Ranch & Coast Magazine

Towering redwood trees are the most obvious highlight. ese thrive near the coast from the Oregon border to Big Sur. Of all the places to gawk at their grandeur, my favorite is the Avenue of the Giants, Highway 254, in Humboldt Redwoods State Park. is 31-mile scenic highway parallels Highway 101 between Stafford and Phillipsville and provides access for families who want to walk, bike, fish, and camp under the canopy of majestic trees. Kids especially enjoy the drive-through and walk-through redwoods here. Views and Trails Galore e entire Northern California coast offers stunning ocean views. To savor the vista, my husband and I walked along the clifftops whenever it was possible. is was especially memorable in Crescent City, where dramatic offshore sea stacks make the coastline one of the most beautiful I've ever seen. To the south, Mendocino Headlands State Park has a gorgeous coast of seaside bluffs and islets surrounding the town of Mendocino. I also loved the colorful plants at Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens and was surprised to find walking paths that stretch to water views. In winter, Mendocino is an ideal spot for whale watching. Further south in Bodega Bay, Bodega Head juts out into the ocean, providing more stunning blufftops for abundant wildlife viewing. Of course, inland hiking trails also offer great views. Away from the Mendocino coast, the family-friendly Fern Canyon Trail in Van Damme State Park crosses ten bridges and follows Little River through an abandoned logging skid. Lush ferns and giant redwoods provide plenty of shade. Getting into Training e Railroad Park Resort in Dunsmuir is quite possibly the most family-friendly place to stay in Northern California. I mean, what kiddo doesn't want to stay in a parklike setting with more than two dozen fully restored cabooses and a swimming pool? Frankly, I was prepared to be uncomfortable, but our surprisingly spacious caboose came with a king bed, high thread-count linens, and a nice bathroom. I was equally impressed with the handsome dining car, which is actually nine cars that collectively include kitchens, the Wells Fargo Car for guest seating, the Great Northern Car for private parties, and the Southern Pacific bar. More NorCal fun I have to confess I'd never thought about the source of our San Diego water, but I now know that some of it comes from Lake Oroville, about 80 miles north of Sacramento. is reservoir was created in 1968 by impounding the Feather Detour destinations << In Lassen Volcanic Park, 100 miles of trails are open to horseback riding Jagged offshore sea stacks rise up along the Crescent City coast The Railroad Park Resort includes fully restored cabooses and a pool in a park-like setting @ranchandcoast ranchandcoast.com 54 MAY 2022 RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE

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