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#8 on this list
Redwood National and State Parks
California
Fog-free mornings and rhododendrons blooming among the giants.
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#9 on this list
Cumberland Island
Georgia
Wild horses, empty beaches, and maritime forest before the heat.
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Specs side by side
| Spec | Redwood National and State Parks | Cumberland Island |
|---|---|---|
| Managing Agencies | National Park Service and California State Parks | — |
| Location | Humboldt and Del Norte Counties, California | Camden County, Georgia |
| May High Temp | 58°F to 64°F | — |
| Peak Bloom | Mid-May to early June | — |
| Permits | Required for Fern Canyon and Gold Bluffs Beach | — |
| Terrain | Coastal rainforest, sea bluffs, alluvial flats | — |
| Designation | — | National Seashore and Wilderness Area |
| Access | — | Passenger ferry from St. Marys or private boat |
| May Temperatures | — | Highs around 82°F, lows around 65°F |
| Daily Visitor Cap | — | Approximately 300 visitors per day |
| Campground Types | — | Frontcountry developed and backcountry wilderness |
What our reviewers liked and didn't
Redwood National and State Parks
- Peak Pacific rhododendron blooms set against primeval old-growth canopy
- Lighter visitor numbers before the mid-summer coastal surge
- Clearing weather yields occasional crisp ocean views without heavy fog
- Excellent roadside access to world-class ancient groves
- Spring storms can still drop cold rain and saturate footpaths
- Vehicle permits strictly required for high-draw sites like Fern Canyon
- Significant highway driving required to link scattered park units
Cumberland Island
- Seventeen miles of pristine, uncrowded Atlantic beaches with zero commercial development
- Strict ferry passenger caps prevent the crowding typical of southern coastal parks
- Lush maritime oak forests offer shade and dramatic scenery for hiking and biking
- May weather brings warm ocean swims before peak summer heat and afternoon storms arrive
- Heavy tick, chigger, and biting gnat populations require vigilant chemical protection
- Strict pack-it-in, pack-it-out rules with no island trash disposal or resupply options
- Backcountry well water has a strong sulfur taste and requires mechanical filtration
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