Humbled in Humboldt

Avenue of the Giants

When I told a few local friends that I was planning a trip to Humboldt County, the responses were tongue in cheek relating to the marijuana use (and growth) in that area. Call me naïve but I didn’t really consider that at all. I was thinking more about the giant trees and rugged coastline. I almost decided against going but I’m glad I went.

The trip north was long (about 5 hours) but easy and more importantly BEAUTIFUL! The directions were simple: Hwy 20 west to Hwy 101 north. Hwy 101 was so stunning that I couldn’t wait to get there. When we got to Fortuna, we pulled into The Redwood Riverwalk Hotel and the lobby was very inviting with games, books, visitor brochures, and a beautifully painted mural map of the area. The front desk attendant helped us bring our bags to our second-floor room (no elevators, but easy steps) Once we opened the door to our room…WOW! The reasonable room rates did not prepare me for this King Suite room. It was HUGE. We could have danced in the room (good thing for our neighbors, I don’t dance ☺). Besides the amount of space, there was an oversized jetted tub (our own personal jacuzzi). It was well-appointed with triple sheeted bedding, high-quality, environmentally and “body” friendly bath products. I had to remember that this is considered a 2 ½ star facility (according to Expedia). Owner Jeff Durham is working hard to turn the facility into a boutique hotel and he is well on his way. The daily housekeeping was terrific, and I might add that everything in the room worked well, which may be a first for me (even in much higher priced rooms.) In addition, each morning there is a full breakfast consisting of a generous selection of hot and cold options. In the afternoon, complimentary chocolates and fruit await at the reception desk. Although the indoor swimming pool looked enticing, we never made it there after our full days of exploration.

On our first full day, we set out to drive through the “Avenue of the Giants”. This is a 31 mile stretch of “awesomeness”! Redwood trees are everywhere, and they are immense both in size and number. The “Avenue” is within Humboldt Redwoods State Park and runs parallel to Hwy 101. We took in the fresh air, marveled at the living giants and thought about how many centuries each one had been growing toward the heavens. I was humbled by God’s handiwork. Further down the road, there were the requisite souvenir shops and tourist traps. Some were fun, others annoying, buyer beware! We did stop at the Eternal Tree House (don’t recommend) and the Shrine Drive Thru Tree (definitely a tourist trap but fun nonetheless) At many shops along the way you can find just about anything made from redwood. The Founders Grove offers a short loop trail. On the trail was the Dyerville Giant. The giant redwood once stood 362 ft. tall and was considered the tallest tree in the park before its fall in 1991. Seeing it on the ground is quite a different viewpoint of its size.

Our second day, we visited to the Loleta Cheese Factory. While they weren’t making cheese that day, we did sample quite a variety and took home way too much! They also had a Grilled Cheese Sandwich Café (of course) and our lunch there was delicious! Victorian Ferndale was just a few miles away so went to check it out. Take a walk downtown and you’ll feel like you went back in time. The entire town is a California historical landmark.

The next day, we went north to Eureka. After looking at the downtown, the harbor, passing by the Carson Mansion (a historic mansion now owned by a private club), we made our way to the Sequoia Park Zoo. They call themselves “the Fun-size zoo”. Of course, that means it’s small; And it is small but well designed. In fact, established in 1907, Sequoia Park Zoo is the oldest zoo in California and one of the smallest accredited zoos in the country. After visiting the San Diego Zoo not long ago, this was a breath of fresh air (literally, as it is set in a grove of Redwoods!). No crowds, just a peaceful short walk around the property which loops around without confusion. The river otters even put on an impromptu “show” for us.

The highlight of my trip came next (ok, the highlight was spending quiet time with my wife, but this is second) We ventured out a little north of Eureka to Trinidad. Here lies part of the Lost Coast and it is SPECTACULAR! At every turn, there was yet another breath-taking photo waiting to be snapped. Fortunately for us, there were many places allowing visitors to park and marvel at the vastness of God’s creation. Once again, I was humbled by the majestic beauty and creativity coming from the hand of the Lord.

There was a lot more beauty and history we could have enjoyed in Humboldt County if we had the time. It wasn’t all heavenly, though. Dining was rather expensive and there was a need for wisdom and spiritual discernment as the area is filled with cannabis and new-age philosophy. Of course, this is true of most vacation spots it seems. We realized once again that although God created a beautiful world, people have lived in rebellion and used it for their own purposes and not for His Glory. Humboldt County is certainly evidence of the Lord’s creativity and majesty. If you are looking for a way to beat the summer heat without the crowds of Southern California beaches, take relaxing drive to Humboldt County and I think you’ll be humbled as well!