Avenue of the Giants

Located in Northern California, the Avenue of the Giants is unlike anything you have ever experienced. Centered on the giant redwoods, many of which have been living since long before the United States had been discovered, this legendary tourist spot off of US 101 is worthy of exploration.

Long ago, before the modern conservationists put an end to it, park promoters came up with a great money making idea: they found a way to bore a tunnel through the base of the majestic trees so that they could charge tourists a fee to be able to say that they made 20 foot drive through the tree. Though it is quite an awe-inspiring experience, modern naturalists and environmentalists have worked very hard to ensure that no further boring would be done to the remaining trees in the forest.

The experience itself is quite interesting. It is not too often that you get the opportunity to drive through a piece of Mother Nature’s majesty. The three most popular spots for this outing include Chandelier Drive-Thru Tree, the Tour-Thru Tree near Klamath, and the Shrine Drive-Thru Tree in Myers Flat. Each one of these locations has its own unique personality and offers something slightly different than the other.

There are several other roadside attractions that surround the drive thru trees including:

• The Cross-Section of Time. This large log slab that stands on one end reveals so many rings that it is said to hold a history that begins before Christ was born.
• The World Famous Tree House. For a $5 donation tourists can go inside a redwood tree that was struck by lightning thousands of years ago. The space houses a number of quirky touristy machines that turn on with the drop of a quarter. There is also a gift shop where you can grab your own little redwood souvenir.
• Phillipsville’s Famous One Log House. This tourist spot features a giant redwood log that was hollowed out and furnished to resemble a tiny redwood house. Since it was first created they have mounted it onto a set of wheels making it a one-of-a-kind mobile landmark.

These are just a few of the interesting opportunities that exist near the Avenue of the Giants. If you are traveling in Northern California, it is well worth the trip to check out these tourist hot spots.