Redwoods California

After we spent a few days in Oregon, we headed to Northern California where we trekked around the Redwoods and beaches. It was beautiful. Damion was in awe and mentioned to us that he was so grateful to have come here, since it was a place he had always wanted to visit. He was so stoked to see the tallest trees in the world and even got a bit emotional about how beautiful it was. Having not been to the Redwoods since I was a kid, it was a feeling quite indescribable to be back. The trees made you feel pretty small and ant like. There were some trees you could walk into and it was still unbelievable the girth and mass of them.

Camp

Inside of Mayday with the topper up-She's complete!

Climbing trees

Size comparisons

Grandpa trying to get a shot of Jax against those trees

Heart shaped stump

Picnic lunch

Jax looking at the forest

Webs in the trees

By the heart shaped t

We were also lucky to experience cooler weather than from inland, with the temps reaching maybe the mid 70s the entire time we were there. Twice we witnessed beautiful fog banks taking over the coast from above, which just looked like the ocean being swallowed by clouds. Near where we camped, we were fortunate to watch the sunset with an incoming fog bank, and to have sat and watched about 15 or so gray whales feeding in the ocean below. It was pretty cool!

Fog bank coming into camp

Fog bank sunset

Fog by our camp

Native ceremony grounds

We saw gray whales!

We explored Fern Canyon, a really cool 2 mile hike through this creek and canyon walls lined with all sorts of ferns and downed trees. Small waterfalls trickled down the side of the walls. It was enchanting. We enjoyed Gold Beach, where we saw a herd of Roosevelt Elk feeding. It is funny to see elk by the beach, instead of in the mountains or along the high country valleys as we are so familar with. We let the kids get knocked around by the ocean waves, as did mom, Lindsey, and I. Jax slept through most of that, probably lulled by the sounds of the ocean waves and the warmth of the sun.

Fern Canyon

Elk on the beach

They need these signs in Yellowstone

How Jax rolls at the beach

Fun in the waves

Plotting cousins on how to avoid the waves

Enjoying the Pacific

We enjoyed the next visiting another area of the Redwoods, but realize there is so much yet to be explored. Countless amazing trails and expeditions unknown left us wanting to return some day to experience more of these majestic trees. We did explore the Crescent Light House, one of the oldest along the California coasts. You have to practically time it to visit on low tide, otherwise it is a no-passage zone. We also checked out the aquarium in Crescent City, which was fun. The kids got to "pet a shark." They loved that!