Felton, Felton, CA

Felton sits where Highway 9 meets Graham Hill Road, and its old downtown is a short run of taverns, cafes and shops under tall redwoods. Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park fills the land just south of the center, so the forest begins almost at the edge of town. Housing is a mix of older cottages near the center and hillside houses on shaded lots farther up. Streets climb from the highway into wooded slopes, and many homes have decks, steep drives and views straight into the trees. Downtown blocks are short and easy to cross, and the roads turn winding and narrow as the slopes steepen. Inside the state park, Redwood Grove is an old-growth stand with a self-guided loop and docent walks in season. The Fall Creek unit goes farther, with long trail routes and the ruins of a lime works from the days when lime was shipped out of the valley. Closer in, Felton Covered Bridge County Park centers on a bridge over the river dating to 1892, and Roaring Camp's steam trains run beside the park's main parking area. White Raven and Mountain Roasting Company are the two coffee stops, both on or near Highway 9. Rocky's Cafe serves breakfast along the same road, Cowboy Bar & Grill adds a sit-down bar menu on the highway, and Felton Music Hall, at 6275 Highway 9, books live bands and pairs the shows with craft food and drinks. Most grocery runs stay in town, with a Safeway, New Leaf Community Market and Wild Roots Market all close together, plus a branch library. Highway 9 runs south to Santa Cruz, and Mount Hermon Road leads east toward Scotts Valley. Walking works downtown, though homes up the slopes mean driving. Weekend visitors for the train and the park fill the center and the roads around it, and the highway through town backs up when they arrive. Walk a short way off the main road and the redwoods are the only landmark left.