Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
North Coast & Redwoods
Famous for some of the world's best virgin redwood groves and unspoiled coastline, this 14,000-acre section of Redwood National & State Parks has…
Must-see attractions in North Coast & Redwoods
Grace Hudson Museum & Sun House
Along Highway 101
One block east of State St, the collection’s mainstays are paintings by Grace Hudson (1865–1937). Her sensitive depictions of Pomo people and other…
Coastal Highway 1
This iconic lighthouse was constructed in 1870, destroyed in a 1906 earthquake and then rebuilt in 1908. It remains the tallest on the US West Coast (tied…
Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
Coastal Highway 1
This gem of Northern California displays native flora, rhododendrons and heritage roses. The succulent display alone is amazing and the organic garden is…
Along Highway 101
Sustainably grown, harvested and produced, ‘America’s Greenest Winery’ offers affordable, bold, earthy reds. The tasting room, lined in brick with low…
Along Highway 101
If you visit one boutique winery in Lake County make it Olof Cellars. The wines are excellent – most are reds aged for a minimum of three years – and the…
Along Highway 101
The Italian Graziano family is one of the oldest grape-growing families in Mendocino County and specializes in ‘Cal-Ital’ wines – including Primitivo,…
Along Highway 101
Sample standout (and organic!) Pinot Gris, Valdiguié and Pinot Noir from a stunning hilltop tasting room tucked into the forest.
Along Highway 101
A cult favorite, supercool Kaz is about blends: whatever is in the organic vineyards goes into the wine – and they’re blended at crush, not during…
Along Highway 101
Among the best community museums in this half of the state. It puts the lives of early settlers in excellent historical context – much drawn from old…
North Coast & Redwoods
Along Hwy 101, 53,000-acre Humboldt Redwoods State Park protects some of the world's oldest redwoods and has three-quarters of the world's tallest 100…
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
North Coast & Redwoods
The northernmost park, Jedediah Smith is 9 miles northeast of Crescent City (via Hwy 101 north to Hwy 199 east). The redwood stands are so thick that few…
Salt Point State Park
Stunning 6000-acre Salt Point State Park has sandstone cliffs that drop dramatically into the kelp-strewn sea and hiking trails that crisscross windswept…
North Coast & Redwoods
This park is the southernmost of a patchwork of state and federally administered lands under the umbrella of Redwood National & State Parks. After picking…
Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park
North Coast & Redwoods
Marked by steep canyons and dense woods north of Klamath, this park contains 15 miles of hiking trails and several old logging roads that are a mountain…
North Coast & Redwoods
The mouth of the Klamath River is a dramatic sight. Marine, riparian, forest and meadow ecological zones all converge and the birding is exceptional. For…
Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve
Along Highway 101
Two miles west of Orr Hot Springs, this 2743-acre reserve protects some of the best old-growth redwood groves within a day’s drive from San Francisco. A 2…
North Coast & Redwoods
A 67-acre old-growth redwood grove is a surprising green gem in the middle of a residential neighborhood. It has biking and hiking trails, a children’s…
Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge
North Coast & Redwoods
This pristine wildlife refuge protects wetland habitats for more than 200 species of resident birds and their feathered friends migrating annually along…
Coastal Highway 1
In a dramatic, rub-your-eyes-in-disbelief-beautiful location on a bluff over the sea, the wines here don't get pros excited but they are perfectly…
Coastal Highway 1
At the peninsula’s tip, Bodega Head rises 265ft above sea level. It’s great for whale-watching. Landlubbers enjoy hiking above the surf, where several…
Chacewater Winery & Olive Mill
Along Highway 101
Sample a wide array of largely organic wines and then soak up the alcohol with an equally memorable olive oil tasting. Bring your favorite bottle to the…
North Coast & Redwoods
This New England-style lighthouse dating to 1856 still operates on a tiny, rocky island that you can easily reach at low tide. Walking around outside is…
Along Highway 101
Located in a former 1920s schoolhouse in central Hopland, this fourth-generation family-owned winery has bocce courts, bold red wines and chocolate – a…
Coastal Highway 1
A half-mile trail passes through a large grove of cypress trees leading to a staircase down to this pristine quarter-mile beach. Walkers can follow the…
Westport-Union Landing State Beach
Coastal Highway 1
Located 1.5 miles north of Westport, this ruggedly beautiful beach extends for three miles on coastal bluffs. A rough hiking trail leaves the primitive…
Along Highway 101
One of the most visitor-friendly options around with award-winning Pinot Noir and dry Gewürztraminer; has twice-daily free tours (10:30am and 2pm;…
Along Highway 101
The highlight of a tour here is the descent into the cool caves (book a day in advance). Sensuous whites and rare-in-California Malbecs are all…
Coastal Highway 1
The renowned collection of modern Japanese prints and California works at this small gallery is a tranquil escape from the elements. Check out the…
Coastal Highway 1
Famous for its colony of harbor seals, lazing in the sun at the mouth of the Russian River. Noted for its mystical-looking rock archway, as well.
Coastal Highway 1
Just south of the small town of Jenner, a boardwalk and trail leads out to a stretch perfect for tide-pooling and beachcombing.
Coastal Highway 1
A very pleasant beach with parking (but no other facilities); can be prone to riptides so swimmers should take care.
Coastal Highway 1
Small boats unload near this rocky headland in the morning. A good place to spot wildflowers in the spring.
Along Highway 101
The oldest vineyard in the valley serves exquisite tastings inside a rose-covered cottage.
Coastal Highway 1
Situated around a lagoon, with 2 miles of hiking and good waves for surfing.
Fort Ross State Historic Park
A curious glimpse into Tsarist Russia’s exploration of the California coast, the salt-washed buildings of Fort Ross State Historic Park offer a…
North Coast & Redwoods
It’s hard to miss the giant statues of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox towering over the parking lot at Trees of Mystery with a gondola running through…
North Coast & Redwoods
Coastal bluffs jut out to sea at this 640-acre state park, where sandy beaches abut rocky headlands. Easy access to dramatic coastline makes this is a…
Van Damme State Park
Three miles south of Mendocino, this sprawling 1831-acre park draws beachcombers, divers and kayakers to its easy-access beach, and hikers to its pygmy…
Tolowa Dunes State Park & Lake Earl Wildlife Area
North Coast & Redwoods
Two miles north of Crescent City, this state park and wildlife area encompasses 10,000 acres of wetlands, dunes, meadows and two lakes, Lake Earl and Lake…
