Redwoods
 

We'll be in San Fran, and want to spend 2 nights in the Redwoods, not too much driving. Where to go? Cabin or camping? 4 children 4 - 17yrs old. Thanks for any advice!! ~~ from RN in Florida

Perhaps the closest place to actually camp in the Redwoods is Henry Cowell State Park near Santa Cruz. It is about two hours at the most from San Francisco. Head south to San Jose, then take Highway 17 toward Santa Cruz and turn off when you see the signs to Felton.

Big Basin State Park is on Highway 9, take it out of Saratoga. I believe they have cabins, Henry Cowell does not. Big Basin is also more in the mountains than Henry Cowell, which is just outside of Felton, near Santa Cruz.

Another possibility would be Armstrong Grove Redwoods State Park near Guerneville on the Russan River. A pretty drive up the coast to Jenner and then up the river for a few miles.

What time of year? Camping would be very uncomfortable now...it's raining outside <grin>.

It would help if you could tell us how much driving is "too much." From the Golden Gate Bridge to the Avenue of the Giants is a little over 200 miles on mostly four-lane roads. For me, that's next door; for some people (particularly someone with four children) that would be an eternity.

Drive another 110 miles and you'll get to Redwood National Park in Orick.

Both places have innumerable camp sites and cabins, and the latter has the tallest trees in the world. The ones south of SF are pretty good, but even they are short compared to the ones near Orick.

Since you're willing to camp two nights in the redwoods, you could leave early from San Francisco, arrive mid-day at Orick, spend the entire next day visiting the world's tallest trees, and return on the third day. Again, it all depends on what you consider "too much driving."

I'd head to Big Basin, which as others have said is only a couple hours from SF - plan on an hour down to Saratoga and then an hour from there into the park (narrow road, so you have to drive fairly slow).

Big Basin has "tent cabins", which are wooden sided, wooden floor, with a canvas top (waterproof), with two bed platforms and a wood burning stove inside, firepit and picnic table outside. Smaller than a cabin, but bigger than a tent. The stove keeps it nice and toasty inside. The beds have plastic mats, somewhat like gymnasium mats. You can also rent bedding and camping supplies for an additional charge. Pictures at:
<http://www.calparksco.com/BigBasin/photos.htm>
These cabins are actually among redwoods, as are all the campgrounds at Big Basin (well, except some of the trail camps and the group campgrounds). The campground at Henry Cowell is near the redwood forest (walking distance), but is actually in an oak grove.
Description of the cabins and park at:
<http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg...ALS221.DTL>
Big Basin is about 65 miles south of SF, 25 miles north of Santa Cruz. That is definitely your best bet if your planning for the next month or two.

Thanks for the ideas! Great help. Tent cabins sound awesome, will ck that out. Hoping for like a 2hr drive from San Fran to some good redwood sightings ... we'll be in So Cal before San Fran.

If you decide on Big Basin, be sure to plan a day trip to Santa Cruz and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. They would LOVE it. Historic wooden roller coaster, antique merry-go-round, etc. etc. It's only about a 25-30 minute drive. And, while there, walk them out to the end of the Municipal Wharf and check down the openings to see if the sea lions are resting on the beams. Hopefully they will be barking.

Then drive up West Cliff Drive for a few blocks to see the small surfer's museum in a small scale 'lighthouse', and peer over the cliff to see if anybody is active on "Steamer's Lane".

If you decide on a tent cabin at Big Basin, be sure to make a reservation in plenty of time.

One more bit of advice, if you do go to the Big Basin tent cabins, you should bring hardwood from outside the park for the stove, there's plenty of places that sell almond or oak wood in boxes or bundles in the area, Safeways, or the local grocery stores in Boulder Creek. this wood burns much slower and hotter than the cut up pine two by fours sold as firewood in the park. Whatever you do, use real wood in the stoves, do not use Presto logs or any other kind of pressed paper logs, there are warnings against this, it apparently produces too much carbon monoxide for safety.