Oregon Road Trip: Day Two - hiking the redwoods

We woke up in Arcata on July 23rd, a Saturday, which meant the farmers market was right outside our door.  We wandered around a bit and found this plant seller who happened to be named Leo as well.  Of course, I had to take a picture.  In case it's hard to read, the gray sign says Leo's Plants.  The small white sign says "All plants grown by Leo in McKinleyville Calif. Humboldt County where plants have the right of way". 

We loaded into the car and headed even more north.  Shortly after leaving Arcata, we entered the Redwood National and State Park.   The hike we originally planned on doing, which started in the redwoods and ended at the beach, was partial closed because of damage to a bridge.  So our desitantion was a visitor center in the south end of the park.  On the way, we came across a herd of Elk in a meadow off Highway 101.  They were big and there were a lot of them.  

Serafina was not impressed.  

"But, Serafina, aren't they majestic?"  

"Look Serafina, they are going away into the trees.  Don't you feel lucky you got to see those beautiful creatures so up close?"

Can you tell this is my favorite picture of the whole damn trip?  Her face just cracks me up.  She hates this picture.  

Anyway, after some advice from the rangers at the visitor's center we set off on a hike to find the Corkscrew Tree.  It was fun and beautiful.  

Water break.  

Examining the tree rings.  

I loved how the floor was covered in ferns with the redwoods towering above.  

Leo saw a face in this tree.  

Didn't see a face in this root tangle; it just looks cool.  

Oh look.  A picture with me in it! 

 And then we found it!  Corkscrew tree, which is actually a few trees growing together quite intimately.

 And back out of the forest for a post-hike selfie.

And one taken by me.

 Then it was back on the road again.  Serafina was a bit wiped out.

Both kids fell asleep and missed our crossing into Oregon.  Our desitination was the small town of Merlin on the Rogue River.  

This was our adorable cabin, called the Stillwater, at Doubletree Ranch.  The owner came over to give us a little tour of the Ranch.  He was proud to share with us that his grandfather had built the main house in the 1930s and a Grizzle Adams movie was filmed on the ranch.  

 He also pointed out the trail that lead to the river.  He mentioned there were blackberries along the way but we had no idea just how many were down there.

For a long stretch of the trail, it was blackberries galore.

 My kids loved it.  Oregon blackberries are pretty amazing already, but when you can just pluck juicy ones off the bush and pop them in your mouth...well, that can't be beat.

 Oregon is really lovely.

 My kids are huge fans of any body of water.

 I just loved this spot so much.  Right before the path ends at this little beach, a little wagon sits off to the side of the trail with beach chairs for guests to use.

And that wrapped up our first full day of vacation.