Crescent City is 20 min. north of Klamath.

My dad can walk at least a quarter of a mile maybe farther. After looking at things I am considering 2 nights north of Eureka and then a night south of Avenue of giants...Miranda. I see no reason to drive the avenue of the giants and then driving back north to sleep. Also that way we could check in for a nap!! and go back out for dinner. Can we see much of Fern Canyon without hiking. Also how easy is it to see the elk? Do we need to be out there at sunrise and sunset. Thanks about the grocery store info and all of the other tips. Bought the airline tickets today and drove to see my parents this am and dropped off pictures and brochures.

Would prefer a cabin so my dad can sit outside in the morning with his coffee.

Fern Canyon does require walking. There is a parking area, and then you walk a short distance on a dirt road to get to the canyon. I'll try to post a few pictures of Fern Canyon with my trip report (which I am doing in stages). Did you get a chance to see a few of the ones I posted so far? I've done some traveling with my mother (age 87) and usually I am on the lookout for benches for resting. There were a number of benches on most of the trails in RNP, but I don't think there were any in Fern Canyon. There may have been one near the entrance to it. I know my mom would have difficulty with this walk, but your parents might do OK going just a short way in, just to get the idea. There are a few wood planks for stream crossing. You'll see the pics and then you can decide if it's OK for them. You probably won't want to walk the loop as there are stairs involved. Fern Canyon walk is not as easy as many of the other trails (for an older person). We did enjoy the drive on Davison Rd. that takes you into Gold Bluffs Beach and Fern Canyon, though.

The elk were easy to see. At Kuchel Visitor Center you can see them just to the north of the building with a better view a very short distance on the boardwalk. Near Prairie Creek Visitor Center they were ALWAYS visible in the meadow or just across the street. You can tell, because you'll see a bunch of cars parked of people who have stopped to photograph them.
You won't need to get up early to see the elk. They seem to be used to all the attention and have worked out a prety good schedule so there is a group always present. We liked saying they knew their job well!

Check back in a day or two and I should have the RNP part of my trip report done. (You can click on my name to find it).

Get a cabin at Redwood Adventure. You are almost guaranteed to have elk right in your yard. There were about 20 of them there a couple of weeks ago. If you have the patients to watch them for a while they move. Sometimes they sit still for an hour, then get up and walk around eating a little.

http://www.photoworks.com/slideshow/...CS_003=4433951
Click on above for link to my photos
The first 50 photos are of Lassen, the last 50 are of The Redwoods. The last 10 pics are of Fern Canyon, the picnic area there and the beach that is right there as well. We hiked all the way from the Prairie Creek Visitor Cntr through the forest(about 12 miles). You can park you car right at Fern Canyon. It is a little bit of a walk, but no elevation gain or loss. You could see the entire canyon or just stop when you get tired. The entire canyon is probably a 30 minute walk(one way). Just to get to the entrance of the canyon is a 5-10 minute walk. I did notice several older folks on this trail, a couple even with a walking cane. I would take a hiking stick or cane, if you decide to give it a try. You might have a picnic for breakfast at the beach and then have one for lunch closer to the visitor cntr. At the visitor cntr, you will probably see elk, and there is plenty of big trees right there.

If you do go further north. The Stout Grove is an excellent drive and an excellent short hike(1/4-1/2 mile). Do bring repellent, the mosquitoes can be brutal occasionally. If you watch The Top Ten Things to do in the West on the Travel Channel, that filming was all done at Stout Grove and the big Tree that the ranger is standing near is The Stout Tree. It isn't far from the parking lot at all and the drive to the parking lot is really good.

Redwood adventures, Ravenwood and several other places that I called were booked. I finally got a cabin at Emerald Forrest in Trindad. I am considering Miranda Gardens in Miranda after the Avenue of the Giants

The nice thing about Miranda Gardens is that you are in the redwoods on the Avenue of the Giants (southern end) - and most of the cabins have a nice deck for enjoying that morning coffee.

Thanks for the comments on Miranda Gardens.

Fern Canyon requires some walking and you should have shoes you can get wet and pants to roll up- we walked right up the river - we did see several older people there who only did part of the walk.

In Ferndale we ate at Pappa Joes - it used to be an old bar, now a restaurant where both locals visitors come- appears the locals come to play cards and games- owner says he opened it as a daycare for retired ranchers .

Well my dad is a retired farmer and rancher so he would fit right in...