Another great visit to the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. Said hi to Marly; I'm friends with…read moreher sister. The dahlias were in full bloom, so beautiful. The agave plant was also in bloom. New art along the pathways and done that I enjoy seeing every visit. Lots of people, lots of dogs, lots of sun and plants. Another delightful day at the gardens. Loved the bird houses to be auctioned.

Spend 2 to 3 hours here at the botanical garden, and experience a very beautiful and scenic walk…read morealong the coast. The walk through the garden makes you feel you're walking through different terrains of California - forresty area and seaside area. A lot to check out. You can also get some lunch here too. Parking can be challenging here.

Grr. Oh Yelp, why dost thou load my photographs backwards? I wanted to tell a story …read more.. Just back from a beautiful weekend on the Humboldt/Mendocino Coast. Back to what appears a rainy day in the Bay Area. In late June. Wtf. This walk was as splendid as the last. Different, as I had a hiking buddy this time, different as I left the water filter on my bed at home and had to beg other hikers for the use of theirs. Different in those respects but similar in many others. Tips: 1. Bring the bear can for the food. I still don't think you need it if you think about what you're doing before you do it but the rangers don't agree and as we saw two this trip and they are serious about the bears you may as well bring it along. I hate bear cans. 2. Time your walk so you can stay at the best campsites. I like Big Flat the best of all. It's about 17 miles in from the northern trailhead, so either: a) start early and walk all the way there in one day, or b) start late, spend the first night at the lighthouse (3 ish miles), and make a more leisurely day of it to the sweet driftwood shelters that will serve for your Big Flat dwelling on day 2. 3. Time the tides. I don't fret too much over them but it pays to have a general sense of when they'll be high. Some spots are tough to traverse at high water. And some of the tough spots at high water are comprised of stones the size of bowling balls that when wet and when you're in a hurry because of sneaker waves can be a real pain to get across. Literally. 4. Watch for the rattlers in the grass; don't tree your food. 5. Pack a little tequila for the gloaming. About 280 miles from Temescal to the mouth of the Mattole (north trailhead). Less to Shelter Cove. You can take two cars and shuttle around (if you have company) or park at Shelter Cove and arrange for a shuttle to take you north (you'll be hiking back to your car at SC). A couple of years ago I paid 50 clams for a solo trip from SC to the put-in. Takes about an hour and a half to get around. The Lost Coast is about as far in miles and time as Yosemite Valley. In all other respects, it's a world apart. We're blessed to live in such a wonderful place. Take it all in.

I went backpacking this Memorial weekend. It was an unforgettable experience…read more Lost Coast. First time I heard the name, I imagined a very desolated and abandoned coast. I got a picture in my mind the ocean sitting with sadness. I went there and found my image was not so wrong. There were a lot of driftwood on the beach as if it was abandoned by somebody. Scattered woods looked in grief. However, right next to the beach with dead trees, steep hills with lush green reside. What a contrast. The other side is Pacific Ocean. Ocean is powerful and strong. Reflecting the sun, the ocean was very shiny. So beautiful. I was able to see whales, sealions, and sea otters. Beauty and sadness exist on the same page. Actually the naming is from depopulation in 1930. Now many backpackers are attracted by the pretty scenery. In terms of difficulty of backpacking, I would say it is very different from doing in the Eastern Sierra. Hiking on the sandy and rocky beach requires another muscles. Overall, this Memorial Weekend was memorable.

I was impressed by this park because it was so beautiful, family friendly and it had immaculate…read morebathrooms! There's a little loop path that has little signs about Redwood trees, the birds nearby and the fun facts. I appreciate how there's a grassy pasture in case you bring pups (they shouldn't go on the trails). There were picnic tables around too to enjoy a meal. The bathrooms were clean and unique, I'd never seen a skylight in a bathroom.

Beautiful, easy trails with signage to share information. The river is also easy to access. We…read moreloved learning about the trees as we walked. We were bummed to miss the visitor center but didn't look up the hours in advance.

Great tide pool find! Check tide times online before going so you know the best time to visit, go…read moreat low tide to be able to see and explore more of the rocks and creatures. Starfish, hermit crabs, larger crabs, sea urchin, fish

Free access day today…read more Beautiful, well maintained, clean restrooms, accessible to all levels of mobility, leashed dogs welcome, gift shop. Plenty of trash receptacles. Wood sidewalk/path plus smooth trails. Cool whale skeleton and information. Something for a everyone whether you want to camp or day use. Clean beaches, flowers, plants, birds, greenery, deer. Friendly staff members

Stopped by here a few years ago and loved the area, its peaceful, we hiked down to the black sands…read morebeach, but it was pretty rough on the feet so you can't do bare feet due to the rocks, but it was a gorgeous spot worth checking out since we were there, the water is cold, and the waves are high so you can't swim, but its nice for sight seeing

Black Sands Beach is a beautiful beach that is secluded. We went on a busy weekend, although I hear…read morethat on non- busy weekends or weekdays you might have this place to yourself. You park and walk down to the beach. When we went the bathrooms were out of order. It's a beautiful beach to walk along and soak in the views. Tip: Don't go near the water. There are signs all over to stay 100 ft away or more from where the waves break due to the under toe.

Avenue of the giants is a great way to drive along the freeway with a more scenic route. It was…read morebeautiful and gorgeous drive and they have stops that you can go to for view points. I suggest you go early to avoid crowds if you want to get to every site and not have toooo much traffic. Also Make sure to get the map at the first stop so you can read about each stop and decide which ones ha wanna go to.

Absolutely wonderful way to experience the Redwoods firsthand. No need to drive the whole avenue;…read moreyou can pop off the 101, drive up Avenue of the Giants for a bit, and then pop back on the 101 to resume your trip. That's exactly what I did and it worked out great. You can slow down and experience the Redwoods close up, rather than whizzing by on the highway. No fee! Don't miss it!

I visit Mendocino every five years or so, and each time, I make a point to stop by Jug Handle…read moreNatural Reserve. On this trip, I made it down to the beach and was rewarded with a few sea glass finds, moody coastal views and a new perspective of the park. After looping along the coastal bluff trail, there's an obvious path down to the beach that's not too steep. If you're up for a longer hike, there's the Ecological Staircase trail. I've not done that hike, yet, but seems like it could be an interesting adventure. Since my last visit, I've noticed improvements on the trail and better signage. It's free to park and a great stop to stretch your legs along the Mendocino coast. Spring brings lots of wildflowers, so it's a great walk, even on rainy moody days. Always a must stop when I'm in the area.

This is a great place to access a beautiful , clean beach. It's a short hike along a trail then…read moredown some stairs. It's a perfect and not crowded beach. Since I was here last, they've created some raised decomposed granite trails. These raised, packed trails look like they would be conducive for use by strollers, walkers and wheelchairs. It's a beautiful addition to these grounds. There is a decent sized parking lot, portable toilets, clear signage. The grounds and trails are clean, the beach was prestige. Kudos for the new trails.

Shelter Cove is very remote. One way in, one way out. At least 30-40 mins to get anywhere. But…read morethey've got a lot to offer right there in the community. Let's be clear: the number of stars here isn't indicative of a four-star hotel. But overall it didn't disappoint. GREAT view and the sound of the waves crashing outside were high on my amenity list. The unit itself is pretty bare bones. Cheap but comfortable furniture. Kitchen has pretty much everything you'd need to cook. Bed is okay, maybe a little hard. Really hot showers, which was nice. Managers are super nice and 100% responsive to any needs. We got one night free bc of their spring special, which bumped it up a star for us. Would I recommend it? Yes. Would I HEARTILY recommend it? Probably not. But I have no complaints.

This place is incredible. All of the rooms have an amazing view of the Pacific Ocean. You are…read moreliterally on the edge of the continental shelf when you stay in this place. The rooms are comfortable and have everything you need. Complete with coffee maker refrigerator and super comfy bed. There is a television but I never turned it on because the view was intoxicating and I couldn't take my eyes off of it. I was here right around solstice and so the day was very long and by the time it was too dark to enjoy the view it was bedtime. The hotel managers were friendly and kind and helpful. This place is walking distance from Gyppo the local favorite brewery. And also right on the lower Pacific Road which runs along the ocean. Close to Mal Combs Park. I absolutely recommend this place to anyone wanting the experience of sleeping right next to the ocean. You could hear the surf and waves all night long. It lulled me to sleep.

I visited Humboldt State Park on the first weekend of Spring, and spent most of my visit on the…read moreNorth Bull Creek Trail (8 miles round trip). My destination was the Tall Tree, and I passed miles of banana slugs, moss, lichen, spring wildflowers, and the refreshing surge of Bull Creek with its turquoise hues. The park was far from crowded, and I was pleasantly surprised to see Park Staff tending the maintenance needs (weed abatement). I felt safe & incredibly relaxed on the trail. There are over 100 miles of trail in this park and plenty of river access, providing something for everyone. If you only drive through the Avenue of the Giants, it will be time well spent in this gorgeous paradise.

As with many of the California State Parks this park is a jewel not to be missed. For starters,…read moreadmission is FREE! The many old growth redwood groves are interesting and beautiful to saunter through. Way finding is easy and park maps and internet resources make for a wonderful road trip. Visitor centers are well stocked, have clean bathrooms with ample parking. Volunteer staff are well informed and helpful. Trails are well marked and very clean. Surprising lack of random trash so volunteers and visitors do a great job. We have learned over the past few years to avoid the crowds and cost of visiting National Parks in California when we are truly blessed with such exceptional California park options. This park is amazing and fascinating with manageable visitor sizes. Take the time to experience the area small towns too!

"Where is the sea glass?!" I heard one man ask another. You might see nothing. Also You might find…read morelittle glass pieces on the beach, depending where you go. There are 3 sites for the beaches, some harder to find than others. Some beaches were hard to get down to, always be careful and safety first! If it is too steep then don't chance it Beautiful spot to look out into the ocean, enjoy the cliff views and just be present. Nice to be in the sun! And out! Check out the sea glass museum in fort Bragg town to learn more about it, which really helped me prior to going. If made it more meaningful

Nice place to come for the first time visitor to Fort Bragg…read more My wife, her mom, and I came to visit Fort Bragg (named after the same person that the more famous Fort Bragg in North Carolina is named after) on our way down from redwood forest parks to spend the night in San Francisco. One of the more famous tourist attractions in the area is Glass Beach, so named for the once plentiful sea glass that dotted the shoreline. It was stop number 12 (14:01) on day 5 of our road trip. It is located in Noyo Headlands Park, where there was plentiful parking, even later in the afternoon. The glass originated from a city dump that operated until 1967. There wasn't much left. Thus most colors of the glass pebbles were the common green, brown, and clear color of beer (and soda) bottles. To get down to the area where the glass accumulates, requires going down a non-paved hill from the bluff, so wasn't possible for Mom. We did get some good pictures of the area. And there was a cool carved piece of driftwood, resembling a whale near the benches where we sat, admiring the scenery.