Claire Anne | Travel Dairies

  Let’s be real — we love a good national park, but sometimes the fees, permits, and crowd-control rules make it feel like a full-on mission just to see a tree. That’s why visiting Redwood National and State Parks was such a refreshing surprise. We explored Grove of the Titans , Stout Grove , and another nearby trail — and guess what? No entrance fee. No reservation. No stress. Wait… It’s a National Park With No Entrance Fee? Kind of. Redwood National & State Parks are a little different than your typical “gate and ranger” type of national park. It’s actually a combined system of federal and state lands , managed together as one big park family — including Redwood National Park and three California state parks : Jedediah Smith Prairie Creek Del Norte Coast Most of the areas, especially around Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park , are totally free to explore. No fee. No pass needed. Just pull up and walk among literal giants. 🪵 Grove of the Titans — Majestic ...

 If you’re looking for an easy day trip that feels like a breath of fresh air (literally), Mendocino and Fort Bragg are a coastal dream — especially when you’re trying to escape the Sacramento heat. When it’s 100+ degrees in the valley, the foggy NorCal coastline hits so different. We didn’t do everything we planned to — but what we did do? Totally worth it. (I only have videos, if you want to see all of the stops, head to my Tiktok/IG @ClaireAnneTravels) Here’s how our day trip went down 👇 First stop: Glass Beach Yes, it’s touristy. Yes, it’s still magical. The little colorful pieces of sea glass scattered across the shore make it feel like a hidden treasure spot — even if you’re sharing it with a few other people. It’s not a typical sandy beach, but it’s beautiful in its own rugged way. And honestly, it’s just one of those places that makes you pause and go "wow, California really has it all." Pro tip: Wear comfy shoes — the trail to the beach is easy, but a little ...