There have been many "bests" on our road trip: the dinner at Cavallopoint looking out on the Golden Gate Bridge; the "Oh, my God! sea vistas on highway 1; strolling the windy cliffs at the Inn at Newport Ranch.

But to me the very bestest best are the redwoods! Walking on the spongy soft ground, and looking up, up, up into the green canopies. It is an amazing experience. It might sound corny, but it feeds the soul, quiets the brain, and satisfies the senses like nothing else.

A favorite book about the redwoods is The Wild Trees by Richard Preston.