I love adventure travel. Since I discovered Adventures in Good Company, I’ve mainly chosen trips that challenge me physically. I crave that feeling of accomplishment one gets when you make it to the top of the mountain or to the end of the trail after a long, strenuous hike. You are tired, but it’s a good tired.
But sometimes you just want to be in nature and not have to work so hard.
In 2025, I was feeling a bit overwhelmed in my personal life. I was tired, a little sad, and in need of some rest and rejuvenation. I wanted to go some place I’d never been, some place that would bring a feeling of inner peace, some place that would give me perspective. I chose Wonder and Wellness in the Redwoods. Those big trees were calling my name.
Arriving on the Northern California Coast
As soon as we landed in Arcata, a small airport where you climb out of the plane onto the tarmac, I knew I was going to love this trip. The drive up the coast to The Historic Requa Inn was relaxing with lovely views of the Pacific Ocean through the coastal fog.
We had a memorable encounter with a herd of elk crossing the road, and the golden bears (statues) on the bridge we crossed shortly before turning off toward the inn.
I loved the inn, it felt more like a Bed and Breakfast than a hotel. It was nestled on a hill overlooking the Klamath River, where I could see seals and sea lions playing in the water from my bedroom window.
Among the Redwoods: Finding Stillness
Our hikes on this trip were truly amazing. When our first hike brought me face-to-face with my first Redwood Tree, I was speechless. These beautiful, living beings will put you in your place.
I felt a sense of awe wash over me as I stood with my head tilted up, as I did for most of this trip, trying to spot the top of the tree. All I could see were the blinding rays of sunshine filtering down through the trees in their search for the forest floor. Walking among these giants makes you feel small in the most grounding way.
We had several hikes among the giant trees, each one bringing me closer to the calm feeling I wanted to experience. On one of the hikes, we learned about forest bathing. When we stopped for that experience, I found a nook at the base of a tree where I laid back and silently watched the leaves fall from the trees' high canopy.
I was so relaxed that a few tears slid down my cheek. This was my happy place.
From Forest to Ocean: A Deeper Connection
There was so much more to this trip than the Redwoods.
We kayaked in the open waters of Trinidad Bay, paddling among the sea lions and shore birds and counting the hundreds of starfish clinging to the rocks. We walked in the riverbed of Fern Canyon, where the walls of the canyon are alive with ferns waving you forward in the gentle breeze. It felt otherworldly.
We hiked along the coast, down to the Pacific Ocean, and back up through the rocks, with incredible views of azure water that stretched for miles until it blended with the horizon far out at sea. At one point, we even spotted the spout of a whale in the distance.
One of the most meaningful experiences was gliding through the Klamath River estuary in traditional Yurok canoes, paddled by two young Yurok tribesmen. These canoes, hand-carved from fallen Redwood trees, are considered living beings. As we moved quietly through the water, our guides shared stories of their culture and history. All the while, sea lions and seals popped their heads up above the water to watch us.
Later, we spent time with another Yurok community member, who guided us down a steep trail to a sacred rock formation at the mouth of the river. We stood together in silence as waves crashed around us. It was powerful, humbling, and deeply moving.
What I Took Home With Me
Every experience I had on this trip was spiritual. From the forest to the river to the sea, I took away a sense of calm and a deeper connection to nature that gave me strength.
I did not want to leave.
Traveling home, I thought about how these few days of calmly reconnecting with nature would help me to refocus and work through the things I was struggling with. I felt better, which was my goal for this trip.
Whether you need a bit of a reset or you just want to see this incredibly beautiful place, I recommend this trip. You will be with a great group of women and wonderful guides who will lift you up.
If you stay open to the landscape, people, and to the experience, you’ll come away with more than you expected.
This trip proved to be just what the doctor ordered for me, and it is a trip I hope to repeat.
