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Visiting California?
Source—Wikipedia, http://www.projectrich.com/gallery, Contents How to use this guide How to use this guideIt is probably too much data with too little real information. See what you like and let me know (if you want more information). Use only the underlined links. Ignore any links not underlined. They are there to help me edit this later if I want to. San Francisco to EurekaThe redwoods extend from a point about 100 mi S of San Francisco (SF) (a place called Big Sur, which if you go south of SF may be worth visiting—it is said to be beautiful) into Southern Oregon. But the best of the redwoods is about 100 mi S of Eureka to about 100 mi North. In coming North from SF, you will probably come on Highway 101. You could also come on Highway 1, which hugs the coast and is exceptionally beautiful but probably trying because it is not major and subject to road closure by mudslides. Highway 1 merges with 101 about 90 miles south of Eureka. Assuming you come on 101, the halfway point from SF to Eureka is a town called Willits. There are places to stay, motels etc. that seem to range around $100 a night. You could also stay at Ukiah about 20 mi S of Willits—my recollection is that Willits is nicer. Places to stay in Willits, California, Old West Inn $99, Western Village Inn $98. From Willits to Eureka is roughly 150 miles and there are lots of things to see / do. The Avenue of the Giants through the coastal Redwoods is a side trip off Highway 101 (locally it is famous). It is south end is just north of the town of Garberville (Garberville is about 60 mi S of Eureka). I spent some months in Garberville—it marks the approximate southern end of Humboldt County, and it might be a good place to stop for a break. The Avenue of the Giants is 31 miles, skirts the Eel River and a number of small towns and there are picnic spots along the way. People tend to drive slowly and that is a good thing because this is the best exposure to the redwoods other than taking a hike in them (there are trails starting off the Avenue: it winds through Humboldt Redwoods State Park). The Avenue reconnects Highway 101 about 30 mi south of Eureka. Mudslides and WeatherMudslides are possible on just about any route to and from Eureka—on Highway 101 North-South and its extensions (see A Redwoods – Smith River – Mount Shasta – Trinity Alps Tour). Be prepared. In April, Eureka and Humboldt County, and Highway 101 can be pleasant, warm, and sunny—or blustery, cold, and wet. Bring warm and rain wear. EurekaHere are a couple of random paces I like, for more see North Coast Journal Menu of Menus . Eureka—Dick Taylor’s chocolates. Eureka—The Wine Cellar (Old Town). Eureka Inn—Gallagher’s Irish Pub, Phatsy Klines Parlor Lounge – bar and venue for shows. North of Fourth—pleasant bar with garden patio. Near EurekaThings to do in Ferndale, California. Things to do in Garberville, California. Things to do in McKinleyville, California. Patrick’s Point State Park, California. ArcataHumboldt CountyHumboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge— (Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex Headquarters, 1020 Ranch Road, Loleta, California 95551, 707 733-5406, fax 707 733-1946). Directions to Headquarters / Salmon creek unit—Take Exit 696 off Highway 101. If you are northbound, turn left and go west over the overpass and take the first right, then follow the entrance road north and west ~1.3 miles to the Headquarters. If southbound turn right and then immediately left onto the entrance road and proceed ~1.3 miles north and west to the Headquarters. Samoa Peninsula and Cookhouse (7am—8pm) Humboldt County, things to do. Humboldt County, things to do. Highways—101, 255, 299 (to Trinity County, Weaverville, and on to Redding – Interstate 5 – Mount Shasta) Highway 101—and the RedwoodsThe more or less coastal highway from Los Angeles to San Francisco to Eureka to Oregon to the Olympic Peninsula in Western Washington. This is the most direct route from San Francisco to Eureka. There can be closures even in April due to mud slides. Then one has to find an alternate route. It passes through wine country and intersects some routes leading further into wine country. 101 passes through Redwood Country . Coming from San Francisco it is about 200 miles to the major redwood groves in Humboldt and Del Norte counties. Garberville is about 200 miles of San Francisco and just North of that is the Avenue of the Giants a 39 mile stretch that parallels 101. It is spectacular and of course best experienced during the day. I liked Highway 199 further North for its wildness and the redwoods more than the Avenue of the Giants. Here, in Del Norte County, is Jeddediah Smith Redwood State Park which I recall as awesome. Eureka is in the middle of redwood country. Its Sequoia park and Arcata’s Redwood Park (7 mi N of Eureka) have trails in the redwoods (these are smaller city parks). And about 30 – 60 mi N of Eureka are the Redwood National and State Parks (with both easy and harder walks) home to redwoods, of course, and elk herds. East—from EurekaHighway 299 from Arcata to Blue Lake, Willow Creek, Helena (and into the Trinity Alps), Big Flat (rafting), Weaverville, Redding (Junction with Highway 5 to Mount Shasta, Alturas (Northeast California), and on to Nevada. Highway 299, things to do (the site says ‘error’ but has information anyway). Weaverville, California (base to Trinity Alps). Weaverville, California Things to do. Weaverville, California Places to stay. Trinity County California, things to do. Trinity County California, things to do. Trinity Alps images (ought to work). Trinity Alps images, commercial but has nice pictures. North—From EurekaDel Norte, the northernmost coastal county. Del Norte, things to do. Del Norte, things to do. Highway 101, North coast section. Highway 199 and Smith River—Highway 299, Smith River. California Wine CountryWine Country, Wikipedia . California Highway 128, because I enjoyed it wine country getaways. Ten Reasons to Explore California Highway 128. Coastal CaliforniaCoastal California, things to do. A Redwoods – Smith River – Mount Shasta – Trinity Alps TourThe tourJeddediah Smith Redwoods State Park is about 80 mi N of Eureka, and I experienced driving through it as magnificent. A possible more than one day trip would be up Highway 101 from Eureka—lots of sights and parks along the way—through Crescent City (in Del Norte County California) on to Highway 199 through Redwoods and along the Smith River (last major undammed river in California) up to Interstate 5 in Grants Pass Oregon (not a spectacular town), then South on Interstate 5 (quite a few spectacular things on the route including Mt. Shasta 14,000 feet) down to Redding and then West on Highway 299 (spectacular mountain country including the Trinity Alps) back to Eureka through Weaverville and Willow Creek. I am guessing that this would be a 400 mi + trip—a lot for Britain but not considered a lot in the US. Anyway, that is just a thought, but it would be exposure to more than one side of Northern Ca (Redwood, Coast; inland, Mountains). The round trip is lightly peppered with small towns (especially from Grants Pass to Redding). If you feel like even more adventure, then there’s Lassen Volcanic Peak National Park about 100 mi East of Redding. I need not add that the place and the route are beautiful. I got out my maps of California this morning. You might consider buying one—it is quite orienting. I also got out my ageing 4th ed. Lonely Planet Guidebook (the most recent is the 8th ed.)—it has much information on things you might do / places to stay along the Highways, especially Highway 101. There’s information on towns – parks – wildlife refuges - etc possibly worthwhile exploring in the vicinity of Eureka. Towns and places to stayPlaces to stay in Grants Pass, Oregon—La Quinta $104, Red Lion $56. Places to stay in Ashland, Oregon, said to be worth a visit, Lithia Springs $101, Palm Hotel $77. Places to stay in Klamath, California—Holiday Inn Express $110, Curly Redwood Lounge $69, Anchor Beach Inn $77. Places to stay in Yreka, California Holiday Inn Express $102, Super 8 by Wyndham $66. Places to stay in Redding, California—Red Lion Inn $91, La Quinta Inn $85, Travelodge $87. Weaverville and Trinity County—see East—from Eureka. California (with map)California, things to do. California, things to do.
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