We drove up the Avenue of the Giants, which is in Humboldt state forest, late afternoon Sunday and set up our tent in the Burlington campground. The next day we visited the visitor center, then went swimming in the river before walking through the Rockefeller grove of old growth trees. We returned to our campground which had a few old growth trees still left. The boys enjoyed scootering around the campground and making friends. They also climbed on the giant stumps of the trees which had been cut down long ago. The new growth trees were also very impressive. After a veggie burger dinner over the campfire we walked through a grove of old growth trees across the road from the campground. The next morning we saw one last grove (The Founders Grove) before we left the Redwoods.

The Giant Redwoods were truly awe inspiring and really cannot be fairly captured in a photo. The ancient spirit of the Red Woods can be felt in the quiet stillness of the forest. Glenn commented that unlike him the Red Woods don't react to the ever changing attitudes of little children - good or bad :) Glenn felt inspired by the quiet strength of the Red Woods.

A few Red Wood facts: There are only three places in the world that giant redwoods still exist: China, So. Oregon, and California. Many Red Wood forests were wiped out by glaciers moving across the continent and climate change. The bark of Red Wood trees have natural tannins that make them fire resistant. Forest fires are a mixed blessing for the Red Wood forest. Fires nurture the soil and also help to spread new seeds and make room for new growth.

Super cool fact: Red Wood Forests have the most bio mass of any forest on earth even more than a tropical rain forest.

Important to know: Red Woods have a rich bio diversity of plants and animals.

Last but not least, the banana slugs were ginormous, and where the Trees gave Glenn and Kelly joy, the banana slugs made Ian and Jonan's day!