State Bliss Blog — Travel

If you're a fan of being outdoors or love nature and you haven't taken the time to visit the California Redwoods, then this needs to be your next vacation destination. You will not only find some of the tallest trees on Earth, but a beautiful mix of prairie land,  rocky coastlines, and an abundance of wildlife. There are beautiful rivers and swimming areas as well as fantastic hiking and biking trails lined with lush greens all resting in the shade of the magnificent California Redwoods.

If these descriptions haven't already convinced you to plan your next vacation to Northern California, then maybe these 4 reasons why you should visit the California Redwoods will.

4 Reasons You Should Visit the California Redwoods

Flickr-renedrivers

1) The beauty of it all

As Sylvia Plath said in The Bell Jar, 

“I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery—air, mountains, trees, people. I thought, "This is what it is to be happy.”

You will have this same experience the minute you step from your car and enter into the beauty of the California Redwoods. The smell of the forest is unlike anything you've experienced before - fresh, clean, cool. The best case to make for visiting the California Redwoods is the fact that you will be able to enjoy the beauty of nature without the distractions of every day life.

2) Perfect for camping and hiking

Flickr-Steven Fong Whether you like to rough it or prefer an RV, you can find something to suit you in the various state campgrounds located in the heart of the California Redwoods. The Redwood National State Park is located in Humboldt County in Northern California, close to the coast line. It stretches from Trinidad all the way to (and past) the California/Oregon boarder.   World For Travel

There are four main camp grounds to choose from:

Jedediah Smith: This is a beautiful campground located near the banks of the Smith River in the midst of old-growth redwoods. Campground actives include swimming, hiking trails, fishing, and seasonal programs hosted by the campground staff. This campground is open all year and does fill up very quickly for the summer. If you're thinking of vacationing there you should plan to call with plenty of advanced notice. Mill Creek: Located 7 miles south of Crescent City, Mill Creek offers a range of programs led by camp rangers and miles of trails to hike! There is a mix of redwoods as well as maple and alder trees that add diversity to the natural surroundings. This camp is only open from May to September so plan accordingly! Elk Prairie: Another great, year-round option especially for those of  you who are bike enthusiasts. There are over 70 miles of biking and hiking trails surrounding this camp ground. Gold Bluffs Beach: Part of the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, Gold Bluffs Beach is just that - a campground near the beach with the benefits of towering redwoods, gorgeous coastline, and a variety of hiking and biking trails. There are no reservations here so it's first-come, first-serve.

3) You could drive through a tree

Flickr-David Dugan Yes, you read that right. Only in the beautiful California Redwoods could you actually drive through a tree! Dating back to the 1930s a hole was cut through this tree (picture above) to allow cars to drive through. Today, guests can visit the park where the tree is located and drive through for $5. A small price to pay for bragging rights and a snapshot or two to prove you, in fact, drove through a tree!

4) Less expensive than staying in a hotel

Let's face it. Everyone is on a tight budget these days, which means vacations are becoming harder to plan and execute. When you visit the California Redwoods you won't need to break the bank. Average cost for camping is $35 per vehicle ($8 for an additional vehicle) or $5 per hiker or biker per night. What a steal! The listed campgrounds (above) all offer RV and tent sites in addition to the hiker/biker campsites so you can pick your level of 'roughing it'. DWrappers-Ricky These reasons are just the tip of the ice berg when it comes to all that the California Redwoods have to offer. A trip to these beautiful forests crowded with towering trees and lush underbrush will remind you of the sheer beauty of nature. Paired with crystal clear rivers and an abundance of wildlife, you'll never want to leave. World For Travel

 

 Source: National Park Servic Cover photo from Deviant Art by nmsmith

It’s very easy to live an eat-drink-and-be-merry lifestyle in the west coast, particularly in California, where craft breweries are abundant. In fact, with the amount of establishments that serve delicious brews of various flavors, it makes total sense to make a road trip out of it with your very own California brewery tour!

21st Amendment Brewery, San Francisco

As one of the most diverse and interesting cities in the country, San Francisco is home to a myriad of brew pubs to visit for the first time. One of the most essential stops a beer tourist must hit to begin an enjoyable beer expedition is 21st Amendment, conveniently located downtown. Among the variety of beers they have on tap, the most popular one of their year-round brews is the Brew Free! Or Die IPA, a hoppy golden IPA that surprises you with an initial kick but goes down real smooth. Saison fans might like to try out the Sneak Attack, a Belgian-style farmhouse ale and 21st Amendment’s version of a winter beer that’s only available till end of March. Upcoming Event: Homebrew day in the BG! Visit 21st Amendment on March 16, 2014 (Sunday) between 12nn and 4pm and hang out at the beer garden to learn about the establishment’s brewing method.

Lagunitas Brewing Company, Petaluma

Once you’re done trying out the brews and sampling 21st Amendment’s delectable lunch menu, you can get on Highway 101 and head to your next stop, another one of California’s pride and joys when it comes to great beer. Lagunitas is well known in the craft beer circuits for its IPA, more than anything else – it’s the number one IPA in the state of California for a reason. With a perfect balance of malt and hops, this beer’s tried-and-true combination of sweet and bitter definitely deserves seconds (or thirds). Upcoming Events: Daily tours of the brewery that require no reservations, hell yeah! Beer Dinner! On March 18, 2014 (Tuesday), the company’s head chef will be creating a series of coursed meals designed to complement a variety of Lagunitas brews. Enjoy a night of good food, great beer, and live music and buy tickets here.

RussianRiver Brewing Company, Santa Rosa

Continue up Highway 101 until you hit Santa Rosa, where the microbrewery responsible for Pliny the Elder – a popular double IPA that’s best enjoyed fresh – gets a regular onslaught of beer tourists every year. Russian River has a long list of brews – super-hoppy California ales, Belgian ales, and barrel aged beers, among others – for you to try, so getting them all via sampler (along with a meatball sandwich or a pizza, which they also serve) is highly recommended. Upcoming Event: Anniversary Party! Celebrate Russian River Brewing Company’s tenth anniversary on April 5, 2014 (Saturday) from 8pm to 11:30pm by coming for an evening of entertainment and some aged brews from the pub’s cellar.

BearRepublic Brewing Co., Healdsburg

If you’re approaching the limits of your beer-tastin’ capabilities, then make Healdsburg your last stop and visit Bear Republic, medal recipient at the recently concluded 2014 Good Food Awards held in San Francisco, California. Its award-winning brew Café Racer 15 double IPA is a must-try for its bold, aggressive, and hoppy aromas that ends with dry, malty smoothness. This brewery also has a long list of brews and all of them are high on the hops, so be sure to bring your booze-drinkin’ A-game and end your brewery tour on a high note with one of their selections. Upcoming Events: Beer tours are every Saturday at 10am, by appointment only. Weekday Happy Hours at 3pm St. Patty’s Day! Come to the Bear Republic Brewpub on March 17, 2014 (Monday) and enjoy a specially crafted menu that includes succulent corned beef simmered in the brewery’s own Big Bear Black Stout.

Aside from getting some sun on your face, some sand between your toes, and the seas to splash happily in, you can make your trip to the golden state worthwhile by getting some shopping in. And while you’re getting a cardio workout hopping from one shop to another, a great time and money saver is checking out the numerous outlet malls in California. Don’t knock it till you try it – shopping in outlet stores doesn’t mean you have to go into messy warehouses to peruse defective or damaged products and settle for cheap-price-for-cheap-quality goods. Outlet malls these days are exactly like your usual retail malls, minus the fancy-schmancy décor and hoity-toity ambiance. If you’re a seasoned and serious shopper who’s on a mission to find more bang for your buck, these outlet malls are crammed with stores you can check out:

Camarillo Premium Outlets – Camarillo, CA

For people with a heightened appreciation for designer fashion, bargains from brands like Armani, Coach, Kenneth Cole, and Ralph Lauren may be too hard to pass up. Sporty adventurous types will just love checking out last season’s athletic shoes from shops like Nike, New Balance, Puma, Reebok, and Saucony. Boasting a total of 160 stores, this outlet mall located North of Los Angeles is a popular stopover for out-of-town road trippers and locals alike.

Desert Hills Premium Outlets – Cabarzon, CA

Looking for something to give your mom? Get her classic pieces to wear from Ann Taylor, shoes from Aldo, a handbag from Kate Spade, or lotions and fragrances from L’Occitane. Check out Bose and give your dad the gift of home gadgetry. Is your gal-pal beauty conscious? Get her a goodie bag of assorted cosmetics and skin care products from Clarins or Crabtree & Evelyn. Whoever it is that you’re shopping for, there’s a little bit of something for everybody in this outlet mall comprised of over 130 stores located within the Los Angeles area.

Gilroy Premium Outlets – Gilroy, CA

If you happen to be in the San Francisco Bay Area, this outlet mall located South of San Jose is one of the more popular outlet malls to hit – you’ve got over 140 stores to choose from. Go nuts and hoard your favorite scented products at Bath & Body Works for both yourself and your friends. Binge-shop for baby’s clothes at Carter’s, OshKosh B’gosh, Gymboree, and The Children’s Place and never come empty-handed to baby showers, birthdays, and baptisms. And for the teen girls in your life, you can get cute outfits from shops like Juicy Couture, Justice, Rue21, and Wet Seal – you’ll surely be a hit!

Las Americas Premium Outlets – San Diego, CA

San Diego is a major surf city and home of the very first triathlon held in the country, making it the ideal destination for athletic adventure-lovers. So of course, if there’s anything you should shop for in this outlet mall, it would be tons and tons of sports apparel and accessories! Go to Adidas for their latest discounts on footwear. Head to O’Neill or PacSun for your surf apparel. If you need sunglasses, there are at least 5 stores you can check out for that. Out of over 125 stores, you can rest assured that you will come out of your shopping spree decked in your sporty best.

What is there to do in Yosemite National Park? The question is, what isn't there to do? With it's breathtaking scenery and abundance of outdoor activities year round, once you visit Yosemite you will wonder why you don't make it a regular trip. Whether you're from out of the state, or live a few hours away, it is more than worth it to take a trek to this protected land for almost 1,200 miles of play room. Check out the Sequoias nestled in the valleys, the wildlife prancing around the meadows, hike up a a few majestic waterfalls, camp before backpacking to Half Dome, or climb El Capitan if you have the guts. But one thing is for sure, do not miss out on taking in this beautiful display of nature at least once in your life!

Yosemite HD II from Project Yosemite on Vimeo.

If you are a college student looking for a good time, Spring Break in California is one of the best places to go! Warm sun, sand, water, and tons of other students ready to get their party on in their bikinis will be littering the beaches. Get ready for some beach volleyball, surfing, or whatever your heart desires. How much better could it get? Some of the best beaches to visit for the perfect Spring Break parties:

Venice Beach 

Street performers, shopping, drum circles, endless food opportunities, and Muscle Beach. Venice is something that anybody in California should experience at least once in their lifetime. With a year-round party atmosphere, Venice would not disappoint for the Spring Breaker.

Source: discoverlosangeles.com

Huntington Beach 

Can you say beach volleyball? With tons of courts, grass for picnics, and Ruby's on the pier, Huntington Beach is the perfect place for a college student to catch some rays during the day and go out to the bars at night.

Source: vice.com

Newport Beach 

Like to SUP? Enjoy relaxing and watching the boats go by? Newport beach is the perfect place for you. Balboa Island offers the perfect backdrop with fun old time games and rides, and stores for shopping.

Source: travelchannel.com

Santa Monica

Enjoy Santa Monica's amazing expanse of beautiful sandy beaches, then play around on their iconic pier and get some lunch and go shopping up on the street level.

Source: straightatours.com

Manhattan Beach 

If you enjoy the LA vibe, the perfect place to get your surf on is at Manhattan Beach!

Source: sergeys.us

 

Pacific Beach

Perfectly located near all of the most fun San Diego attractions, Pacific Beach always draws a young and fun crowd ready to have a good time during Spring Break.

Source: pacificbeachonline.com

Lake Havasu

If you are looking for an insane party scene where drinks are abundant and music is blasting, make your way over to Lake Havasu. Especially during Spring Break, this is the place to go to get some sun while meeting a ton of new people and letting loose!

Source: tripadvisor.com