off the beaten path in Northern california
 

What's your favorite weekend adventure in Northern California? I'm looking for a fall destination within 4 hours drive from the Bay Area. I'm considering Kings Canyon or Lost Coast. Thanks

You might search out this thread, "Your most Romantic Northern California Weekend," from just a day or 2 ago. Also, if you'll search "no cal" you'll find lots of good threads to read for great information. Good luck with the planning! :)

What month?

Yosemite

Carmel/Monterey

Sonoma County, including the apple festival in Sebastopol

Napa Valley or Calistoga weekend at a B&B/Spa

Calaveras Big Trees State Park near Arnold, CA...which is also 49'er Gold Rush Country.

Yosemite in the fall isn't nearly as busy as in the summer.

Utahtea

I think it depends on what you want to do. Do you want to hang out in a spa and eat at great restaurants, or hike and be out in nature.

Good advice from Utahtea. You might also visit nearby Murphy's and do some wine tasting. Lots of interesting shops there, as well as several good restaurants.

We're planning this as a fall trip and would like to be somewhere we can hike but are not planning on camping. We're leaning towards the Lost Coast. Does anyone have any thoughts about the Benbow Inn and or the road from Garberville to the coast? Thanks.

Benbow Inn is the "best" place to stay in the area.

The Best Western in Garberville doesn't have much curb appeal, but the rooms are large.

We prefer the Mendocino area and the walk on the Mendocino Headlands.

The Sea Ranch.

-Bill

Hi blancalita
The Bendbow in is real nice and expensive. Right next to the Eel river and the state park of the same name. It is a throwback kind of place. Sherry in your room, tea and scones served in the afternoon. When I stay there I go for the King rooms with a deck. Another nice place is the Best Western in Garberville. The road(s) to the coast are steep narrow and winding as are most coastal roads in Humboldt county. What kind of adventure are you looking for. As I live up here I should be able to point you in the right direction. In the fall there are some places you should not be hiking into.

Have Fun
GP

Hi blancalita, I always thought the Benbow Inn was so lovely. But last autumn friends of mine went there (on my recommendation) and the wife was bored the entire time. They did play golf but she said other than that there was nothing to do. In that they were stressed and tired I thought Benbow would have appealed to them, but evidently not. So is depends on what you are looking for.

You are fortunate to have GP here to give you some good information.

I think Benbow sounds about right. We want a beautiful place to relax . We'd like to do some hiking in the Redwoods (and/or the lost coast). Can one rent a canoe on the Eel River? Where shouldn't one go in October? thanks

Hi blancalita
What I was refering to, is eary fall is harvest time in rural humboldt county. If you stick to the parks and the official trails you will have no problem at all. When some pepole use the word "adventure" it sometimes means going off trail, bushwacking, or mountian biking into very remote areas. Which by the way is rather easy up here. If you were doing this you could run into a bad situation. The eel will be to low for a canoe. If you want to canoe or kayak Big, Stone, or Freshwater lagoons would be the better option. I think there are a couple of places that rent canoes or kayaks up here I'll check for you if you want.
Here is a full day adventure. From Benbow,eave early 9am, pack a picnic lunch and fluids drive north on the Ave. of the Giants to the founders grove. Head west along the Mattole road stop along the road and at the big tree area. If the bridge is still up cross the creek (if the bridge is not up you can either wade to the otherside or hike upstream for a mile.) Once across the creek take a stroll of about 3/4 of a mile down stream the are some BIG trees here. Head back to your car. Continue west to Petrolia take the road out to the mouth of the Mattole river. The is a camp ground here with tables it is never full and you can use a spot for lunch. You can get a taste of the lost coast. Explore the beach or hike south for a mile or two. This is the start/end of the lost coast trail to Shelter Cove. (If you plan on going south of punta gorda be aware of the tides!) It should be lunch time after lunch head back to Petrolia there is a store and gas there. There will be nothing else till you get to Ferndale. Follow the road to Ferndale there is only one road. You will travel north along the lost coast. Stop as you like and explore some of my favorite beaches. Keep going on this very narrow winding steep road and you will end up in Ferndale. As your time allows you can wander the shops and art galleries. You could even have dinner. There is a road out of Ferndale to 101 at 101 head south back to Benbow. You can also do this route the other way heading up to Ferndale and then out to the lost coast but if you run out of daylight and had to drive in the dark you would rather be on 101 than the Mattole road.
Let me know if I can give you more information.

Have Fun
GP

gp- thanks for the detailed suggestions. We're booked for the Benbow in late October.

The area north of Benbow Inn is one of my favorite places. Head North and take one of the exits for Avenue of the Giants, the best might be in Meyers Flat. Just north of town is a visitors' center. Get a map from the rangers and advice for the type of trails you like. It is fantastic in there! Avenue of the Giants is the old Redwood Highway before they built the freeway. The roadside may be full of cars, but if you stop and walk a trail, you will probably be alone. Most trails are level, the tall trees and ferns provide a thick,shady canopy and perfect oxygen for relaxing strolls. There are short trails, long trails, simple loop trails = Gorgeous! Once we hiked several miles into the woods and happened upon a car commercial being filmed in the middle of the wilderness!