Avenue of the Giants

As we were traveling north through the redwoods along 101 we opted to travel on a parallel road at a much slower pace. The road which runs through Humboldt Redwoods State Park and is 31 miles long with various pullouts and groves along the way. This is the largest stand of virgin redwoods remaining in the United States. Imagine 51,222 acres of magnificent redwood groves. Our first stop was at the Chimney Tree. We went inside and had fun exploring this hollow giant. It is hard to believe they keep living.


Why there is Leon on the back side of the tree.


We stopped shortly after entering the drive for lunch in Miranda. Our lunch seemed to coincide with the high school's lunch break and there was a long line of students waiting to get pizza or salad at the place we stopped. Next door some older men visited while one sat by a truck about his age to sell his wares.


We passed many pullouts and groves and stopped at one. We walked down to the Eel River that runs alongside the road. The groves provided nice places to pull off the road and wander.






We drove for hours along this 31 mile stretch going at a snail's pace and enjoying the view. There wasn't that much traffic on the road with it being a Monday and the schools aren't out here for four more days. The Eternal Tree House and its accompanying little restaurant and gift shop was another stop. It reminds me of a large scale fairy garden.



And the hollowed tree was complete with little four pain windows and a guest book. What a shame all the homeless people I see can't just go into the forest and hollow out a tree.


And all around the grounds were handsomely carved wood sculptures.





On to find a place for the night!