The ultimate coastal redwoods road trip

Offering a glimpse at what used to be, long before logging changed the landscape forever, the Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve is the perfect spot to connect with magnificent living trees and explore the natural wonders of the world. The redwood trees tower over 200 feet tall and can live for more than a thousand years. Stop by the visitor center to kick off the day, then navigate your way through a handful of scenic self-guided trails as you take in the beauty of this incredible and breathtaking nature reserve. And don't worry if the weather is a little grey or misty... the fog makes the forest look all the more magical.

No, it's not named after Jean-Claude, but this park is still epic. Unload your camping gear and get ready to call Van Damme State Park home for a few stress-free days of relaxation. Van Damme State Park offers beaches, lush forests of ferns, and plenty of camping. Whether you’re looking to go hiking, biking, fishing, or kayaking, the park has you covered and is one of the more popular campgrounds in the surrounding area. The park is well-known for its past connection with the lumber industry and offers an honest and raw look at our relationship with nature. The Pygmy Forest is one of the more unique features here; mature, cone-bearing cypress and pine trees stand an adorably minuscule six inches to eight feet tall! Or if you're looking for a hike, the Fern Canyon Scenic Trail System is the best place to start.

How many logs does it take to build a home? Only one... if the famous One-Log House is your standard, that is. It was hollowed out in 1946 from a single redwood log rumored to be over 2,000 years old and weighing over 42 tons. One could even argue this home was the first tiny house! Although the one-log cabin doesn’t come with a two-car garage, it was built on wheels as the original artist had hoped to tour the home across the country; ultimately he was unable to, due to the tree’s size. The tour of the home won’t last long, but it’s a unique experience you’ll be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. The gift shop next by is an excellent place to pick up a few souvenirs and learn more about the home’s history.

Located in the center of Humboldt Redwoods State Park, Avenue of the Giants is a world-famous, 31-mile drive which offers arguably the best views of the majestic redwood trees that California has to offer. With eight key stopping points, there are plenty of opportunities to get out and take in the surrounding trees. Feeling adventurous? Go fishing or swimming in the nearby Eel River. Craving some kitsch? The Immortal Tree might not be the oldest tree in the forest (it's only 950 years old), but it's survived floods, lightning strikes, and a lumberjack's saw. The route was once a part of old Highway 101, so you know the two-lane road is gonna show off some amazing views.

One of the lesser explored Redwoods state parks is Grizzly State Park. It offers the beauty of the Redwood trees without the typical tourist rush. Three units make up the park, but the Cheatham Grove is the highlight. If the grove feels familiar, then it's probably because the one-mile-long trail through it was used to film scenes from Star Wars: Return of the Jedi set on the Forest Moon of Endor. It really does feel like an Ewok might pop out from behind a tree at any minute!

If the towering redwoods you've seen so far aren't cutting it for you, then head to Redwood National Park, where the tallest of the redwoods reside. For those who loved the Avenue of the Giants, cruise the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway. Or head to the Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center for some stellar exhibits about the redwoods (and to pick up a permit if you're backcountry camping here.) The adventurous can hike Yurok Loop to Hidden Beach (there are lots of sandy beaches in the park to explore), or make it a quick stroll around the Lady Bird Johnson Grove loop.

With less than three stops left of your California Redwoods adventure, be sure to take your time at one of California’s most popular attractions. In the center of the Redwood National and State Parks area, the Trees of Mystery is a natural attraction that has been educating and entertaining guests since 1946. Walk the trail devoted to legendary logger Paul Bunyan (Babe the Big Blue Ox is there, too), explore the Trees of Mystery museum, or peruse the gift shop for some last-second souvenirs. You can also see a Candelabra tree, a fallen redwood with several other trees growing from its trunk, the twisting, massive roots of an Elephant tree, and the Cathedral tree, which is actually 9 separate redwoods growing together as one. The distinctive shape comes from the fact that the trees grew around a dead redwood, which rotted away over the years. The one must-do thing here has to be the gondola ride, though... you've spent plenty of time looking up at the trees, and the chance to peer at them from above is amazing.

Established in 1925, Del Norte Coast Redwoods Park is a can’t-miss stop as you drive Highway 101. Spend some time camping at the Mill Creek campgrounds, or venture down the Damnation Trail to the ocean. There are plenty of reasons why Del Norte Coast Redwoods Park remains such a popular attraction. It's a pretty rugged park, with 8 miles of coastline and dense forests, so expect to enjoy some adrenaline-pumping views here.