Pike Place Market | Seattle | Washington

After Portland, we made a quick stop in Seattle. An intense amount of fog was present for the majority of our stay, which compounded with our exhaustion at the halfway point in our trip, left us feeling lazy and quite content to simply follow the touring masses for the day.

Portland | Oregon

Since we had a total of two weeks allotted for our trip, we had to sacrifice some time up north in order to make it to a few additional destinations down south, which meant that sadly, we only had one day in Portland. This was my first time visiting, but I definitely plan on going back for more! Here's a brief snapshot of what we saw during our day.

Jedidiah Smith Redwood Forest | California

We decided to spend the night right in the middle of Redwood country, in a town called Crescent City. We found Patree's place on Airbnb and she was the perfect hostess for the evening! She was very knowledgeable about the area and this post is thanks to her because we would have missed out on this winding dirt road through the forest and a multitude of photo-ops had it not been for her advice! (Scroll down for a driving route) This area certainly exudes a mystical element; you can feel the centuries rising from the roots.

The GPS will send you on the highway to get to the Jedidiah Smith Redwood Campground; don't do it. Instead, backtrack a wee bit south to a small road called Howland Hill Road. Follow this for unforgettable views! Once the road turns to dirt, be on the lookout for a number of hollowed out trees along the way that are large enough for several adults to fit in.

Chandelier Drive Thru Tree | California

When we began planning a trip up the West Coast, I was most excited about visiting the land of the Redwoods and it did not disappoint! From San Francisco, we continued up the 101, which I would highly recommend for its aesthetic if you plan on visiting the area. The scenery is simply stunning.

As its name suggests, the Chandelier Tree is a hollowed Redwood large enough for a car to pass through. I was pleased to discover that we were only one of two couples at the time we arrived. While driving through a tree the size of a high rise was an impressive experience, the grounds are host to a bounty of fallen and uprooted trees, creating a natural playground to be enjoyed by kids and adults alike!