I try to get myself to Humboldt County in Northern California about four times a year. To me, it's a little slice of Eden, a reminder of what the word "Paradise" really means. It's just about 350 or so miles away from Berkeley by way of Highway 101, making it perfect for weekend trips. The area is home to several small logging towns, such as Scotia and Rio Dell, as well as Humboldt State University, located just north of Eureka in Arcata.

Perhaps the most important residents of the area are the beautiful coastal redwoods that dominate the forests. Most are hundreds of years old and stand as tall as some skyscrapers. But these are the real skyscrapers, some of nature's greatest feats of engineering. Walking among them on the Prairie Creek trail just north of Arcata I felt almost like an insect -- and I stand at 6'3". Some bark had stripped from one of the trees, though remained attached at one end. I took a walk across it and it was as though I were walking on a plank of wood. The bark held my weight without strain almost five feet in the air as I moved to touch the tree. And if the trees aren't exciting enough for you, your amazement can easily be held by the incredible proliferation of ferns growing at their base or the animals that live within. I am now a proud member of the Banana Slug Club.

My last trip to the mighty redwoods was earlier this year. I have several friends who attend Humboldt State University and tend to rely on them for floor/couch space for my overnight trips. Jamie, a Living Group Advisor at one of the school's residence halls, has hosted me for my last several trips. A couple of months ago, a friend of hers, who I am now proud to consider a friend of mine, called on a Friday morning to inform me that she and another friend would be in Berkeley in a matter of hours on their way to Humboldt. She was a tad nervous about driving through the forest at night and asked if I was available to take the wheel the remainder of the way. The next day I was packed in the driver's seat of a tiny Ford Festiva driving north on the 101. It was just the kind of weekend I needed -- good friends, good times and GREAT beer at the Lost Coast Brewery in Eureka. The pictures you see here are from that trip. Needless to say, I'll be on my way to Humboldt again as soon as I find the time.

Travel Points:

• Getting to Humboldt County from practically anywhere in California is incredibly easy. Just find your way to Highway 101 and go North. If you're in Oregon or Washington state, find the 101 and go South.
  
  
• Perhaps the best time of the year to visit the area is in the spring, when the sun shines just a little brighter and the forest wildflowers begin to bloom. I, on the other hand, tend to prfer the wet months -- November to February. There's something mystical about the redwood forest in the rain, as if you could turn any corner and find elves and fairies dacing about.
  
  
• While in Eureka, stop in at the Lost Coast Brewery Company. They're located on the 101 as you're going North to Arcata and have some of the best brew around. Check out those jalapeno poppers and order a pint of either Downtown Brown or Eight Ball Stout.
  
  
• GREAT hiking spots -- Prairie Creek and Fern Canyon (while at Prairie Creek, check out the Roosevelt Elk, but don't touch... they can be ornery); Patrick's Point and the Trinity State Beach; the Humboldt State University Campus -- right behind the Creekview residential area is a beautiful grove of redwoods that allow for a nice, short hike for folks on their way to class. See if you can find the pond on campus.

Got a good travel idea for Rob? Want more information about one of these spots? Let Him Know!

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