While inside Redwood National Park, most of Bald Hills Road resembles anything but a primeval forest.  Rather than foggy groves, the area is dominated by sunny prairies, with occasional clumps of oaks, once  grazed by sheep and cattle. The grassy hillsides, with panoramic views of the redwood groves below in  the Redwood Creek valley, offer perfect places to picnic, especially in the spring when wildflowers like  purple lupines pop up everywhere. To start, from U.S. Highway 101 just north of Orick, turn east on Bald  Hills Road, pass the signs for the Lady Bird Johnson and Tall Trees groves, and ascend into what looks  like a scene from The Sound of Music. Three suggested lunch stops: Dolason Prairie, which includes a 9- mile trail for the ambitious; Schoolhouse Peak, which at 3,097 feet is the highest point in the park; and  the old Lyons Ranch, whose original barn and bunkhouses are intact and worth exploring. The barn is  11.5 miles from U.S. Highway 101. The bunkhouses, which require a few miles of unpaved road, are just  shy of 18 miles from the highway. Bonus tip: Keep an eye out for rare California condors, which are  periodically released into the wild from a sanctuary in the Bald Hills. 

As arboreal hunters search the depths of Redwood National and State Parks for giant trees, hidden in  plain sight is one of the most photogenic champions: the so-called Picnic Tree, an old growth monster  near the campground of Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. It’s been featured in travel magazines and  websites, but few who pass notice it on the edge of a cozy picnic spot, steps from the Prairie Creek  Visitor Center. This massive vertical spire has sprawling roots flaring around its base like the foot of a  mastodon, shading a moss covered stone grill that adds to its prehistoric charm. Should you eat here  among the Giants, there are plenty of picnic tables, and you can work off the meal with a stroll on the  Revelation Trail—an easy, wheelchair-friendly mile that showcases more monster trees. 

Open from April-October, the famously friendly Log Cabin Diner with its hearty country-style cooking will not disappoint. You can’t go wrong with the traditional 2-or-3-egg breakfast. Carnivores can add Chicken Fried Steak, top sirloin, country ham, bacon or sausage. Sides include everything from hash browns, home fries, cottage cheese to a biscuit and gravy—just like Grandma used to make. For those with a sweet tooth, french toast and pancakes round out the breakfast selection. There’s a menu just for kids, too. At lunch, opt for one of Log Cabin Diner’s special burgers, homemade soups, salads or sandwiches. Try the spicy, flavorful Klamath Burger featuring fresh grilled jalapenos, onions and grilled green pepper with pepper jack cheese or the house-smoked tri-tip Hoagie. Here, you’ll fill your belly for the highway ahead.