We were able to redeem a free night at a Fairfield Inn in Redding.  They offered a free dinner, but it was kind of sad: pulled pork sliders, lettuce (not actually salad), soda and tortilla chips.  Later they ran out of rolls, so they offered cheez sauce for nachos.

This meal did not quite satisfy, so we went in search of dessert.

On the way we passed by Lim’s Café, which according to the sign, serves Chinese and American food.

I wanted to try out Dutch Bros. Coffee, which is a small chain that started in Oregon.  It has not made its way down to Southern California, so I was curious.

We ordered a “picture perfect” Dutch Freeze for us, and a mango smoothie for the kids.

What sets this place apart is the customer service.  I have never experienced anything like it.  It is a drive thru kiosk, and they play their own Dutch Bros. radio station loud.  The workers are all young and are quite chatty.  I had read thhttps://flic.kr/p/GU27txat if you mention that it is your first time, they give you a treat.  Since chit chat is one of D’s specialties, this was no problem.  They gave us two filled stamp cards so we could get free drinks the next morning.  Score!

We enjoyed another free breakfast at the hotel.  The staff person there was quite helpful, as mentioned in all the Trip Advisor reviews.  She gave the kids coloring books and crayons which was a nice touch.

When we tried to redeem our Dutch Bros. cards, they said we actually had to buy one more drink to get another free.  When we told them that the person the night before had said we would just get two free drinks, they agreed to let us have them for free.  This time, the kids shared a strawberry smoothie, which was as big as n’s head.

Our last stop in Redding was the Sundial Bridge.

After the Trees of Mystery, we went to Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.  They have a program called Redwood EdVenture Quest, where kids can take a pamphlet, follow the clues along a trail and receive a patch for finding the clue at the end.  The kids were really into it; they are the perfect age for this type of activity.

Looking for clues.

It really felt like we were on set for Return of the Jedi with all of the ferns on the forest floor and the towering trees above.

We also saw some elk as we were leaving the parking lot.

We continued heading south towards Klamath, California.  We stayed at a newish Holiday Inn, and it was quite nice.  (There are not too many lodging options near the Redwoods).

There was a cozy, modern lobby with free coffee and hot chocolate.

In the morning, there was complimentary breakfast.  We had never seen a pancake machine before.  It was mesmerizing.

They had a nice spread.   I would recommend staying here if you are in the area.  It was kind of interesting that the hotel is adjacent to an American Indian casino and across from an American Indian community center.

We were fueled up and rested for the next leg of our journey!

The land which includes the Coastal Redwoods in Northern California is a confusing overlap of various state parks and Redwood National Park.  We drove through the Avenue of the Giants, and through what seemed like endless twists and turns.

The kids were pretty content in the car, although at one point, they did think that we were just going in circles because all of the trees and signs looked the same.  I am also pretty sure they are not prone to car sickness like me, as they were able to read and do other activities, no problem.

Before we left, k wrote out this schedule for the car, which cracked me up!  I like #1!!

Also important: “Fit snacks wherever”!

We drove through Eureka, to Aracata, and stopped at Hole in the Wall Sandwiches.

The Brio French bread was good, and the sandwiches were quite large.  We split a roast beef and a pastrami.

Next we stopped in at the Visitor Center, watched a short video and picked up the junior ranger booklets.

We then drove past Crescent City and paid for parking at Jedediah State Park.

We were thinking that we might camp there, but since rain was in the forecast, we held onto our hotel reservation instead.

The hike along Smith River was beautiful, although a bit confusing.

We consulted the signage, but the trail seemed to dead end!

Tree Huggers

The Smith River is such a pretty color.

Wherever there is a river and rocks, rock skipping is sure to ensue.

Look at how small our CX-5 appears next to the Redwoods!