2025 Redwoods & Crescent City
The drive from Grants Pass OR into California is not for the faint of heart. Route 199—the famed Redwoods Highway—clings to the cliffs with the Smith River glittering just below. The road snakes and twists like it’s auditioning for a Fast & Furious chase scene. Some of those blind curves pop up so suddenly you forget to breathe, let alone look out the window. But that aqua-blue river winding through the canyon? Pure magic.
We pulled into Redwood Meadows RV, in Hiouchi CA, just outside Crescent City….our old stomping ground from 2024, and Alan instantly went nostalgic. “We’re goin’ back to the Hoochy Coochy,” he grinned. This place is his Zen zone—10 acres with pickleball courts, laundry, full bathrooms, a pool; dotted with everything from big shiny tour buses to tiny houses, gardens spilling with tomatoes and sunflowers, and close to the ocean, redwood parks and the Smith River.. When I asked Shawn, one of the hosts, if we could snag the site with the pergola again, he literally moved a tiny house that was parked there. That’s how this place rolls—warm, personal, and just a little quirky.
After check-in we beelined to the Jedediah Smith Visitor Center for our beloved passport stamps and some tips from the ranger. Then hunger hit. We cruised into Crescent City for our ritual stop at Port O’ Pints. Same dreamy Reuben sandwich, same killer craft beer sampler, same cast of lovable local characters holding court at the bar. It was like slipping into your favorite hoodie. Stuffed and smiling, we headed Bessie back to the campsite. Alan handed me my faux-fur blanket—“Yes, please”—and with our new Mastervolt batteries humming happily (thank you, ABC Upfitters), we turned the van into bedroom mode at the push of a button. Cozy doesn’t even cover it.
Fern Canyon: Jurassic Vibes
I was so pumped for Fern Canyon the next morning, I actually set my alarm for 6 a.m.—I wanted to be the first one in and get great footage without other tourists This spot, part of Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, requires an online permit (grab one in advance). The drive there was an adventure in itself: redwood cathedrals giving way to a bumpy dirt road that rattled our coffee cups for eight miles. The drive took all our concentration as the fog was thick and settled inches in front of our van…it was cinematic!
And then…boom. We stepped into what looked like a lost world. Sheer canyon walls, 40–50 feet high, draped head to toe in prehistoric ferns. Some of these plants have been around since dinosaurs roamed. Jurassic Park filmed scenes here, and you can see why. Mist hung in the air, drizzle tapped the leaves, little waterfalls slid down the canyon walls, and the stream ran right under our boots. A passing hiker said, “You can avoid most of the water.” Wrong! The stream was half the fun. Kodi bounded in without hesitation. Once your shoes are soaked, why fight it? For an hour we waded, laughed, and fully expected a velociraptor to pop out from the greenery.
Afterwards, we wandered the nearby Lady Bird Johnson Grove, a forest so towering it made us crane our necks until they hurt. These trees felt older than time itself—living skyscrapers swaying in the fog. It sits next to Big Trees Grove which requires a permit a day in advance so it was a great way to see the 280ft giants …if you didn’t acquire that permit. This area is home to the tallest living things on Earth. Afterwards we drove by the famous Gold Bluffs Beach, all pink and blue light.
Sunset by the Sea
That night we drove back to the Crescent City coast for dinner and a show. One of the campground hosts had whispered about a Seaside Restaurant, and wow—they weren’t wrong. Creamy clam chowder that could win awards, salmon seared to perfection, and Alan’s burger that had him grinning ear to ear. We finished just in time to catch the sunset, the whole beach bathed in fiery orange as the lighthouse beam winked across the waves. One of those moments you can’t fake. It’s tucked inside the Oceanfront Lodge…don’t miss it!
Stout Grove & Grove of the Titans
We couldn’t resist revisiting Stout Grove and finally checked off the Grove of the Titans. These trees don’t just stand—they loom, gnarly and twisted like characters in a fantasy novel. Secret pathways curled through hollow trunks, and Kodi got some rare off-leash freedom. We wandered in wide-eyed until…oops. We realized we’d been looping in circles. A wrong turn landed us on a long stretch of steel grate, not exactly dog-friendly. Poor Kodi had to be carried in shifts—she gave us her best “seriously, guys?” look. By the time we slogged back to Bessie, we were wrecked but also giddy. That’s the thing about redwoods: they challenge you and reward you all at once.
Onward
By the final morning the rain rolled in, our legs were noodles, and it was time to move on. We pointed Bessie inland toward Mt. Shasta, knowing that every bend of the road would bring another view, another surprise, another story. That’s the rhythm of the road trip life: one forest fades, another mountain rises, and the adventure just keeps unspooling.
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