A weekend in the Humbolt Redwoods full of kayaking, short hikes, campfires and s’mores. It was the perfect way to recharge and slow down since this summer has been nothing but go-go-go {in a good way!} and won’t be slowing down any time soon, as I leave next week for Ethiopia, followed immediately with another trip to Austin to see our little godson be born.
If you guys saw my previous post, you already know what kind of camper I am….the kind of camper that enjoys an air mattress, hot water and good red wine around the fire. Some would call that glamping. I call it the best of both worlds. We stayed at Hidden Springs Campground on the south fork of the eel river, a favorite of ours, and on Saturday morning ventured north into the town of Eureka for a beer tasting and ice cream in homemade cinnamon waffle cones. If you are ever in the area, our favorite place to hike is the “Big Trees Area” near Albee Creek, where the giant trees are literally over two thousand years old.
Our made our very favorite camping dinner: chili cheese dogs using Trader Joe’s vegetarian chili, all natural beef franks, goat cheese crumbles and yellow mustard on honey wheat buns. Folks, there’s absolutely NOTHING like it. Nothing. I urge you to give it a try, followed by an extra gooey s’more, of course.
Danielle
July 30, 2013 at 2:55 amGlamping looks like my kind of camping, too! 🙂
jenna k
July 30, 2013 at 3:52 amcan I just be a nerd and say that I adore the show eureka, so that’s what I immediately thought about when you mentioned the town? 🙂
your camping posts always make me want to go hiking and camping! there’s nothing like this beautiful world of ours.
Jenn from Much to My Delight
July 30, 2013 at 4:21 amYou are making it extra hard to get off my computer and go to work right now. Some people take a mental health day. I need a chili-goat cheese-dog-in-a-kayak day.
Shashi @ http://runninsrilankan.com
July 30, 2013 at 4:36 amThese are some amazing pictures! An air mattress and hot water making camping so much more fun!
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat
July 30, 2013 at 4:38 amThis looks beautiful Jenna!! I agree with you – I’m much more of a ‘glamper’ than a camper. While I haven’t done it in a while, your photos have inspired me to get outside more often for the rest of the summer!
Lauren @ The Highlands Life
July 30, 2013 at 4:48 amI love it all. Makes me want to go camping and eat a s’more.
Kelly
July 30, 2013 at 4:55 amI have been following your blog now for about a year and I just want you to know that I absolutely adore your posts! Your photographs are stunning and you write so eloquently. I can’t wait to read more! Thanks Jenna 🙂
Laura
July 30, 2013 at 5:08 amYour dog?!
Mila
July 30, 2013 at 5:14 amTwo things – I don’t camp, but if I did, I would totally be a “glamp”-er too.
Also – there is a new show on Netflix, ‘Orange is the New Black,’ and I think the main character on the show looks just like you. Are you related? j/k. But seriously – if you were, you’d tell me right?! 😉
LB
July 30, 2013 at 5:14 ami moved from the Bay Area (where I grew up) several years ago and I love these posts where I get to live vicariously through your photos. Ok, I kinda hate them too as my heart aches for California, but I’ll be back soon enough 🙂
Kristin
July 30, 2013 at 5:16 amThat looks like the ideal way to camp!
DessertForTwo
July 30, 2013 at 5:20 amI love when you share your vacation pics with us 🙂
Although, you make me miss Cali too much! 😉
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More
July 30, 2013 at 5:38 amLooks like fun! I’m with you on the way to camp…we always grew up camping somewhere with a bathroom facility. And i like it that way. 😉
Ksenija @ Health Ninja
July 30, 2013 at 5:42 amI’ve been on a kanou tour recently – it is so much fun! Sadly I didn’t take any pictures. Was a bit afraid of ruining the camera.
Laura @losingrace
July 30, 2013 at 5:43 amWow that looks amazing. I really love camping and have been wanting to go all summer.
Kelly
July 30, 2013 at 5:53 amI’m a bith of a “glamping” fan myself, but it looks like you had a great time! I have been dying to go kayaking lately and I can definitely get down with campfires and s’mores 🙂
Kristin @ Iowa Girl Eats
July 30, 2013 at 5:53 amAhhh, paradise. 🙂 My husband and I hiked in Muir Woods several years ago and I will never, ever forget the scale of those trees. And the fact that they’re some of the oldest living things on earth. Amazing!!
erin @hooleywithaz
July 30, 2013 at 6:12 amyou are my kind of camper! i can’t wait to take a trip out to that end of the country with my husband!
Tieghan
July 30, 2013 at 6:32 amLooks like so much fun!! Those trees are huge!
Kinsey
July 30, 2013 at 6:38 amI go camping every Labor Day with a huge group of families and it’s the absolute best! All we do is go for hikes, trail runs, swims in the river, and plan our day around when we’re eating next. It’s such a fantastic break from real life.
Shelley
July 30, 2013 at 6:41 amTree hugging and ice cream kayaking and beer… Sooo jealous! 😉 Looks like a great weekend!
Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health
July 30, 2013 at 6:46 amGorgeous pictures! I’m in love with the Redwoods, they’re so calming and peaceful.
Have fun in Ethiopia and be safe!
Kelsey @ Fueling Strong
July 30, 2013 at 6:58 amI’m totally with you on camping with an air mattress and red wine! It’s really the only way to go:) Oh, and add in some marshmallows for smores and it’s a perfect trip.
Bekah
July 30, 2013 at 7:35 amLooks awesome, Jenna! Seeing those kayaks makes me want to head out right now! 🙂
Joelle ( on a pink typewriter)
July 30, 2013 at 7:45 amLove this! And love that you brought a tablecloth. I’m the same kind of camper. 😉 Wine + s’mores=perfection.
Morgan
July 30, 2013 at 8:00 amLove tj’s chili when paired with their pub cheese 🙂
Ashley @ Hudson on the Potomac
July 30, 2013 at 8:30 amI think I could get into camping if I went glamping!!!! Looks like so much fun!
Robyn Stone | Add a Pinch
July 30, 2013 at 8:30 amGreat pics of your camping adventure!
sarah
July 30, 2013 at 8:46 amYes! Take me away! I am going camping on Catalina this weekend and those pictures are just what I needed:) S’mores here I come!
P.S Ethiopia!!!…looking forward to hearing all about it!!
Brianna
July 30, 2013 at 9:05 amThis looks awesome! My family and I live in norcal and have been planning to camping SOMETIME this summer…we just haven’t decided when and where…W’ell have to check this out! 😀
Kim
July 30, 2013 at 9:08 amLooks like a fabulous and relaxing camping trip! I love the first picture of the two kayaks. It looks so peaceful!
Oh, and I can’t wait to hear all about Ethiopia!! I’m pretty jealous 😉
Andrea @ The Skinny Chronicles
July 30, 2013 at 9:12 amHow crazy you were in Eureka. I would have had to jump up and down should I have randomly bumped into you in Old Town. I am so glad you enjoyed your adventures in Humboldt. We sure do love loving here!
Jane {In the Pink and Green}
July 30, 2013 at 9:23 amLooks like an amazing weekend! We went up to the Humboldt area last year (due to your recommendation actually!) and had a great weekend camping there as well–the trees are just so magnificent! We just moved to Portland though, so we haven’t had much time to go camping–hoping we can squeeze in a trip before the summer is over though!
Megan - FireWifey
July 30, 2013 at 9:47 amI’ve loved checking out your pictures from the trip via Instagram this weekend. Love seeing them all together here — looks like a fabulous getaway!
Theresa
July 30, 2013 at 10:13 amWhat a wonderful trip! We’re heading to Tuolumne Meadows this weekend, I can’t wait! I’ve been looking for campgrounds that are close enough for a quick weekend trip, this is perfect! I’ve added the campground and your hike recommendations to our list. Is that your dog? Was he allowed at the campground? He could be twins with our dog, Louis! Cute!
jenna
July 30, 2013 at 10:47 amNo, that’s not our dog — that’s just a random dog that jumped in my shot!
Kelli H (Made in Sonoma)
July 30, 2013 at 10:40 amI love that you guys go on camping trips up north. I’m jealous that you got such a good deal on your kayaks!
Jessie @ Peacefly Cooking & Living
July 30, 2013 at 10:46 amWow! These photos are absolutely stunning! It inspires me to plan a camping trip as well, one of the favorite pastimes my husband and I share 🙂
Suzanne de Cornelia
July 30, 2013 at 11:03 amYour pix make me miss my VW pop-top Glamper! Nothing says total spiritual renewal like heading into the Great Outdoors.
Dana @ Conscious Kitchen Blog
July 30, 2013 at 11:09 amI’ve never been camping… just not sure I could hack it, but your version sounds perfect. Bring on the warm water and red wine! Beautiful photos.
Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe
July 30, 2013 at 11:42 amWhat a dreamy weekend! I must try my hand at glamping!
cecile
July 30, 2013 at 11:49 amWhat a wonderful weekend. Makes want to join you in the the campsite. Will be dreaming about glamping!
Sonia the Mexigarian
July 30, 2013 at 11:59 amMy sister lives up north in the Eureka area. We always go to Fern Canyon when visiting her. Love it. I totally recommend that area for hiking. I know there’s camping on the beach area allowed too.
Which brewery did you hit up? I know Eel River Brewery in Fortuna would be closer to you and then Lost Coast in downtown Eureka. If you make it further north, try Six Rivers in McKinlleyville. Some really good beers there too 🙂
Your version of camping sounds like a lot of fun! Wine, campfire, smores. Yum. Would totally want to kayak around Eel River! How do you like your kayak? We saw quite a few of them on the Trinity last week, but also saw inflatable ones as well.
Kcirrehs
July 31, 2013 at 12:25 pmI spied a Lost Coast coaster in the beer pic. 🙂 Lost Coast has some pretty good beer, for the most part I do like Six Rivers better, though nothing compares to Rogue for north coast breweries, but that’s Oregon. I just have to represent though, :p Fern Canyon (one of my favorites as well) is in Klamath, Del Norte County. We have redwoods too, a different type of sequoia than those that grow a little more south! Jenna, every time you guys go to Humboldt I get so excited, you’re so close to where I live! We are the end of the line, edge of the ocean California! 🙂
Julianna @ Julianna Bananna
July 30, 2013 at 12:53 pmthis makes me want to go camping right now!! the kayaking looks so fun especially 🙂
Lauren
July 30, 2013 at 1:03 pmLove that area! Was there last labor day, and now you’re making me want to go back.
jan
July 30, 2013 at 2:04 pmI might just like camping if I could eat the food you had! 🙂 Looks like a super fun trip!!
Emily @ Life on Food
July 30, 2013 at 3:38 pmThose trees are amazing. You camp the way I camp. The most perfect way!
Caroline L.
July 30, 2013 at 4:38 pmYou take full advantage of living in the Bay better than anyone I know! These pictures are lovely, and the whole experience sounds like a blast!
Jen
July 30, 2013 at 5:28 pmThat first picture, with the kayaks, is my version of perfection. 🙂
diana
July 30, 2013 at 5:53 pmYou look like you had so much fun! I want to go camping, kayak, sip red wine and make s’mores. I need to check this off my list really soon!
Malkire
July 30, 2013 at 5:55 pmI have only been camping once but those pictures make me want to do it again!!
M.C. @ThousandStoryKitchen
July 30, 2013 at 6:59 pmYou two make camping look so completely fun- and don’t get me wrong- I LOVE camping! Do it all the time, but seeing your photos definitely makes me want to get out in the redwoods and camp!
Amy @ http://funfoodiefamily.com/
July 30, 2013 at 7:19 pmMy kind of camping! Beautiful! What a cute doggie!
Christina @ The Beautiful Balance
July 30, 2013 at 7:29 pmYour trip looks like SO much fun! I haven’t been camping in years and years and this post has definitely pushed me to make the plans!
Dee
July 31, 2013 at 7:56 amYour camping is my kind of camping. 😉
Conni
July 31, 2013 at 2:09 pmIn my opinion, this is the only way to camp.
Shannon
July 31, 2013 at 3:38 pmLooks beautiful and relaxing! And that soft pretzel is making me drool. What is it about soft pretzels?!?!
Alley @ Alley's Recipe Book
August 1, 2013 at 7:32 pmFun! We once drove up and down the coast from San Fran to Eureka… so beautiful! Can’t wait for our camping trip next month in the Seattle area.
Tami@nutmegnotebook
August 1, 2013 at 8:50 pmWe were just there last month and loved it!
Nora N
September 5, 2013 at 3:06 pmI love your photos!
We drove thru the avenue of the redwoods (i think that’s what it’s called) for our honeymoon a couple years back. We ended up in Eureka staying with a friend and visiting Fern Canyon. It was so lovely and looking thru your pics makes me remember those days =)
s
October 17, 2013 at 12:46 pmi’m going camping in a couple of weeks for the first time ever, so i’m glad i remembered your posts about camping. anyway, just commenting to say thanks for this post and that glamping sounds like my kind of camping!! haha! 🙂