Northern Cali Road Trip

I love a good road trip, so on a trip to San Francisco & Napa Valley we decided to drive North all the way to Seattle. It took us half the week just to get out of California because there was so much to see and do. Be sure to bring a camera and lots of gas money - because this journey is beautiful and winding.

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Calistoga Inn Restaurant & Brewery Restaurant
Napa Valley was too hot for us, so we headed northwest and stopped in Calistoga - famous for spas, hot springs and fancy shops. We just wanted to cool off for a bite to eat and found the Calistoga Inn to be the perfect spot. They have patio seating along with A/C at the bar, which serves their very own beer on tap from the on-site br... More >
Napa Valley was too hot for us, so we headed northwest and stopped in Calistoga - famous for spas, hot springs and fancy shops. We just wanted to cool off for a bite to eat and found the Calistoga Inn to be the perfect spot. They have patio seating along with A/C at the bar, which serves their very own beer on tap from the on-site brewery. The atmosphere is relaxed and less highbrow than most places in this picturesque town and if you wanted to stay overnight, their prices seem more affordable than most.
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Humboldt Redwoods State Park
We took a cooling and scenic drive up the northern tip of coastal Route 1 and headed back inland to spend the night in Garberville. The next morning we set our sights on Humboldt Redwoods State Park to see the protected old growth Redwood forests up close and personal. A drive through the Avenue of the Giants is the easiest way to se... More >
We took a cooling and scenic drive up the northern tip of coastal Route 1 and headed back inland to spend the night in Garberville. The next morning we set our sights on Humboldt Redwoods State Park to see the protected old growth Redwood forests up close and personal. A drive through the Avenue of the Giants is the easiest way to see these majestic beauties. You can stop at various turnoffs along the way, including Founders Grove, to walk amongst the big boys and get a stiff neck trying to see where they end in the sky above.
Having had our fill of Redwoods we took Mattole Road out of the park for the "road less traveled." This stretch is referred to as the Lost Coast because very few people actually take this stretch of road.
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Ferndale Museum
Having had our fill of Redwoods we took Mattole Road out of the park for the "road less traveled." This stretch is referred to as the Lost Coast because very few people actually take this stretch of road. It is not a long distance, but it takes several hours because it winds its way up and down through forests, hills and desolate stretches of ranch land before the beauty of the Pacific Ocean at Cape Mendocino appears arou... More
Having had our fill of Redwoods we took Mattole Road out of the park for the "road less traveled." This stretch is referred to as the Lost Coast because very few people actually take this stretch of road. It is not a long distance, but it takes several hours because it winds its way up and down through forests, hills and desolate stretches of ranch land before the beauty of the Pacific Ocean at Cape Mendocino appears around the corner. The end of the Lost Coast brings you to Ferndale, which is small but picturesque with lovely restored Victorian homes. Just don't get there too late - it is truly a sleepy town.
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Lost Coast Brewery
Long days filled with scenic driving need to end with a tasty brew. It is very fitting then that in Eureka, we found the Lost Coast Brewery. Fun, funky and ever so tasty, we relaxed with our beers and got tips from the bartender about some good live music going on up the road in Arcata, which is where our day ended. We still weren't... More >
Long days filled with scenic driving need to end with a tasty brew. It is very fitting then that in Eureka, we found the Lost Coast Brewery. Fun, funky and ever so tasty, we relaxed with our beers and got tips from the bartender about some good live music going on up the road in Arcata, which is where our day ended. We still weren't out of Northern California but with beer this good we saw no reason to rush.
A drive through the Avenue of the Giants is the easiest way to see these majestic beauties.
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About the Author

Molly G.
Molly G.
Molly G. grew up moving all over creation, starting off in the Carolinas and making her way through the Jersey Shore, the banks of Lake Erie, Upstate New York and New England. Since she hates to pack she has put down roots in Boston, despite the fact that she despises winter. However, that moving bug is hard to shake so she solves the problem by traveling instead. She’s had a job in the real world crunching numbers for a Financial Planner for 17 years but shares her photography and thoughts about books, music, movies, travel and the Red Sox on The Bumbles Blog in a joint venture with her husband. She saves her best travel posts for UpTake.
Websitethebumblesblog.blogspot.com/
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