to Northern California to visit the Redwoods and I just had to share a little bit from our adventures.

My sister-in-law’s family just moved all the way to the very tip top of Washington state, and with the costs of flights for our two young families with a litter of children, we decided to each do a road trip and meet in the middle. We each drove about 11 hours and the exact meeting spot happened to be in the coastal town of Eureka, California.

Not too bad of a meeting spot, eh? They were this close to ending up in Nashville, so the middle spot for us would have been a much longer drive and not quite as exciting. I know you’ve got your cool Cadillac farm, Amarillo, Texas, but that’s got nothing on the Avenue of the Giants!

But first, there was San Francisco.

San Francisco was right on the way for us so we had to stop at Fisherman’s Wharf. We wandered around the famous Pier 39 and after my husband’s research we decided to go to Boudin to get our sourdough bread bowl with clam chowder. It was perfection.

After we got settled in our home away from home in Eureka, California we headed to the charming town of Ferndale, California, which is a cozy, quaint town nestled in some gorgeous, green hills, right by the ocean. Everyone in this dreamy town was super friendly and we happened to be there right as it chimed 12:00 in the afternoon and this vintage fire bell sounded from the fire station. It happens every day at noon.

A super friendly firewoman let our kids sit in a fire truck and take a look around. They were getting ready for a Labor Day party in the town park with tons of food and a local dad band :) This might sound kind of strange, but they have the most beautiful and peaceful cemetery I have ever been to. It is on rolling hills and you have a beautiful view of the foggy, green mountains nestled right nearby. Ferndale was so charming, I wished we could have stayed longer but we had to continue our journey to another charming town.

We made our way to Crescent City, California, which is the last big town before you get to Oregon. We headed to the ocean to see a beautiful lighthouse and got the most amazing 360 view of all the sights around. Of course there was the most amazing salty ocean breeze you could imagine to take in as you filled your soul with the views all around.

We got lunch at an adorable fresh seafood restaurant right on the pier called The Chart Room. While eating my fresh crab grilled cheese sandwich with perfect cole slaw I got to watch adorable sea lions playing with each other on floating docks right out the window. It was a perfect moment in time.

After lunch we headed to the perfect place to get the most natural hike you can take of the Redwoods. I highly recommend this grove and hike. It is called Stout Grove and it is just East of Crescent City. The recommendation is that if you are visiting during the summer months, you should get there between 3:00 and 4:00 in the afternoon because the sun filters through the trees to hit the bottom of the grove and it almost looks like a beautiful stained glass window in nature. They were spot on with that description because it is truly breathtaking. I have never felt more at peace and in tune with nature than I was in this forest. And that is with 5 little rugrats running around exploring as well! So it might not have been the most quiet experience possible, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way :)

The next day we got lunch at a delicious barbeque place in Eureka called . Then we went and explored the local beach and enjoyed a beautiful misty day with light fog and fresh, salty air.

My little family had the most wonderful time enjoying the local nature and foods of this beautiful region of the country. I would do everything from our trip again and again and would highly recommend these places to anyone! Have you been to the Redwood Forest? What was your favorite part of the experience?