Tag: Redwood forest

Redwood Highway

We’re beach people. Even more than that, we’re So Cal beach people. With a big dose of Maui thrown in the mix.

So when we decided to move to Oregon, a state in which there is one major freeway in the entire state, and only about three highways that turn left towards the beach from that freeway, it was a big gulp moment.

Saturday, we drove the first of the left turn highways.

Yeah, it’s January. So? You can take the girl out of So Cal, but you can’t take the So Cal out of the girl. Or her kids. They packed bathing suits.

We took the Redwood Highway, which is the 199, from Grants Pass to Crescent City, CA.

(Oregon fact: Oregonians do not say “the” in front of the highway name; when I do, it instantly identifies me as a California girl. I want my Oregon readers to know that I know that. But if I go south for a visit and say I’m taking 710 to 91 to 15, people are going to want to know why I’m talking like a caveman.)

The beauty of this drive was remarkable. I thought I’d share. I took all of these pics with my HTC smart phone and only some of them are filtered with Instagram. That’s when you know it’s good, right?

Take a look:

This is the Smith River at Madrona Beach. We pulled over because we could not believe how clear the water was.
This is the Smith River at Madrona Beach. We pulled over because we could not believe how clear the water was.
There was no way the kids were not going in the water. It was a balmy 55 degrees, so why not.
There was no way the kids were not going in the water. It was a balmy 55 degrees, so why not.
Annie got a little excited and went a step too far. No worries. We stripped her down to her chones.
Annie got a little excited and went a step too far. No worries. We stripped her down to her chones.
The last twenty miles before the coast wind through a California Redwood forest. Trees as wide as my car. It's breath-taking.
The last twenty miles before the coast wind through a California Redwood forest. Trees as wide as my car. It’s breath-taking.
We hit Crescent City and took 9th street until we hit this wonderful rocky beach with tide pools.
We hit Crescent City and took 9th street until we hit this wonderful rocky beach with tide pools.
We hung out as the sun went down.
We hung out as the sun went down.

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Luna is Annie's special friend. She wanted me to take this picture.
Luna is Annie’s special friend. She wanted me to take this picture.
Katie loves to play in the sand.
Katie loves to play in the sand.
On our way to dinner, a nice old lady stopped and gave my kids these sand dollars she had found on the walk.
On our way to dinner, a nice old lady stopped and gave my kids these sand dollars she had found on the walk.
This was our view for dinner: harbor sea lions!
This was our view for dinner: harbor sea lions!