staying in ferndale
 

we are staying at the gingerbread mansion in ferndale, which looks interesting

I've stayed there a couple of times and love it.

For our 2 day 1 night trip to Ave of the Giants (from Santa Rosa), I’m still trying to decide where to stay. We would like a place that has 2 separate bedrooms, and I need a comfortable bed in order to sleep and am also sensitive to musty air or dust or bugs…..

There’s Miranda Gardens which is rustic but nice, (and has great reviews) and my family seems to think it would be exciting to be nearly sleeping in the park.

I also see a place called Scotia Lodge in Scotia, which looks nice and they have a 2 bedroom option.

There are also places in Shelter Cove which would give us a glimpse of the scenic coast, but I’m not sure if the travel time will just be too much for the one night stay.

Any more thoughts or suggestions are appreciated!

Definitely NOT Shelter Cove. You simply don't have the time. Just Garberville out to Shelter Cove takes an hour over a very winding road.

Ok, thanks for that advice.

Do I need tickets or reservations in advance to go to Avenue of the Giants?

Absolutely not. It is a rural public roadway. No 'entrance gates' etc. It is actually mostly the original route of 101 before the new highway was built decades ago.

Ok thank you. That’s what I would have thought, but someone at some point told me to make sure I reserve in advance. But that was not correct apparently.

Maybe he was talking about accommodations or something??

yes maybe.

staying in ferndale
 

We just returned from a trip through the avenue of the giants and stayed at the Gingerbread Mansion for 2 nights. It's quite nice. They serve a nice set of appetizers and wine from about 4:30-6.

Sounds wonderful! Has anyone been to the Benbow Inn? Because there are 3 of us we prefer a 2 bedroom configuration and they seem to have that.

I've stayed at both the Gingerbread Mansion and Benbow Inn (Gingerbread X2 and Benbow X3)

I LOVED both. But the last time I stayed at the Benbow was probably 6 years ago or more, so can't attest to the current management etc.

The Benbow's grounds are lovely, the pub is exactly like a country pub in and English coaching inn. The dining room (again this is probably 3 chefs ago) ran from very good to meh. The rooms span from compact queen's in the historic wing to massive, gorgeous terrace suites. Decor throughout is very traditional.

Russian River or Tomales Bay Kayaking
 

Hi,
We would like to go kayaking one day while in the Santa Rosa area.

Considering:
-Tomales Bay morning trip
-Tomales Bay evening Bioluminescence trip
-Russian River trip

Advantages of the TB morning trip might be seeing diverse wildlife and unique beautiful landscapes.

The bioluminescence trip sounds very intriguing but I’m not sure about how I would like kayaking in the dark.

The Russian River sounds relaxing. I’m not sure if the scenery would be as scenic or interesting as TB, but it does sound beautiful.

Has anyone done any of these? In terms of choosing just one of these options, which would you recommend?

Kayaking Tomales Bay or Russian River
 

Any suggestions are appreciated

I'd probably do the morning Tomales Bay trip myself. No sea otters or things like that but lots of sea and shore birds and easy kayaking. But maybe I'm just not that attracted to the Russian River trip simply because there are so many river kayaking options near my home w/o driving the two hours to Guerneville/Rio Nido

That’s what I was leaning towards, thanks for your input!!

Is Lake Sonoma another good kayaking option? Any other options within an hour or so of Santa Rosa?

Hi Everyone,
I appreciate all of your feedback, and wanted to report how the trip went. We saw most everything we wanted to see, but will admit we were in the car a lot.

Based in Sonoma to start with, enjoyed the vineyards, mountains and scenery.
Did a Kayak trip in Tomales Bay which was fantastic, then drove around that area which is stunning.
We drove to Eureka to walk higher up in the Redwoods at the Zoo there. It was quite nice.
Then went to the Avenue of the Giants which was magically beautiful and peaceful.
Stayed in the Benbow Inn for one night. The room was spacious with a lot character and the service was excellent. The grounds were so nice too.
Next day we drove over to Fort Bragg area, and did a Noyo Bay boat tour. It was nice to sea lions and seals, boats in the Harbor etc.
Then drove down through the Mendocino Coastal area, which was spectacular.
When going down, we saw where the Russian River meets the Pacific Ocean in Jenner, and decided we'd like to go kayaking there a different day. The area is unique.
Did horseback riding in Jack London Historic State Park which was surprisingly very scenic and enjoyable.
Went to Safari West in Calistoga and did a safari, which was fun, beautiful and educational.
Went on a kayak trip in Jenner, which was possibly the best highlight of our trip. The natural environment was unique and we could see the ocean from the cove we were in. Loads of pelicans and seals and a stopover on a beach.
Drove through Napa, had coffee. Napa was of course gorgeous, but I enjoyed the more down to earth beauty and atmosphere of Sonoma.
Went to see the Golden Gate Bridge, but couldn't due to fog.
Tried to do the 17 Mile Drive at Pebble Beach, but it was closed.
Visited relatives in Santa Cruz, saw Natural Bridges and walked along the coast. It was so pristine and scenic.
Went to the Aquarium in Monterey. It was nice but way too crowded. I was surprised they allow that many people in at one time.
Stayed 2 nights in Palo Alto, which was ok, before going back to the airport.

That's it!

Sounds like you had a great time -- and squeezed in a LOT :)

Thanks for reporting back