VACATION IN THE REDWOODS

Who's Coming
Suggested Itinerary
Suggested Menu

Here is the "Vacation House in the Redwoods" where we had our family gathering in June, 2009.

Look for "Pepperwood" on this Avenue of the Giants Map for a good idea where it is located, but the map is not drawn to scale. MORE PHOTOS below. Printable DIRECTIONS HERE.

(Click map for larger printable version)

RESOURCE LIST

Golf Course Information

Fortuna Benbow Eureka Arcata

Lost Coast (photos)

www.terragalleria.com/california/california.lost-coast.html

Centerville Beach (a few miles from Ferndale, click "Southwest 1" to move down the coast)

www.californiacoastline.org/cgi-bin/image.cgi?image=10390&mode=sequential&flags=0&year=2002

Redwood coastal region resource site, lots of links

www.redwoods.info/capsule.asp?category=Play%20Outdoors&type=The%20Redwoods

Loleta Cheese Factory

www.loletacheese.com

Hamburger Ranch & Pasta Farm

The Hamburger Ranch is an excellent place to eat just off the freeway at the north end of Cloverdale on 101.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Ferndale, about 30 minutes from Pepperwood. Victorian architecture, restored Waterfront, antiques and gift shops.
Centerville Beach, a few miles west of Ferndale, no services and no crowds.
Scotia, old lumber town, museum of railroading and logging, brewery (certified organic beer), 1888 Scotia Inn.
Eureka, Victorians, waterfront.
Samoa Cookhouse, family style meals and lumberjack museum, or
Cafe Marina, fresh seafood, on Woodley Island in Humboldt Bay. Nearby: Manila Dunes (beach).
Loleta Cheese Factory in Loleta, organic cheese, cheese-making demo, gift shop.
Soul-restoring Redwood Groves, Visitor Center at Weott, and redwood gift shops. Bicycle-friendly.
Eel River for swimming, wading, fishing, gazing, photography, etc.

MORE INFORMATION

THE RENTAL: The landlady Hollis Kleb is the nicest ever. The vacation property is an acre; they live on 2 acres next door. The place has sleeping space for "6-10" and we can put tents and travel trailers on the 1-acre property at no extra charge (no hookups though) or sleep under the stars. We will be surrounded by gardens and trees. There is a hot tub and room to run, and we can bring our dogs at $10 each per night (no cats). The back deck has picnic table and lounge chairs; the front porch also has a roomy seating area with a view of the volleyball/badminton net. It is just off the road yet secluded by trees and hedges. A few miles away in Rio Dell there are facilities provided where you can park and use wi-fi if needed. For those who wish quiet or a retreat from the retreat, there is the Scotia Inn a few miles down the road:

Scotia Inn � This historic inn, nestled in the heart of the Redwoods, not only provides fine accommodations but is haunted by several ghosts. It�s most famous apparition is one that the staff refers to as �Frank,� who allegedly �lives� on the top story. Numerous tales tell of sounds, foot steps and voices heard here. Families of ghosts are also seen here including a woman with her children, another child playing with a ball, and a baby crying. Scotia Inn, PO Box 248, Main and Mill Streets, Scotia, California 95565, 707-764-5683 And from an article from May 2007: �Nearly all of Inn's 22 rooms, ranging in price from $105 to $170, come equipped with old-fashioned clawfoot tubs. Some also offer wireless Internet service. With large groups, those prices may be negotiable," Willis said.

Other hotels etc. are available - see Avenue of the Giants map above. Also the campground at Redcrest is just down the road and could be an overflow site as well. Ferndale will be about a half hour drive.

MORE PHOTOS

Another view of the deck and yard of the Vacation Rental.	Interior of the rental showing sitting room and king bed.	Bedroom with entertainment center at the Rental.
The Solar Living Center is at Hopland on 101, a good restroom stop and "green" site and store between Ukiah and Willets. The friendly Milano winery is just across the road.	The well-stocked Hoby's Store in Scotia will be our supply depot. Scotia also has a museum, hardware store, brewery, etc.	Victorians and antique stores beckon from Ukiah northward, especially in Ferndale and Eureka.
The Founders' Grove is a short drive from the Vacation Rental.	Its easy walk is educational and cool, takes maybe an hour.	The Myersville Giant, now fallen, was thought to be the world's tallest tree.

Return to Top
Fransweb Home

WHO WAS THERE?

And we missed:
Mom (maybe)

Let's do it again!

SUGGESTED ITINERARY

SUNDAY:
3-7 pm: Start arriving at Pepperwood, unpack, set up tents, check out hot tub, visit Founder's Grove if time permits. If you have bicycles this is a great place for them.
7-9: Dinner at Pepperwood
9-11: Star gazing, late hot tubbing, deck-sitting, wine drinking, etc.

MONDAY:
7-9 am: Breakfast, cleanup
9-2: Ferndale - walking, picture taking, shopping, admiring incredible paint jobs, eat lunch, rest
3-7 pm: Loleta Cheese Factory for tasting, then drive to Fortuna Riverwalk, admire river, sit or walk and shop
7-9 pm: Tasting and Dinner at Eel River Brewing & Grill or your choice; return to lodging

TUESDAY:
7-11 am: Breakfast, visit Founder's Grove if you haven't yet, Visitors' Center at Weott, other stops on Avenue of the Giants
11-3: Drive to Eureka for lunch at Samoa Cookhouse or Cafe Marina; visit beach at Dunes, after lunch visit Eureka, see Waterfront and Victorians and antique-shop
3-7: Hit beach west of Ferndale and/or return to Eel River for swimming, visit Scotia (company town) Logging Museum, and/or grocery store
7-11: Drinks/dinner/dessert at Pepperwood

WEDNESDAY:
7-10: Breakfast, clean & pack up, head out. Recommend stop at The Peg House for great coffee and road snacks. Stop at Hopland's Solar Living Center for unique restrooms and "green" experience/shopping (wine tasting available across highway). Admire redwoods and river all the way down 101 past Leggett, then settle in for the long drive home. If you hit Cloverdale hungry, recommend stop at Hamburger Ranch & Pasta Farm at north end of town near 101. Get through Santa Rosa well before afternoon rush!

SUGGESTED MENU

PLEASE BRING DRINKS YOU LIKE. Fran will bring coffee, and beer perhaps. (Perhaps? who am I kidding??) ALSO: Remember we need to carry out our own garbage.

SUNDAY DINNER:
Mexican potluck. Fran will do make-your-own-burrito bar, guacamole, chips.

MONDAY BREAKFAST: Potluck. Everybody bring at least one breakfast item to share.
LUNCH: In Ferndale.
DINNER: To be determined - Restaurant(s)??

TUESDAY BREAKFAST: Potluck, see above.
LUNCH: Samoa Cookhouse, or your choice.
DINNER: Barbecue (bring your favorite meat), baked potato bar, and potluck salads/desserts. Fran will provide briquets, potato bar, maybe burgers.

WEDNESDAY BREAKFAST: Leftovers, potluck, or On The Road. Everybody help clean up.

RETURN TO TOP