As we were traveling with kids too, there is only so much whining you can take spending the vast majority of the day in a cramped car with them.
Its location sandwiched between the Lost Coast and ancient redwood forests makes for a beautiful and tranquil base to explore this Humboldt County region.
It was so verdant and green with a few farm houses here and there and several happy cows chewing grass or sitting on the side of the road quietly watching you drive by.
The sheer mountains sloped down to end on the black sandy cove providing mesmerizing stark contrast between the black beach, the green mountains.
Just a little further on from Black Sand Beach (like a 2 minute drive on) is the delightful little fishing village of Shelter Cove.
Now it’s time to explore what is said to be the heart of redwood country containing the biggest and best collection of giant coastal redwoods anywhere in the world.