It's almost impossible to describe how awesome they are, and I mean awesome in the true sense of the word...awe-inspiring. Pictures just don't do them justice. Their immense size, the sense of quiet and peace you feel standing among them, the earthy smell...it's majestic...almost spiritual. We're both very glad we made this trip. The Redwoods are something everyone should see at least once.Some facts about Redwoods for my grandkids:
The Redwoods are amazing...the largest living things on earth. They range from eight feet to twenty feet in diameter and can be as tall as three hundred seventy-five feet...taller than the Statue of Liberty! They are found in three places. The largest area is along the coast of Northern California, they need the cooler temps and the heavy fog found there to thrive. They are also found in a small area of the Sierra Nevadas and in a small remote area of China. Their bark is very thick and is both fire-resistant and resistant to termites and ants. They grow slowly and protect themselves, even trying to continue growing after they fall. Some of them are thousands of years old.
The first day we visited the Trees of Mystery. It's a privately owned attraction along Hwy 101 surrounded by Redwood National and State Parks. It's hard to miss as it's anchored by a thirty foot tall talking Paul Bunyan along with Babe the Blue Ox. There are a variety of majestic trees along the trails...we took the easy to moderate trail, a hike of just under a mile. We also took the Sky Trail, a gondola ride through the tree tops and we walked the Tall Tales Trail which depicts the exploits and adventures of Paul Bunyan through chain saw carvings...very cool.
Trees Of Mystery (click to enlarge)
Chainsaw Wood Carvings
The second day we drove the Avenue of the Giants. It's a thirty-one mile stretch of road through Redwoods and Humboldt National Parks that runs parallel to California Highway 101. We stopped several times along the way to explore and take pictures. At one point we happened upon a small caravan of antique cars and stopped to take a look...and some photos.
Avenue of Giants (click to enlarge)
Our truck sits on the site of Dyersville, a small town destroyed by floods
A burned out hollow in a redwood tree
Some of the antique cars we saw along the way...
The EEL River showing more river bed than water...a serious drought!
Our campground was also on the Avenue of Giants...called Ancient Redwoods RV Park. Nice flat sites, full hook ups, reasonably priced...and no cell service whatsoever. There are a few tiny towns along the Avenue of Giants with a couple of cafes and mini markets, but not much else. The Redwoods are the reason for being here...and well worth it!
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