This land is your land, this land is my land, From California, to the New York Island, From the Redwood Forest, to the Gulf Stream Waters, This land was made for you and me. Folk music troubadour Woodie Guthrie penned those words in 1940, and ever since, generations of students have learned the words and sung the song. From time to time in these pages we shall be visiting some of the wonders that inspired Guthrie, beginning in this issue with those fabled Redwood Forests. When Guthrie sang of a land that “was made for you and me,” he was referencing Americans. In truth, the giant redwoods of California belong to the world. No matter what nation you call home, you will be awestruck and deeply moved the day you experience them yourself for the first time. The giant or coastal redwood—genus sequoia, specie sempervirens—thrive in the moist, humid climate of coastal Northern California, where blankets of marine fog and moderate temperatures create ideal conditions for their growth and survival. A good place to start your redwood adventure is San Francisco. Driving north across the Golden Gate Bridge, it will take you an hour or so to reach Muir Woods National Monument on the outskirts of Mill Valley. If you saw, “Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” some of the scenes from that movie were filmed in Muir Woods. Don’t worry, though, chances are slim you’ll encounter any rampaging apes or their kin on your visit. What you will encounter will be a splendid stand of redwoods once described as “the best tree-lovers monument that could possibly be found in all the forests of the World.”
Heading north from Muir Woods in search of more redwoods to ogle, you have to make a difficult choice: either to hug the Pacific Coastline on California Highway 1 past Point Reyes Marine Preserve, Mendocino and Fort Bragg or travel inland on U.S. Highway 101 through Santa Rosa, Ukiah and Willits. Both offer memorable attractions. Perhaps your best approach would be to drive north on one and return south on the other. That way, you get the best of both worlds. On your way north (or south), you will be passing through Sonoma and Mendocino counties, home to some of the finest wineries in California. There are simply too many to suggest even one or two here. Rest assured, if you’re a lover of good wine, your choices will be plentiful and varied.
Of course, you will want to drive your car through the trunk of a living Redwood. Along U.S. Highway 101 on the way to Eureka—known as the Redwood Highway—you have a choice of three privately-owned options: the Shrine Drive-Thru Tree near the famous Avenue of the Giants; the Chandelier Tree further south near Leggett; and the Klamath Tree, 60 miles north of Eureka near the Klamath River. Whichever tree you decide to drive through—if you can’t decide, you can always drive through all three—be sure to visit the Avenue of the Giants, where the largest and densest stands of Old Growth redwoods can be found.
For a change of pace, take a detour off of 101 just south of Eureka and explore the delightful Victorian town of Ferndale. If you’re a film aficionado, you may remember the Jim Carrey movie “The Majestic” and the Dustin Hoffman thriller, “Outbreak.” Many of the scenes from both movies were shot in Ferndale. Eureka itself is known for its beautifully-preserved Victorian architecture. The city offers a wide range of comfortable lodging choices and some choice dining spots.