When I went to visit the Redwoods, I spent the night in Crescent City. Since the Redwoods span a large part of Northern California, there are several entrances to the parks. If you’re going to visit the northernmost region like I did, Crescent City makes a great place to stay the night before.
The city itself is pretty small, with a few motels, shops, and restaurants. Above are two photos of some houses along the coastal areas. I did a nice walk along the coast and somehow started a conversation with a local who gave me some good advice on places to hike up in the mountains.
I also did some exploring along the beach and found a lot of strange-looking plants like this one below.
Exploring the Coast
At one point during my walk I came up to this pier, where a sign warned that the waves could be so massive that even walking there was dangerous. I never did see any enormous waves crashing over the pier, but there were some periods of whiteout when fog rolled in.
I thought about ignoring the sign and going for a walk anyway, but decided to trust its judgment.
A Boat Graveyard and Dinner
These two photos above are from a small boat graveyard I passed by in Crescent City. It wasn’t too interesting, but I can’t say I’ve ever come across one before. I realized after I left that I didn’t really take many photos of the city itself, except for the boat graveyard and this excellent dinner I had at a Mexican restaurant!
Seals and Sea Lions
A small highlight of visiting Crescent City is finding the wild seals and sea lions. They can be seen all over the shores, but this large group that had taken over a pier was located right by a seafood restaurant. They didn’t seem aggressive, but of course I kept my distance. I was still close enough to see their massive size! Apparently, the best times to see these guys are April through November.
California’s Northern Coast
Farther south of Crescent City you’ll immediately find some amazing beaches surrounded by impressive scenery. The highway that follows the coast is a winding one, taking you up and down through different elevations with several places to pull over and enjoy the view. I stopped by several beaches, but this one with the black sand was by far my favorite!
