With Oregon still in my woody heart, we headed south to California to visit the Redwoods. And just when I thought hills filled with pine trees couldn’t be higher and thicker than those in Oregon, we crossed the border and saw the beauty of California’s north. The destination is not always my favourite spot while roadtripping. Sometimes it is simply the road itself. Driving a tight turn and being rewarded by a new fascinating view. Let me tell you that this route was teeming with such views.

After a while we turned to Highway 101, one of – if not the one – most beautiful in the whole States. Instead of a clear-blue coast, though, dense fog was expecting us and it gave our car trip a somewhat mystical atmosphere.

And suddenly streets began to curve between higher and higher trees. Sunlight was shielded and it felt as though we were entering an entirely different world. Stepping out of the car, we could instantly begin numberless hiking trails through the Redwoods. And we did. Coated in such peaceful silence, we would wander the soft soil, hear nothing but some distant birds peeping and marvel at those unbelievably old and massive trees.

And of course, my travel companion insisted on driving through a tree. Then again: why not.

After an adventurous day we were thirsty for a comfy hotel bed and we would find it: in lovely Historic Requa Inn. Little did we know that the inn was recently announced one of the best hotels in whole North America by none other than Fodor’s Travel.

But once we started sneaking into the elegant hotel rooms, we were quite convinced this inn would be a highlight of our whole trip.

And we weren’t disappointed when we spotted our room at the end of the corridor.

Plus, only imagine hot poppyseed lemon pancakes with homemade lemon sauce and a steaming coffee on your breakfast table while watching the fog vanish over the water right in front of the window…!

Regrettably we had to leave after only a one night stay. And so we hit the 101 again just to see a clear-blue sky this time, which would go along with us all the way up to Seattle.