Drenched alternately in sun, fog, mist and rain, the North Coast of California stretches along the Pacific Ocean from San Francisco Bay to the border of Oregon and is characterized by cliffs, hills, and tide pools while interior portions are more mountainous, dissected by small rivers and their canyons, and densely forested by redwood trees. The lower reaches of the North Coast are largely urbanized while the rest is mostly rural. Notable seaside beaches can be found at Marin Headlands and Point Reyes National Seashore. The grandeur of the redwood forests can be experienced in places like Muir Woods National Monument and Humboldt Redwoods State Park as well as along California State Route 254, which is better known as the Avenue of the Giants.

Avenue of the Giants

State Route 254, more commonly known as the Avenue of the Giants, is a 32-mile scenic road that runs through Humboldt Redwoods State Park, roughly following U.S. Route 101. While there are several campgrounds, and bicyclists and ramblers are often visible by the side of the road, it is by car that most people view the Avenue.

Arcata

Pristine Redwoods line the outskirts of an artistic and eclectic community centered on a downtown plaza paved with Victorian architecture and hand-painted murals. There are quaint shops and culinary restaurants of imaginative behavior that encompass the original flavor that Arcata has to offer.

Battery Point Lighthouse

Battery Point Light is a lighthouse in Crescent City near the Oregon border. It was first lit in 1856, long before the Spanish had influence on the architectural design of the region. The lighthouse is open to the public April 1 through October 31. It is recommended that you research tide times before visiting, as the tide rises very quickly at the point and the land bridge to the lighthouse can disappear rapidly.

Old Town, Eureka

Old Town is the thriving, cultural heart of Eureka, with dozens of specialty shops, coffeehouses, restaurants, galleries, and museums. The area is an attraction for visitors and locals alike. The placement in the California North Coast is indisputably beautiful. The area, often shrouded in fog and very definitely behind the Redwood Curtain is very different from the rest of California.