This morning, Lonely Planet announced its eighth annual Best in the U.S. list, and California’s very own Redwood Coast earned the No. 1 spot. The travel experts selected the majestic California destination ahead of Kentucky Bourbon Country, Southeastern Utah, and Florida's Space Coast.
“We still recommend many of the country’s go-to destinations, but if you’re looking for something different to shake up your travel plans this year, this list can help you get inspired,” said Lonely Planet U.S. magazine managing editor Alex Howard. “Some of them are cities on the rise, or that challenge our expectations, while others offer unique experiences you can’t find anywhere else.”
The Redwood Coast absolutely falls into the latter category of unique experiences. The remote region—which is about a four-hour drive north of San Francisco—is home to 175 miles of coastline and features some of the world’s tallest redwood trees. (Redwood National Park celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.) Lonely Planet encourages visitors to “lose all track of time (and cell signal)” in this special destination, which is dotted with the charming and quirky towns of Humboldt County.
Ready to explore? We put together this Insider’s Guide to California’s Redwood Coast to give you all the basics for planning a trip, not to mention this list of Things to Do in Redwood National Park, as well as these ideas for Three Ways to Explore California Redwoods.
Insider tip: Lonely Planet is offering a chance to win a trip to California’s Redwood Coast via its Best in the U.S. website.
