For giant trees, gray whales, and lighthouses, visit Crescent City
Lighthouses, whales, and giant, cloud-piercing trees - Crescent City has something for everyone. Bookended by lighthouses, this quaint beach town is set on the north California coast. Also called the Redwood Gate to the Golden State, it's near the Redwood National Park and Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park. Begin your Californian escape by booking a Crescent City vacation rental close to its main attractions. Whether you climb the lighthouses, visit the sea lions at the Northcoast Marine Mammal Center, or take a spin on the tables at the Elk Valley Casino, you're guaranteed a golden time.
Get up-close-and-personal with Crescent City's critters
Crescent City is the ideal family destination. Sealife fans young and old will love Ocean World, a hands-on aquarium where you can get up close and personal with bat rays, wolf eels, and sharks. Meet some of the city's slippery residents, including harbor seals, elephant seals, and sea lions, at the Northcoast Marine Mammal Center, an non-profit organization which rescues and rehabilitates sea mammals who wash up on California's shores. Want to tire out the kids out before bedtime? Then climb up to light tower in the historic Battery Point Lighthouse, but watch out, it's only accessible at low tide.
Have a whale of a time on Crescent City's beaches
Crescent City is an outdoorsy kinda place; think surf bashing, golf, or hiking through the redwood forests. Although popular with the action set, it's also great for just hunkering down with a good book and a picnic on the beach. Book a Crescent City vacation rental south of the city and you're moments from locals' favorite, Enderts Beach. It famously has the best lookout for whale watching from the shore, when migrating Californian gray whales pass through these waters between March and May.
Seasonal weather in Crescent City
If you're planning a vacation around warm-weather activities, August, September, July and October are the hottest months to visit, when temperatures average 57°F.
Visit the Land of the Giants at the Redwood National Park
Overlooking the Pacific Ocean on the north Californian coast, Crescent City is sandwiched between the sea and the forest. Known as the Redwood Gateway to the Golden State, it's 5 miles to the Redwood National Park, and 10 miles from Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park. Maybe it's the heavy rainfall, but this region is home to the world's tallest living things, with some redwoods reaching over 300 feet high. Embark on one of the dozens of hiking trails which wind around these magnificent specimens. But also keep your eyes peeled for Roosevelt elk, skunk, and bobcats, as well as the condors that sweep overhead.
Transportation options to and around Crescent City
The nearest airport is in Crescent City, CA (CEC-Jack McNamara Field), located 2.3 mi (3.7 km) from the city center.