"Verde River"

We met Lisa at the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park Visitor Center while looking for a good trail to hike for the afternoon. Outside, the fields were dotted with elk, and the sound of nearby creeks echoed through the trees, an already magical stop before we even stepped onto the trail.

When we asked what song reminded her of growing up, Lisa chose "Verde River" by Kassi Valazza. She first heard it about four years ago, around the time she really got into country music. What made the song stick wasn't just the sound, but the story behind it—Kassi, who grew up near where Lisa's from in Arizona, wrote the song about a river she visited often. Lisa said it reminds her of home.

Originally from Prescott, Arizona, Lisa spent most of her life there before serving in the military for six years. She moved to the redwoods five years ago for a fresh start and never looked back. Now 39, she studied at Cal Poly Humboldt and has been working at the visitor center for the past year, helping travelers like us find their way into the trees.

"Verde River" is more than just a song for Lisa. It's a reminder of the landscapes that shaped her, and how the places we come from stay with us, even as we carve out new homes among the redwoods.