Advice for a trip to see the redwoods?

[JontreeHI]

Hi buzzers,
My wife and I are looking to drive down to California from portland soon to see some redwoods, looking for some tips from any of you frequenters.
I think we're lookin at probably crescent city, is this a good choice?
Also, with a 16 month old boy and a pregnant wife, we are probably looking at a hotel stay. Something reasonably priced with few if any infectious diseases to contract-any tips?
Lastly, once there, where can I expect to see the best trees, streams, etc, without having to fight my way through a line of tourists?
Thanks guys and gals in advance for any direction.

 

[TreeLogic]

We stayed in Eureka, CA at a Hampton Inn I believe. The wife had credit card points. I remember it being a decent location for Redwood National Park

 

[Richard Mumford-yoyoman]

looks like I will finally be doing my trip to San Francisco from Portland, starting around the 15th of august. PM me.

 

[Winch]

Jon,
Let me start by saying that when my wife and I visited the redwoods several years ago, we didn't have either of our two children yet. So, perspective may have changed a little on what the highlights of that area are other than the trees. For instance, now we would be looking for the playground, rather than the bar.

I got some opinions from this site too, and went with someone's advice to stay at the Curly Redwood Lodge. I would not recommend doing so. It wasn't dirty, but it hasn't been updated at all since the 70s. Maybe this is cool to some people, like it was, a little bit, when we were kidless, but now with the rugrats, you don't really want them crawling around on 40-year-old carpet.

Plus, again, perspective is different, but Crescent City was boring other than the redwoods nearby. Call me a hater or whatever, i just didn't find the town appealing, uplifting, entertaining, or otherwise. Then again, I live in a town where there is stuff to do all the time. Again, perspective is everything.

 

[JontreeHI]

Hey tree logic and winch, thanks for the responses. I've heard of that curly redwood place, so thanks for the heads up.

Richard ill PM you looking forward to it!

No real plans yet for a trip. Last thanksgiving we drove down to alameda for thanks giving, didn't allot any time to stray from I5 which is boring as all hell after redding, I think it was. That was not pleasant w a nine month old. Either way wife promised a trip just to see tree in the near future so I'm trying to get the wheels moving on that.
Any other tips and ideas are greatly appreciated!

 

[JontreeHI]

Pretty much looking to geek out in te woods all day, and then sleep indoors, I think she'd prefer. Might be able to swing some camping

 

[Winch]

Yeah I was going to suggest a camping outing, but with the pregs and the youngin, wasn't sure if you were into that. I recently shared a tent with my (almost) three-year-old daughter and it was fun as heck. She was trying to live out a story from a book where the character gets scared and then goes into the house midway through the night...she didn't get very far before Mr. Sandman took her out for the night. Except for the part at 11pm when her (joke of a) sleeping bag turned out to be too cold, she woke up wailing, and we had to share one the rest of the night. Memories forever! Kind of hard to explain how awesome that stuff is to someone without chilluns.

 

[tnttree]

Stay at the redwoods river resort,
great little cabins, Jack loves his trees and arborists
he is right on HWY 1 next to the famous tree house
close to the avenue of Giants and Rockefeller Grove
he let us install a Trampoline 130' up in some of his trees
back in 04

 

[JontreeHI]

Whoah that's insane! Looks like an awesome place.
Thanks for the tips winch and TNTTNT

 

[mdvaden]

Hi buzzers,
My wife and I are looking to drive down to California from portland soon to see some redwoods, looking for some tips from any of you frequenters.
I think we're lookin at probably crescent city, is this a good choice?
Also, with a 16 month old boy and a pregnant wife, we are probably looking at a hotel stay. Something reasonably priced with few if any infectious diseases to contract-any tips?
Lastly, once there, where can I expect to see the best trees, streams, etc, without having to fight my way through a line of tourists?
Thanks guys and gals in advance for any direction.

So did you make it to the redwoods?

I go ever 6 weeks or so. Here's an image from the trip before the one a week ago ..

 

[JontreeHI]

Hi Mario, great shot I always enjoy your photos here and on treehouse. No we didn't make it, got caught up with visiting family, weekend work etc, all of a sudden summer is gone-I don't know how it happened.
But we will make it, hopefully soon. Appreciate all the tips.
Thanks!

 

[mdvaden]

Hi Mario, great shot I always enjoy your photos here and on treehouse. No we didn't make it, got caught up with visiting family, weekend work etc, all of a sudden summer is gone-I don't know how it happened.
But we will make it, hopefully soon. Appreciate all the tips.
Thanks!

If you missed summer, and autumn winter is probably the best season in the Coast Redwoods if you end up doing the short journey. Just need to watch the forecast and avoid days with 75% or more chance of rain. In the wet season, I keep an eye out for lulls in the weather and drive down during those. But the redwood forest is almost more evergreen in the wet season. Has to do with being able to see farther into remaining ferns, huckleberry and a surge of the mosses.

 

[JontreeHI]

Still fairly new tithe NW, seems like this region definitely comes much more alive during he wet season. Heading down to Bay Area for thanksgiving, maybe make a detour

 

[evo]

If you budget the time and can afford extra gas I would very highly recommend going via 101. It takes a while, but it will have you wanting to stop evey few miles to sight see.. I'm from the Oregon coast, and there is no place like it!

 

[familytreeman]

I know when we go back were going to drive thru a redwood . There is a rood that goes thru one I recall

 

[mdvaden]

I know when we go back were going to drive thru a redwood . There is a rood that goes thru one I recall

Provided you don't drive a Ford F150 or similar size vehicle.

 

[allmark]

I second the Redwood River Resort. I have been there twice last being March 2013. Jack is great and his mother is the sweetest. They were very accommodating for myself and my 2 nephews. It is a great area too. We also did the TREE FUND Climb there in 2002.

 

[Richard Mumford-yoyoman]

I second the Redwood River Resort. I......

To climb at Jack's place you need a 1 mil insurance policy.

 

[Mike_Dirksen]

I second the Redwood River Resort. I have been there twice last being March 2013. Jack is great and his mother is the sweetest. They were very accommodating for myself and my 2 nephews. It is a great area too. We also did the TREE FUND Climb there in 2002.

Hey Mark, I still want to plan a Red Wood trip with you whenever you have time. -

Mike