Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park is one of California's best examples of old-growth redwood forests. Trails take you past giants that are thousands of years old, wind you along a quaint creek, and offer a peace unlike anywhere else.

Make sure you do the Karl Knapp Trail, which is one of my absolute favorites! You’ll get to walk under fallen trees with human-sized holes cut out in them. Stop by the adorable visitor center for a souvenir, and keep your eyes peeled for a herd of elk that frequents the area.

During the rainy season, you’ll find crisp air and mushrooms everywhere. Spring and summer bring warmer weather and sunny days. So each season showcases a different kind of beauty.

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park is also home to the iconic Fern Canyon, which is worthy of its own dedicated map location. We’ll get to that later!