| Driving the northern California coastal
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| | towers above you, oblivious to the
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| road from the Oregon border southwards to
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| | tourists gawking below!At Leggett, US
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| San Francisco makes for a majestically
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| | Highway 101 continues inland towards
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| scenic summer road trip. If you love
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| | California's Napa Valley Wine Country.
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| stunning beauty, the California coast
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| | To enjoy a coastal drive, you should
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| route will give you the best of TWO
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| | catch California Highway 1 at this point,
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| worlds...both panoramic views of the
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| | and take a short jaunt west to the
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| Pacific Ocean AND intimate,
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| | Pacific Ocean. As you head southwards
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| cathedral-like groves of skyscraper-high
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| | towards San Francisco, you'll drive for
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| California redwoods.You'll start your
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| | miles and miles on a 2-lane,
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| California coast roadtrip in northern
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| | bluff-hugging road with terrific views of
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| California's Redwoods National Park.
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| | the rocky shoreline below.You might wish
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| Redwoods National Park guards some of
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| | to stop at the quaint little village of
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| California's last remaining "old growth"
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| | Mendocino. There, you'll find an
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| redwood trees, while at the same time
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| | artist's colony, many bed and breakfast
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| providing the public with opportunities
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| | inns just oozing with charm, and the
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| to view and enjoy them. At Redwoods
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| | opportunity for touring and
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| National Park, you may enjoy the
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| | sports.Further south still, you'll come
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| informational exhibits in one of 5
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| | to Bodega Bay. Not only is Bodega Bay
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| visitors centers; "rough it" with some
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| | blessed with natural beauty, but you'll
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| tent camping...or take it easy in your
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| | also enjoy touring "The Birds" filming
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| RV; be inspired by a naturalist's talk at
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| | sites. The Alfred Hitchcock nail-biter
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| a campfire program or join a ranger-led
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| | was filmed both at Bodega Bay and its
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| nature walk; or simply enjoy picnicking
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| | inland sister town, Bodega, California.
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| under the redwoods or by the
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| | You'll see "The Birds" filming locations
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| beach.Heading southwards along US Highway
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| | in both of these little hamlets.Most of
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| 101, you'll drive for awhile along the
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| | the northern California coastline is
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| coast until you pass the
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| | rocky. When you head south into the
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| beachside city of Eureka, CA, where the
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| | Point Reyes National Seashore, you'll
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| route heads inland. If you stop in the
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| | find a large and sandy beach awaiting
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| small town of Scotia, California, you'll
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| | you. Time to enjoy a swim!As you make
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| be able to take a tour at the Pacific
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| | your final approach into San Francisco,
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| Lumber Company's sawmill. There, you'll
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| | California Highway 1 merges back into US
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| see "whole logs" turned rapidly into
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| | 101 again. You'll pass the scenic little
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| finished wood products...guided by a
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| | town of Sausalito, California, where you
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| computerized system which "makes the
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| | may view the Muir Woods National Monument
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| most" from each log.Continuing southwards
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| | (for another glimpse of fabulous
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| along US 101, you'll soon reach "The
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| | redwoods) or the San Francisco Bay Model
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| Avenue of the Giants" scenic drive (about
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| | visitor's center (where you'll learn
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| 30 miles south of Eureka.) This road
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| | about the tides of the bay, and how they
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| offers you miles of stunning views of the
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| | affect humans, plants and animals.)You're
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| California redwoods. At points, these
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| | on San Francisco's doorstep now! You'll
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| gentle giants enshroud the road so that
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| | know you've arrived when you see that
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| light never touches the pavement!In the
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| | graceful and majestic marvel of
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| midst of the Avenue of the Giants, you'll
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| | engineering looming before you...the
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| want to make a stop at the Humboldt
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| | Golden Gate Bridge. It's simply
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| Redwoods State Park. There, you may set
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| | thrilling to cross the Golden Gate and
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| up camp for the night...in a spot where
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| | see an expansive vista of the Pacific
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| every breath brings you the aroma of the
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| | Ocean, San Francisco Bay and the city
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| redwoods' fresh scent! You'll find miles
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| | itself all spread before you
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| of hiking trails through the trees, spots
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| | simultaneously!You northern California
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| for fishing...and you can even get a
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| | coastal road trip is now completed. As
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| little swimming done in the Eel River.
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| | you sadly leave it behind, you also begin
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| Or, if you only have time for a quick
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| | to cheer. It's time to view all the
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| stay at Humboldt Redwoods State Park, you
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| | exciting attractions that San Francisco
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| can take a quick view of the Visitors
| |
| | has to offer!Vicki Funes, this article's
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| Center's engaging exhibits, or stroll
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| | author, is both a native Californian and
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| along a short path through a gorgeous old
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| | an inveterate traveler. You'll find more
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| grove.Heading south along the Avenue of
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| | information about the northern California
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| the Giants, you'll come to an interesting
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| | Coastal route on the "California Coast
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| site that just screams "tourist
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| | Road Trip" page of her website, which is
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| kitsch"...and that's the One-Log House.
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| | called "Family Vacation Getaways at Los
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| Can you believe that these giant redwoods
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| | Angeles Theme Parks." For your
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| are large anough to carve out an RV-sized
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| | convenience, you may reach that page by
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| home on their insides? They are!Still
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| | using the following link: While
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| southwards, you'll reach Leggett,
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| | you're visiting this website, take some
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| California...where you'll find the
| |
| | time to look around---you'll find loads
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| Chandler Drive-through Tree. You may
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| | of photos, and hundreds of ideas for
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| drive through a "tunnel" in the base of
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| | planning a fun-filled road trip to
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| this giant redwood...while the tree
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| | California within its pages!
|
