THURSDAY TRAVEL / JUST ONE OF CALIFORNIA'S DRAMATIC NORTH BEACHES

Crescent City delivers a California coast of crashing surf, rocky headlands and towering redwo ods. Near the Oregon border, this working harbor town rewards travelers seeking salt air, forest trails and an unhurried escape. 

Founded in 1853 as a shipping and supply center for gold miners, Crescent City endured a devastating tsunami in 1964. Today, its downtown tsunami walking tour recounts the destruction and recovery. 

Follow Pebble Beach Drive for Pacific panoramas and offshore sea stacks. Battery Point Lighthouse, illuminated in 1856, welcomes visitors when tides permit access. Nearby Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park trades ocean thunder for the quiet grandeur of ancient trees. 

For lodging, Lighthouse Inn is a leading choice, earning strong traveler reviews for comfortable accommodations near the harbor. Breakfast is included. Dining standouts include Chart Room Restaurant for chowder, fish and chips, and sea lion watching; SeaQuake Brewing for craft beer, pizza and local fish; and Schmidt’s House of Jambalaya for Cajun flavors. 

Start mornings at Paragon Coffeehouse (above) or SeaFront Baking Company. Browse downtown around Third Street for boutiques, gifts and local finds, including Johnston’s Gift Garden Home and Tsunami Beach Company. Then return to the waterfront: Crescent City’s finest attraction remains the restless Pacific, providing an ever-changing finale to the day. 

Crescent Beach Overlook