Traveling to see the redwoods - recommendations?

There was a recent thread with similar questions and lots of responses. I'll see if I can find it for you.

There are two big, good scrapbook stores in the Bay Area, Scrapbook Territory in Berkeley and Scrapbook Island in San Jose (actually, Los Gatos? they just moved). Either one would be worth a trip.

Muir Woods in Marin county (day trip from SF) is a great place to visit the redwoods, or Redwood National Park further north (almost to Oregon) on the 101.

If you're renting a car, be forewarned, parking is horrendous in SF and driving isn't much better.

I'm a lucky gal in that I live in the redwoods. For a smaller, less touristy place I recommend Big Basin, and not just because it's pretty close to where I live ;-) There's a few short hikes through the giants. From there you can drive South, hit Boulder Creek (cut funky little town), grab a bite to eat, then keep heading South the Santa Cruz, Monterey, Carmel...

Such a beautiful area. I can guarantee you love it.

I think the route is meant to travel up the coast not down the coast. It seemed like it was easier that way.

if you end up choose muir woods...it is easy, close to sf...plan to arrive between 8 and 8:30 am. it is not crowded, you can find parking and you probably wont have to pay a fee. otherwise, go to big basin or even in the east bay..redwood creek. if you stay outside the city, consider taking public transport into the city..like bart. parking is expensive and complicated...park in a garage if you drive in...like the one under union square, stockton st. garage...those are city owned and cheaper.

As someone who hikes in Henry Cowell and Big Basin State parks, I have to say that they are the redwoods to see. Plus there's all the history with the limekilns, too. But if you're flying in and out of Sacramento and you want to be near San Francisco then Muir Woods is a good place (it's 10 or so miles north of SF). Henry Cowell and Big Basin are about 75 miles from SF.

As for scrap stores, my favorite is Scrapbook Island in Los Gatos.

I love the smell of Redwoods on a warm day...

BTW - We just spent Friday-Sun in Yosemite NP. Yosemite is one of my favorite places ever. We go twice per year, Jan or Feb and May. If you can swing it, it's definitely worth the trip. But will be crowded from April - September.

So which park where you planning on visiting?

If you do go to Sequoia National park. Get GAS BEFORE YOU START UP THE MOUNTAIN! ugh! My DH wouldn't listen to me and yikes.

It was absolutely BEAUTIFUL! I'm so thankful they were preserved. Absolutely AMAZING!

Have fun!

(we drove from our son's home in Sacramento all the way down to Santa Barbara. Long, Long drive but beautiful.

I would go to Yosemite.

ETA: didn't see Lucy's post. It's about 3 1/2 hours from us. I would go for a few days. But that's because we consider Yosemite to be one of Nature's greatest gifts to mankind. It is beautiful in May.

Sounds wonderful!  We have been in San Francisco and area several times on the way to/coming back from Vancouver or Prince Rupert but have never managed to get to see that part of California for one reason and another.  Definitely at the top of the list now though if we get back there again!  

Having grown up in England redwoods are something I never thought I'd ever see.  I remember as a kid looking at pictures of them and dreaming I'd one day see one for real.  My kids have no clue how lucky they are.  We can literally touch them from our decks.

I love that area.  I really want to retire around Arcata.  I liked the national parks to the north. I think Prairie Creek was our favorite and we loved the Avenue of the Giants. So many fun places to stop and explore -DS thinks it is just a huge playground. I like the area as it is less crowded.  I love the beaches, mountains and lagoons in the area as well as the Redwoods. The dunes on Samoa are fun and they have a cool visitors center with a scavenger hunt. The city of Eureka has a huge park with redwoods in the city right next to their zoo. Arcata has one near the university.  It just amazes me to see the little pockets of Redwoods in the middle of the city.  It also surprises me how much stuff there is to do in the area. Oh don't bother with trees of mystery. No of us thought it was worth it. It was cheesy to say the least.  

We we didn't get to visit last summer and I really hope we can make it again this summer. We went two years in a row before that. The people are really nice and it is really family oriented which I like. Cool farmers markets and emphasis on locally made and grown. 

There  is or was a scrapbook store in eureka but not sure if it would be worth a stop unless you have a lit if time to kill. 

If you like breweries there are several good ones in the area and most have really good food.

May I ask why you're flying in and out of Sacramento, but spending most of your time in San Francisco?

Yosemite could be a day trip from Sacramento, but I think you'd need more time from San Francisco. If you're in SF, go to Muir Woods for the Redwoods. It'll give you more time for other things in your trip. The new Planet of the Apes movies were filmed there. Make sure you get out to Alcatraz too.

I grew up in Garberville and went to high school in Miranda, which is on the Avenue of the Giants. We used run cross country practice on the Avenue.

We were back home this summer and stopped at the scrapbook store in Eureka. Super friendly folks, but not a ton of new stuff.

If you can stop and eat at the Benbow Inn, just a couple miles south of Garberville on Hwy 101.



I highly recommend the breakfast at the Golden Harvest Cafe in Eureka. Right off 101 on the south side of town.

Oh and Cafe Brio in Arcata, great lunch and nice location in the square.