Redwoods National Park
 

Hi, we are a family of 3 traveling to the Redwoods in early December. Has anyone been during December, and is very rainy and miserable?

Also, where's the best area to stay when vising the park? We want a place that will give us easy access to the park, thanks!

>> . . . and is very rainy and miserable? <<

Certainly can be. But not always. Not the best time of year to visit far NW CA.

>>We want a place that will give us easy access to the park, thanks!<<

It isn't just 'a' park. The entire region is a series of state and national parks stretching for about 150 miles - so no one place is 'best situated'.

Where are you traveling from? Because there are other places to see redwoods w/o going up to Humboldt/Del Notre counties. I'd probably base in Trinidad or possibly Ferndale. Ferndale if you wanted more of a town w/ shops/restaurants - it is near though not IN the Redwoods.

It's not the time I'd pick to visit Redwoods. There are not all that many indoor things to do for one thing. Why December?

You're better off picking two bases. I don't know how much time you've got, but as Janisj said, it's a whole region. If you do one base, you'll end up doing a lot of driving each day.

We like the Best Western in Garberville: big rooms, evening reception, great big breakfast, and several dinner options nearby.

HTtY

If you just want to drive through the redwoods then probably the two best roads are the Avenue of the Giants (Humboldt Redwoods State Park) and the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway (Prarie Creek Redwoods State Park). But as janisj noted they are 100 miles, a solid 2+ hours driving from each other.

We wanted to hike and settled on Trinidad, the closest town to Prairie Creek Visitor Center, and were happy with that choice. Even so, it's still 20-30 minutes each way to get to the main trails. We'll save the southern portion of the parks near Garberville for another trip.

I think these two sites have the best info:
http://redwoodhikes.com/
http://www.mdvaden.com/grove_of_titans.shtml

Make sure you have good rain gear in December!