The Magic Of The Lost Coast

We have discovered one of the most beautiful places on earth, the Lost Coast.

To find this magical play you take the 101 North from the San Francisco Bay Area. Drive for about three hours, until you come to a little town called Redway, then you take a left and head West.

The curving, two lane road, winds its way through majestic redwoods, up a mountain and along the ridge, then back down and up again. This road is winding, but if you take it slow you won't be stressed or nauseated. You will be overwhelmed with the wilderness around you.

When you start going down, it's a serious grade so you have to put the car into low gear, you know you are getting close. All of a sudden the mountains open up and you get your first glimpse of the Pacific Ocean. Keep rolling and you will find the tiny town of Shelter Cove. It is a small place filled with beauty, a few homes and small hotels, a great grocery store, and a few very tasty restaurants. It also has the most remote brewery in California. Yes, a brewery!

We checked into our pretty hotel that sat right above huge tide pools and then wandered around the town. Shelter Cove, and the Lost Coast, is a place to hike, explore nature, and most of all, slow down. There is nowhere that you have to be and the ocean is always calling you. The weather stayed between 56 and 70 degrees, it was perfection. We saw elk, deer, fox, sea lions, harbor seals, crabs, sea anemones, and more ocean birds than we can name.

For a little more adventure we drove back over the mountain road and into the astonishing redwoods of Humboldt County. There is something about walking through such ancient giants that puts life into perspective. Finding streams and rivers to skip rocks in is always good for the soul.

We followed the Eel River back towards the road that leads to Shelter Cover. We stopped at a tasty little spot called Chimney Tree and enjoyed some really yummy lunch and amazing milkshakes! We even got to go into the chimney tree!

Once we got back to the serene Shelter Cove we did a whole lot of nothing. Explored the tide pools, found huge fish bones, watched small aircraft land and take off, followed a lovely nature trail, ate tasty pizza, and watched a movie.

Once it was dark we went outside and gazed at the night sky filled with stars.

The next day, after exploring the wilderness and the amazing Venezuelan restaurant, yes you read that right, we headed to Black Sands Beach. Ok, it's not sand, it's four miles of perfectly rounds stones and is also part of the Lost Coast Hike. Even if you aren't up for the strenuous 24 mile, 3 day hike through the Kings Range, you can enjoy this part. This is NOT a swimming beach. One look at the breakers and you will know why. We played with rocks, listened to the frogs sing in a little pond and watched on of the most beautiful sunsets we have ever seen. Filters are definitely not needed.

After such a magical weekend it was hard to head back home, but we know that we will be back to visit The Lost Coast.