Before we get into today’s post, I have to give a special shout-out to Matt. Today is our 20th wedding anniversary, which honestly feels impossible! Happy Anniversary to my favorite travel buddy and the guy who’s patiently supported this blog for the past 13 years—even when it means pulling over for photos, taking outfit pictures, or making one more stop because “it’ll be great for the blog.” Thanks for always cheering me on and for helping make so many incredible family memories. I wouldn’t want to do life (or road trips) with anyone else. The second half of our Redwoods Oregon Coast Family Vacation turned out to be our favorite part of the trip. We explored some of the most breathtaking scenery we’ve ever experienced, from hiking through Fern Canyon and wandering beneath towering redwoods to discovering hidden beaches along the Oregon coast. Along the way we spotted wildlife, earned more Junior Ranger badges, watched hundreds of sea lions, and wrapped up our adventure with one last day exploring Portland.
If you’re planning a family road trip through Northern California and Oregon, these stops are absolutely worth adding to your itinerary.
Day 5: Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
• Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
Our first stop was Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, one of the most beautiful sections of Redwood National and State Parks. Known for its towering old-growth redwoods and Roosevelt elk, it’s easy to see why so many people recommend spending a full day here. We kept watching the meadows for elk and finally spotted several later that afternoon on our way to Trees of Mystery.
• Big Tree Loop
We started with the Big Tree Loop, an easy walk that leads to one of the park’s largest redwoods. Even after seeing giant trees the day before, standing beneath this massive tree was still hard to believe. It’s a short hike that’s well worth the stop.
• Revelation Trail
Next we explored the Revelation Trail near the visitor center. This peaceful trail follows a small creek through the redwoods and is mostly flat, making it another excellent family hike. We extended our walk a bit and enjoyed the quiet forest and beautiful scenery.
• Trees of Mystery
That afternoon we visited Trees of Mystery, which ended up being one of the girls’ favorite attractions. The walking trail features unusual trees, suspension bridges high in the forest canopy, and a scenic gondola ride with incredible views. If you’re traveling with kids, I definitely recommend adding this stop to your itinerary.
• Pebble Beach
Someone at our hotel suggested Pebble Beach in Crescent City, and we’re so glad they did. Instead of sand, the shoreline is covered with smooth colorful stones. Claire and Avie spent over an hour searching for agates and unique pebbles while watching the waves. It ended up being one of those simple vacation moments we’ll always remember.
• Fisherman’s Restaurant & Crescent City Harbor
We finished the day with dinner at Fisherman’s Restaurant, one of our favorite meals of the trip. The desserts were especially delicious! Before leaving, our waitress suggested walking over to the harbor to see the sea lions. Watching dozens of them lounging on the docks and barking back and forth was the perfect way to end the day.
Day 6: Fern Canyon & Oregon Coast
• Gold Bluffs Beach
We arrived early at Gold Bluffs Beach before our Fern Canyon hike since both attractions share the same parking lot. The beach was nearly empty, and the morning light made the cliffs and crashing waves even more beautiful. It was the perfect way to begin the day.
• Fern Canyon
Fern Canyon was hands down my favorite stop of our Redwoods Oregon Coast Family Vacation. Towering canyon walls covered in lush green ferns surround a shallow creek that you cross several times, creating one of the most beautiful hikes I’ve ever experienced.
We actually had to move this hike from the previous day after discovering that parking permits are required during the busy season. Thankfully, permits are released online at 9:00 a.m. the day before, and we were lucky enough to get one. Arriving early meant we were among the first visitors of the day. We even saw a black bear wandering through a nearby meadow and had to cross 2 streams via car on our way to the trailhead!
The hike itself was incredible. We finally spotted banana slugs, too! Pictures simply don’t capture how breathtaking Fern Canyon really is.
• Secret Beach
Our next stop was Secret Beach, and it completely lived up to its name. Although the hike down is moderately challenging, the reward is spectacular. Sea stacks, a waterfall flowing onto the beach, and dramatic coastal views make this one of the prettiest beaches we’ve ever visited. We even climbed down for a closer look at the waterfall before continuing north.
• Natural Bridges Viewpoint
Just a few minutes away, we made a quick stop at Natural Bridges Viewpoint. It only took about ten minutes, but the views of the rugged Oregon coastline were absolutely worth it.
• Harris Beach State Park
We stopped at Harris Beach State Park hoping to explore the famous tide pools. Unfortunately, we didn’t arrive at the ideal tide, so there wasn’t much sea life to see. Even so, the girls had fun climbing around the rocks, and the enormous driftwood scattered across the beach was impressive.
• Jott’s Resort
That evening we stayed at Jott’s Resort in Wedderburn. The girls loved relaxing in the indoor pool and hot tub after a full day of hiking.
Dinner at The Port Hole Café overlooked the harbor, where dozens of sea lions entertained everyone through the restaurant windows. Our biggest surprise, though, was the ice cream shop next door. I ordered Umpqua’s Lemon Bar ice cream, and it was one of the best flavors I’ve ever tasted. I only wish we could buy it back home!
Day 7: Oregon Coast to Portland
• Cape Perpetua Scenic Area
Our drive north included a stop at Cape Perpetua Scenic Area. Besides the incredible coastal views, Claire and Avie earned another Junior Ranger badge, which became one of the highlights of the trip. We loved learning more about Oregon’s coastline while taking in the scenery.
• Sea Lion Caves
One of the most memorable stops of the day was Sea Lion Caves. This privately owned attraction is home to America’s largest sea cave, where hundreds of wild sea lions gather. It was fascinating to watch them from inside the cave, and we all agreed it was well worth the stop.
• Newport
We stopped in Newport for lunch at Mo’s Seafood & Chowder, a longtime Oregon favorite. After lunch we wandered through a few of the waterfront shops before continuing our drive north.
• Portland Dessert Stop
By the time we reached Portland we were still full from lunch, so instead of dinner we headed to Tsuki, a Korean-inspired dessert shop. It ended up being one of our favorite food stops of the trip. The shaved ice was incredible! I ordered ube, Claire chose watermelon, Avie picked mango, and Matt went with chocolate. Everything was delicious.
Day 8: Portland & Mount St. Helens
• Mill Ends Park & Pine Street Market
We started our final full day with a quick stop at Mill Ends Park, officially the world’s smallest park. It’s a fun little photo opportunity that’s just a short walk from Pine Street Market. For breakfast, we finally made it to Pine Street Market after missing it on our first day in Portland due to our delayed flight. We grabbed smoothies from the juice bar along with mini doughnuts, and I honestly wish I had a bigger stomach because everything looked amazing.
• Mount St. Helens Visitor Center
Instead of staying in Portland all day, we drove to the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center so the girls could earn another Junior Ranger badge. Since we were already so close, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to visit another state and learn about one of the most famous volcanic eruptions in U.S. history.
The exhibits were fascinating, explaining the devastating 1980 eruption and how the surrounding landscape has slowly recovered over the decades. We all learned quite a bit, and it ended up being another educational highlight of our Redwoods Oregon Coast Family Vacation.
• Exploring Portland
After returning to Portland, we spent the afternoon walking around downtown and browsing a few local shops. We really enjoyed exploring the city on foot and discovering a few places we hadn’t seen earlier in the trip.
• Midtown Beer Garden
Since Claire missed our first visit because she wasn’t feeling well, we returned to Midtown Beer Garden for dinner. It was the perfect casual place to grab a meal, with several different food vendors so everyone could choose something they wanted.
• Rimsky-Korsakoffee House
That evening we visited Rimsky-Korsakoffee House, a dessert café known for its quirky atmosphere and reputation for being haunted. While the desserts were very good and we enjoyed the live music, I have to admit this was probably the most overrated stop of the trip. The atmosphere felt more gimmicky than spooky, so I wouldn’t necessarily recommend going out of your way unless you’re already nearby.
Day 9: Heading Home
After an incredible nine days exploring Oregon and Northern California, it was time to head back to the airport for our flight home. Like every great vacation, we left feeling tired but incredibly thankful for all the memories we made together.
Final Thoughts on Our Redwoods Oregon Coast Family Vacation
Looking back, our Redwoods Oregon Coast Family Vacation quickly became one of our favorite family trips we’ve taken. Every day offered something completely different, from standing beneath some of the tallest trees on Earth to hiking through Fern Canyon, discovering hidden beaches, exploring tide pools, watching sea lions, and learning about the eruption of Mount St. Helens.
If I had to choose a few absolute must-see stops, they would be Fern Canyon, Secret Beach, Trees of Mystery, Sea Lion Caves, and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. Each one offered a unique experience that we still talk about months later.
One thing I especially loved about this itinerary was the balance. We mixed longer hikes with shorter scenic stops, educational experiences with fun attractions, and plenty of opportunities for the girls to earn Junior Ranger badges along the way. It kept every day interesting without ever feeling rushed.
If you’re planning your own Redwoods Oregon Coast Family Vacation, I hope these two posts help you build an itinerary that works for your family. It truly is one of the most beautiful regions we’ve ever visited, and it’s a trip I’d happily do again.
If you missed the first half of our adventure, be sure to read Part 1 of our Portland and Redwoods Family Vacation, where we explored Portland, Silver Falls State Park, Crater Lake National Park, and Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.
Confident Twosday Linkup
Last week’s favorite post was from Amy at Amy’s Creative Style who shared some cute polka dot looks for the polka dots and stripes challenge.
Between Naps on the Porch | I do de Claire | Walking in Memphis in High Heels & The Fashion Canvas | Tuesday Twirl | My Slices of Life | The Style Splash | Curated by Jennifer | Mummabstylish | Shelbee On the Edge | Nancy’s Fashion Style | Momfessionals | Marsha in the Middle
