My fiance and I are planning a National Park Honeymoon. We are going to be driving from Yosemite to the Redwood Forest. We are going to be driving straight through (12 hours!) and wondering where exactly we should head to. We want to stay in a cute town, but be near the best park and near the Eureka airport. So to be more specific: 1) What's the best Redwood Park to go to? 2) What's closest cute town to that park? Thanks!

I like Prairie Creek Redwoods state park a lot. The trees are wonderful there and you have a lot of other neat features in that park. There is a herd or Rosevelt elk that live in the park, and there is also a good beach. Near the beach is Fern Canyon, which is a really incredible - it is basically a box canyon with 50 ft walls covered entirely in ferns. You can walk along the creek through the canyon.

Not far from Prairie Creek redwoods is Patrick's Point state park, which while not redwoods is a must-see park IMO. The coastline there is spectacular.

When we have been to that area, we have camped, so I can't help you with lodging, but someone else probably can. We thought Trinidad was neat though - it is a very small town, so if you are looking for some peace and quiet, that is the place. Eureka is the other town that we spent some time in - it has about 30,000 people, so pretty large for that part of the state. We liked the town, but I don't know that I would classify it as cute though.

In reponse to my Big Basin hiking post, someone posted a this link, which looks really useful:

http://www.redwoodhikes.com/

I'm sorry, but driving straight through from Yosemite to RNP is nuts. Beyond nuts. The very fastest/least scenic route is 9+ hours of straight driving. So in 'real life' about 12 hours. And if you want to take scenic routes (either through the mountains or up the coast) - will take 2 to 3 hours longer.

Why kill yourselves?? I'd head to the coast just north of SF (or even near Sonoma/Healdsburg, stay the night and head up to RNP the next morning . . .

Depending on how in shape you are.
James Irvine Trail that connects to Fern Canyon. The hike begins just behind the Prairie Creek Visitor Center. It is 4 miles one-way,but has little elevation gain or loss. It isn't that hard. If you don't do it all the way, at least look at some of the trees right behind the Visitor Center. You can also drive to the opposite end of the trail and just do Fern Canyon-which is spectacular. Jurassic Park was shot there.

If you go further north, the next do Howland Road(dirt but very very good shape). This leads to the Stout Grove. It is a very short trail.

At Patrick's Point do Agate Beach. Palmers Point(which is at Patricks Point)is a really great place for tidepooling during low tide. November_Moon is correct-It is a GREAT spot. You might try www.redwoodadventures.com for lodging. Almost guaranteed to have lot of Elk right at your front door.

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/w...0IatW7FqybsWHX
Here are my photos from a year ago. The first pictures are of Lassen NP. Patrick's Point State Park starts on #63 and is then followed by The Redwoods-Prairie Creek/James Irvine/Fern Canyon.