Things to do and see

Anyone got any good suggestions of what to get up to while in the area if I decided to stay for a few days after the race?

I have the same question: What the heck is AROUND there? Is it close to SF? Which also brings up the question, how do you get there?

tons to do up there...to the south (between the race and SF) you've got Mendocino, wineries, spas, coastline...and in that area and north you've got Humboldt (don't miss the Lost Coast Brewery and the cute old downtown with good bars and restaurants and coffee), Lost Coast, a really gorgeous state park north of Humboldt. To the east, the Central Valley and Mt Shasta. happy trails!

ps. the road from SF can be a few hours or longer if weather is bad (some parts get windy the north you go...and, you can take Pacific Coast Hwy if you really want to add driving time but more adventures. you can also get there from Sacramento or Redding.

This is one of my favorite parts of the country. We have vacationed there several times. The size and beauty of the trees in that area literally take my breath away and cause me to realize just how insignificant we really are.

Although you can spend days touring the forest, these are just a few of my favorites:

World Famous Tree House is thought to be more than 4,000 years old and contains a room 21' by 27' with a fifty-foot cavity ceiling, it stands more than 250 feet high and 101 feet in circumference. Check these out [alamedainfo.com].

The Chandelier Drive-Thru Tree is only 2,500 years old or so. It is 315 feet high and as they name implies, you can drive through this giant.

The Grandfather tree has one of the largest tree trunks in the world: 55 feet in circumference.

Edited Sun 9th Dec 2007 1:56 pm by SeeMarcieRun

This is one of the most scenic courses you will ever, ever find! I can think of nothing more spectacular than running beneath the Giant Redwoods along the Eel River. But if that is not enough for you, there is most certainly a plethora of touristy things to do.

Right where the race will be you can go to the Rockefeller Forest, which is along the south fork of the Eel River. There you can see Flat Iron Tree, Tall Tree and Big Tree. And in Myers Flat you'll find the famous "Drive Thru Tree" just down the road from the Humboldt Redwood State Park Visitor Center.

In nearby Scotia, the Pacific Lumber Company mill has a very interesting logging museum full of historic artifacts and photos of the early 1900s. (I know, this does not sound so great, but I loved it!)

If you like hiking, there are countless places along the Lost Coast and King's Range. The Lost Coast is still the longest undeveloped stretch of shoreline in the state. It includes one of the most remote wilderness treks in the continental United States. You can easily spend a couple of days exploring just the Lost Coast. (If you aren't a hiker, you can drive through much of it, but I can't imagine that would be as satisfying as hiking it.)

You can also swing through historic and remote towns like Petrolia, Capetown, and Honeydew.

I'm a local here and have to say i haven't even got to see everything our area has to offer besides the trees there is art galleries , museum's, plays, Victorian houses and stores ect.. take advantage of your time here you wont regret it!! google our area ( Humboldt county) you'll be amazed at what there is to do

Depending on what "a few days" means, how you're getting around and how much time you want to spend in the car you'll have to be selective. My wife and I like Eureka quite a bit but would run out of things to do after about 2 or 3 days. It's a more laid back atmosphere, and more affordable than heading south to Napa or Sonoma County. Although more spendy, it's really nice here and can be pretty nice weather before the heat of summer hits. Most of the vineyards are fully leaved out now, and there are several nice wineries between the better known wine valleys and the coast.