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Coastline Photos from Smith River to Crescent City, California
Ship Ashore Resort
This was our destination to rest our heads after our jet boat ride on the Rogue River in Grants Pass, Oregon. This next leg of my mother's, niece's and my trip would have us seeing some of northern California at Smith River, California and down to Crescent City, California where we would take in additional sites like the majestic redwoods forest. Ocean pics were taken as well as forested ones. Come along and join us on this leg of our journey.
It took much longer than anticipated to drive from Grants Pass to Smith River because of many curves in the road and speeds of only 25 miles per hour. Because of having reservations we pushed on and shortly after arriving enjoyed a magnificent sunset over the Pacific ocean.
The Ship Ashore Resort in Smith River is situated overlooking the water so we had a terrific and unobstructed view of the setting sun.
Sunset Pacific
This Ship Ashore Resort has a prime spot with regard to the Smith River and Pacific Ocean. The views are terrific and I made use of my camera to record the brilliant sunset over the water.
Seagulls are in abundance and the waitress at the restaurant invited us to take the remaining bread from the basket that was served at our table during dinner to feed the seagulls that perched on our balcony railing. Obviously the seagulls are used to being regaled with extra bread like this!
Seagull Pictures
We paid the price for this largess! The next morning at the crack of dawn we had noisy and boisterous seagulls squawking and begging for another helping of bread. There was no need for an alarm clock! My niece had fun obliging the seagulls. They kept us entertained with their antics until we needed to get on with our planned activities for the day.
Location of Ship Ashore Resort
Smith River California
Most all of our two week vacation that year was spent in Oregon.
Smith River is a very small unincorporated town in the very northwestern tip of California just below the State of Oregon. The primary reason that we came to this area was because my mother wanted to see some of the famous tall redwood trees and experience their grandeur in person. Thus it was worked into our sightseeing plans. It would be the first time for my niece to see them as well.
Crescent City, California
We headed south to Crescent City, California which is only 12 miles or so from Smith River. After an easy drive our first stop was to visit the Battery Point Lighthouse.
Battery Point Lighthouse
Normally one can walk right up to it but when the tide rolls in the path is obliterated. Unfortunately for us it was high tide so we could only view it from a distance.
It was one of the first lighthouses built along the California coast so has great historical significance. Had we been able to walk over to it we could have toured the interior and have seen period furnishings.
Ocean Pics
Getting ocean pictures of this rugged coastline in northern California is easy. Crescent City juts out into the Pacific and it makes for some pretty spectacular scenery.
That location has also caused problems for the local residents. Tsunami prone this part of the United States has been hit with large damaging ocean waves causing great destruction and even deaths. As recent as the devastating 9.0 earthquake in Japan on March 11, 2011 damage was done to property and a death was reported as well when about 8 feet of water came crashing ashore.
Fortunately for us the weather was agreeable and we simply enjoyed the ocean views picking up a few interesting rocks as souvenirs along the way.
It is easy to see from the map below how Crescent City juts out into the ocean making it more vulnerable to tsunami's than other areas.
Redwoods Forest
Crescent City is the gateway to some of the giant redwood trees of California.
My mother, niece and I found a picnic table in the Lady Bird Johnson Grove and enjoyed a lunch of some Indian style smoked salmon jerky that we had purchased locally to add to our other more typical picnic offerings. We had some interested blue jays that were willing to gather any crumbs left behind.
It was then time to see and marvel at the spectacular redwood trees.
Giant Redwood Trees California
- The Lady Bird Johnson Grove is a part of the national park. In addition to the Redwood National Park there are a number of state parks which have these coastal redwoods growing in various places along the California coastline.
- These redwoods which are the tallest living things on our planet some of which are thousands of years old have amazingly shallow roots. Many are no more than about 10 feet in depth but do spread out for great distances.
- Most of the mature trees are anywhere between 300 to 350 feet tall
- They have massive trunks and can survive fires that have occurred over the centuries. In fact hollowed out trunks of trees that are still alive have been used for shelter for both people and animals.
Scenery in Redwoods National Park
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeThe trees we were viewing, the coastal redwoods (sequoia sempervivens) are not to be confused with the giant sequoias (sequoiadendron giganteum) that grow in the Sierra Nevada Mountain range in eastern California. The latter while not necessarily as tall have even wider girths and are truly massive trees. In the past cars were allowed to drive through the middle of these hollowed out trees.
Those were the trees that my mother was actually thinking of and wanting to see because of hearing about them from her parents who had traveled and experienced them many years prior. But she mistakenly said redwoods instead of sequoias when I was planning the trip.
Not to worry! She was amazed and loved what she saw while walking through the Redwood National Park. But then who wouldn't be awed! It certainly makes one feel insignificant and small when realizing that these trees were here before Christ and others walked the earth!
Differences and similarities between Redwood and Sequoia Trees...
Redwoods & Sequoias
| RedwoodsÂ
| SequoiasÂ
|
---|---|---|
Which tend to be taller?Â
| xÂ
| Â
|
Which are larger overall in mass?Â
| Â
| xÂ
|
Grow along the Calif. coast?Â
| xÂ
| Â
|
Grow in the Sierra Nevada Mtn.'s of California?
| x
| |
Have been harvested for lumber?
| x
| x
|
Resistant to fire and insects?
| x
| x
|
Some of them protected in National Parks?
| x
| x
|
Can live up to several thousand of years old?
| x
| x
|
Hope that you learned a bit about this most northwestern tip of California from Smith River to Crescent City if you were unfamiliar with it. The coastline and Battery Point Lighthouse is interesting and the Redwood National Park is magnificent. Getting to see all of this made for one very special day of our vacation trip!
Have you visited this area in California?
Redwood National Park
© 2011 Peggy Woods
Comments are most welcome!
What a great girl's trip! I have been above and below this area so appreciate a closer look at a region I would like visit. Thanks for sharing your journeys.
Lovely! Voted up, beautiful and shared! :)
I've never been farther north in California than Napa County. Thanks for taking me along on your journey. Your photos are beautiful!
Loved the natural beauty of the redwood trees. They are indeed massive. The sunset picture is also beautiful. This was an interesting and informative read of places I hadn't heard of at all.
Voted up and beautiful and passing it on.
Perfectly lovely hub on the resort, Smith River and Crescent City, Peggy. The little isle cut-off by the tide is just like one in Maine i know. The photos are really marvelous with your mother and niece. Tug-of-war round the Redwood tree ha ha. Up awe and shared!
This Peggy is another masterpiece and another for my Armchair Travelling.
Thanks for all your hard work because this is what every one of your hubs as brilliant as they are.
Here's to so many more to come.
I am sharing onto my FB pages too.
Eddy.
I have only been to Southern California so I was excited to see you have written about this area, to which I have long longed to go. It is surely a beautiful place. Thank you for the excellent reportage and gorgeous photographs (as always). :-)
Thanks for letting me continue my virtual travels by reading your hub and looking at its media, Peggy. I loved the sea lion video. I enjoy walking through forests and looking at huge and awesome trees like redwoods, but my favourite type of walk is beside or on the seashore. I hope to visit some of the places that you describe some day. Thank you for sharing another very enjoyable hub.
Someday maybe I'd get to visit California....maybe next year :) Beautiful photos Peggy!! I enjoyed my virtual tour with you. Blessings always.
Saw there was another reported bigfoot sighting which brought me back to your hub. Funny how the reporting always pop up around holidays.
Peggy - love the pictures. I love the redwoods and in the area you have above.
A friend, who is not a religious man, said to me that visiting the Redwoods is like looking in the face of God - you have to be awe no matter what.
I am glad your Mom made the mistake of saying redwoods - they are truly wondrous to behold
God Bless
q
Beautiful, Peggy. I always love all your hub about beautiful place you had ever visited, including this one. I am glad to know how you made all your hubs looks so wonderful by completed stunning pictures. You have done a great job. Vote up as always. Cheers...
Prasetio
Very fascinating, enchanting!! VOTED UP AND RATED BEAUTIFUL!! AWESOME!!!
awesome hub with neat photos
Thank you for showing all around. It was wonderful. Great hub.
I have always loved Redwood National park. Everyone thinks about the majesty of the forest, but it's all about the smell for me! Great Hub. Your photos are beautiful!
You have had some great trips Peggy - and you always put together a great travel itinerary for your readers. The Redwood forests are one of America's great natural treasures
Peggy,
Your beautiful pictures of California and your family are very inviting. Your information on Smith River California and Crescent City California is really beautiful. I would love to see the giant redwood trees. Great photos and videos.
Another place I've never seen but want to visit, thanks to you.
Gene
loved taking the trip through the Redwood forest and lovely pictures.
God Bless
What a fantastic trip. I love traveling along the CA coast. Your picture are beautiful. Voted up.
Peggy, the pictures are outstanding. Thank you for sharing your memories of the special time you, your mom and niece shared on this adventure. Voted up and awesome.
I love your Pacific sunset pictures, Peggy! and the rest of your article brought back some great memories of our trip to the California coast some years ago. Reading your hub reminded me of how awed I was by the giant redwoods— I'd love to go back again!
Certainly an attractive part of the country.It would be nice to see those giant redwoods. Up and beautiful.
Another for my 'Armchair travelling.'
Your hubs Peggy are brilliant and I am not just saying that , I mean it.
As Micky says they are so well presented and i imagine myself to be rigt there in your hub.
Thank you so much for sharing this one as well.
Take care
Eiddwen.
Beautiful Peggy. I do so love to see your niece and mom in the pics. You are so consistently wonderful in your presentations. Thank you for this respite. I love you Peggy dear. God bless your family.
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