Crescent City

We stayed at a cute little AirBnB in Crescent City (which would have been lovely during regular weather but was not my favorite during a heat wave thanks to the lack of AC) about a block from the beach. After a Costco trip and about a million loads of laundry I really needed a mental reset, and I was so glad that Neil and I were able to slip out for a morning run along the coast! The tide was out and I realized holy cow there are tide pools here! I don't know why I didn't put that together in all my research but gosh it was just the happiest discovery. 

We checked out the tide pools for a bit and texted my dad and the older kids to get up and going because we all needed to go tidepooling! And while they were getting ready we ran out on the pier and the breakwater and across the causeway to the lighthouse. 

We weren't sure what these were at first and then learned later that they're to break the force of tsunamis--Crescent City has experienced nearly 3 dozen tsunamies in the last century. 

Then we met up with my dad and the kids and started exploring!

This was one of my favorite parts of the trip--I have never been tide-pooling before and I loved it so much! We found so many sea stars and anemones and hermit crabs (the kids started a crab-fighting ring, which I think is what they're doing here). 

Later that night after exploring the redwood groves all day, we came back for sunset at the ocean. 

So gorgeous and I totally fell in love with this part of the world. 

 

Redwood National Park

Next up: Redwood National & State Parks! It was sooo delightful to get to the coast and have it be a balmy 60 degrees or so (at first, then the heat wave got to the coast). We stopped at the visitor center and then headed out to the Trillium Falls trail which was incredible. It felt so much like walking through a cathedral. 

I think it is impossible to convey in words or pictures how majestic the redwood groves are. They are just so spectacular and something you absolutely have to experience. 

Here's Nathan for scale. 

Seriously just so beautiful. 

After hiking to the falls and back, we drove out to Fern Canyon (which the drive itself is amazing--single-lane through the old growth redwoods for miles and miles). 

Our kids spent a lot of time trying to figure out *exactly* where the filming for Jurassic Park: The Lost World took place. 

We were hoping to see banana slugs and we were not disappointed! 

We walked up the canyon until we got to this giant fallen tree and it seemed like a good turnaround spot. 

And yep, the ferns are pretty darn incredible! 

Made the mistake of telling Neil I was taking a photo, haha. 

We started driving north again towards our Airbnb in Crescent City (strategic Airbnbs at intervals to allow laundry/resupply on food!) but stopped in Prairie Creek to visit the Big Tree. 

It was indeed big but I honestly thought the forest around it was more beautiful. 

The next day we hiked through the Stout Memorial Grove and again--it was so hot! We basically were traveling under a heat dome (which made our unconditioned AirBnb right on the coast not so pleasant...the day we left it was back to 55 degrees. There were fans, but it was still way too hot. I did not even think to check the listing to see if it had AC but I guess normally they never use it?!). 

Anyway, it was hot so when we came to this stream we stopped for awhile and the boys built me a soaking pool while I turned in final grades thanks to some errant cell service. 

We also investigated the Walker Road area which is rumored to be one of the filming locations for the Endor scenes in Return of the Jedi. 

It's really awe-inspiring to see the fallen trees and really get an idea of just how enormous they are. 

But the standing ones are even more spectacular! 

Overall, Redwoods was a surprise favorite for me--I really loved these groves.