DD and I are planning this trip for the week prior to Labor Day. We will fly out on Friday August 26 and return the following Saturday or Sunday. We have free tickets on Southwest so we are flexible as to which airport to use, SF or Oakland. Deciding factor could be car rental fees.

We have been to SF before, but would like to spend a day or two there at the start or end of the trip. I think we will probably go from SF to Napa. From there we will probably travel up 101 to Redwood NP. I just read that Eureka is a best destination to visit in the US.

We would enjoy visiting a few wineries. DD might like a little wine tasting. I don't care for it. I'm interested in the site-seeing aspects.

Trying to determine how many days to spend in each location and what are the main places we should visit. I love the coast and walking on the beach, especially tidal pools.
Would the drive from Eureka to Crescent City give us such opportunities? Highway 1 from Fort Bragg to SF looks interesting, but I'm sure the drive would be slow and time consuming. Is there a specific area along this Highway we might want to see?

Thanks for any suggestions.

I prefer the northern portion of SR 1 (SF to Leggett) to the more famous southern one (Big Sur, San Simeon etc.) By all means take it in one direction or the other. Yes, it's slow, but not terribly so. You might want to consider spending a night (even two) in Mendocino, a very lovely little town used in several famous movies. Tide pool/beach walking nirvana.

The other area to look at for beach walks etc. is the "lost coast" - south and west of Eureka. You could base yourselves in Ferndale, a very cute Victorian town, with easy access both to the Lost Coast and also to some of the southern Redwood groves. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Coast

Or, for more beach walks, consider shooting past Crescent City and hit some of the state park beaches in Oregon - the whole coast from the state line up to Bandon is littered with gorgeous beaches.

In driving times, it's around 5 hours from SF to Eureka via US 101 - freeway for the most part. Things slow way down between Arcata and Crescent City as the road weaves through various redwood groves - it's an embarrassment of riches; take your time.

Eureka the best destination in the US?? O..kay. There are some superb Victorian buildings, and a meal at the Samoa Cookhouse is fun, but... best? Well, opinions differ I guess. Big trafficky strip city for the most part... IMO. YMMV.

"I just read that Eureka is a best destination to visit in the US."

Where on Earth did you read that piece of advice??? The NW coast and redwoods are terrific -- but Eureka really isn't a destination.

Gardyloo has given you some great info - I agree w/ all of it.

Palmers Point Beach at Patrick's Point State Park is just before you get to Redwood National Park and is a great place to go tidepooling. We enjoyed James Irvine Trail hike all the way to the beach. This trail connects with Fern Canyon trail. You can do Fern Canyon, just by itself. Do not miss Fern Canyon. This is in the Praire Grove area. We also enjoyed Stout Grove, which is further north. That is a great little dirt road drive. We didn't see Lady Bird Johnson Grove, but that looks good as well. Lots of elk in and around Prairie Grove.

Thanks for all of your help. I will be checking out all of the places you have recommended. We love the Pacific and would like to spend a few of our days exploring beaches and towns along the coast. I am thinking of going north upon arrival up highway 101 and then returning south along part of 1. Possibly spending Thursday in Napa and driving to SF on Thursday night and spending time there Friday and Saturday.

There was an article in the travel section of msnbc a few days ago that listed 10 relatively unknown small towns in America that are worth visiting. Eureka was one of them. Perhaps it was chosen because of it being near Redwood NP. Not sure?

Hmmm. Let's just say I'd chose a few other cities in that region before I'd choose Eureka. If the goal of your trip is to explore beaches, I'd spend time in the Mendocino-Fort Bragg area.
*The town of Mendocino is very quaint, and there is a sweet little trail that goes past the church and down to a wonderful beach where the river meets the ocean.
* Mendocino Botanical Gardens (between Mendocino and Fort Bragg) - fabulous strolling which includes some great ocean views
* Howard Creek Ranch - a unique place to stay where you are steps from a great walking beach. Some of the accommodations have ocean views but the ones that don't are very private in feel and look into the woods. www.howardcreekranch.com

In Redwood National Park there is not any motel-type lodging with beach access, but you can drive to some camping and picnic areas on the beach. Crescent City has a lot of motels and there is a pleasant harbor and enjoyable wading beach there. I wrote a report on our trip last August to this area. We split our time with motels and camping, but you might get some ideas about practicalities from it. http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...erendipity.cfm
For places to stay in the Redwood Nat'l Park region, I'd consider (south to north) the historic lumber town of Scotia, the charming but somewhat touristy Ferndale, ARCATA (instead of Eureka), Patrick's Point/Trinidad, RAVENWOOD motel in Klamath (which is right in the middle of Redwood National Park) or Crescent City. Where you choose to stay depends on how many days you will allot for this area. It is a long drive, so you'll really need to consider if your goals are driving and site-seeing, hiking, beach-walking, relaxing, etc.
Check your map carefully and have fun planning!

This is where mim59 read that Eureka is a town to visit now: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/0...eka_California

My jaw dropped when I read it.

Mim59, Here are some random notes.

*The drive between Eureka and Crescent City is beautiful and goes through redwoods.
*In Crescent City we enjoyed staying in the Hampton Inn with balcony and ocean view.
*Mendocino is a charming old town, and the Mendocino Headlands are beautiful.
*In Mendocino we like a casual dinner in the bar at the Mendocino Hotel.
*The stretch of road from Leggett to the ocean is extremely winding.
*Highway 128 goes through Navarro Redwood Park and Mendocino wine country--a beautiful drive.
*Highway 1 from Mendocino to Bodega Bay is a very beautiful drive. It is a lot of work, but it is worth the effort.
*The Best Western in Garberville is a great place to stay--big rooms and generous breakfast.
*Cecil's in Garberville is an excellent place for dinner.

HTTY

Elnap29, I just finished reading your trip report and picked up a lot of useful information. No, we won't be camping. Thanks to both you and happytrailstoyou for lodging and dining suggestions. We are always looking for neat places to stay and for family-owned restaurants.

I will be researching the places all of you have recommended in the next few days as I begin to plan our itenerary. Thanks again for all of the suggestions.

or - if you want a bit of a splurge --checkout the Benbow Inn in Garberville. Wonderful rooms/food/pub/grounds

http://www.benbowinn.com/hotel.htm

If you want to stay in the Mendocino area -- the Little River Inn is just south and has amazing views

http://www.littleriverinn.com/

We stayed at some great ocean-front hotels last year along the north coast of California up to Oregon. There was a Hampton Inn (I think) on the water in Crescent City, and my favorite, the Overleaf Lodge in Yachats. The Overleaf was on a great beach for tidepooling, with the waves at high tide breaking just 30 feet (or less) from the room.