Redwood National & State Parks

The trees here are so wide that you can stand at the base of one and not see the person on the other side. That's the thing about driving through Redwood National and State Parks — the scale of it doesn't register until you're actually standing in it. Most people who pass through take the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway through Prairie Creek Redwoods, a 10-mile road that pulls you off US-101 and puts you right under the canopy. If the road into Fern Canyon is passable, that's worth checking — it's a short hike through a slot canyon with fern-covered walls that feels genuinely strange in the best way. A lot of travelers also tack on the Avenue of the Giants, a detour off US-101 that runs through old-growth forest for about 30 miles. For food and sleep, people tend to base out of Eureka or Arcata — Los Bagels in Arcata is a reliable stop, and Brick and Fire Bistro in Eureka works well for a sit-down dinner after a day of hiking. Some families camp at Gold Bluffs Beach inside Prairie Creek, which puts you close to the trailheads and right on the coast. If you're thinking about routing a California road trip through here, this stretch of the 101 is one worth slowing down for.