The burl art capital of the world, Orick looks more like a huge outdoor gift shop than a town. What’s burl art, you ask? Well, take a sizable chunk of redwood, do a little carving here and there with a small chain saw, and when it resembles some sort of mammal or rodent, you have yourself a piece. There are thousands of burl pieces to choose from here, ranging from the Abominable Burlman to Sasquatch and the Seven Dwarfs. Several roadside stands have viewing booths where mesmerized tourists watch the redwood chips fly. Orick is also the southern entry to Redwood National and State Parks; 1 mile south of town off Highway 101 is the Redwood Information Center (707/464-6101, ext. 5265; www.nps.gov/redw; open 9am-5pm every day), where visitors can pick up a free park map and browse through geologic, wildlife, and Native American exhibits.