Head to Northern California’s Humboldt County, where the redwoods reign supreme then, visit historic Eureka and experience the charm of Victorian architecture, quaint shops, and stunning scenery. Eureka and the surrounding parks and coastline are north of San Francisco and Petaluma (click to see our visit there) on Highway 101. You can’t miss them.
Old Town Eureka is an eclectic collection of specialty shops, art galleries, and vintage stores. And don’t miss the excellent locally grown produce at Eureka’s farmers market.
View the bay from the boardwalk, then enjoy a stroll through the shops, galleries, and museums of Eureka’s Old Town.
Eureka rose on the fortunes of the Gold Rush, logging, and the fishing vessels of the busy seaport. Its prosperity resulted in the many decorative storefronts that dot the Old Town district. Lots of eye candy for the casual stroller.
Stop in at North Coast Knittery for an afternoon of needlework.
Spend a little time at Annex 39 and you’ll be tempted to spend a lot of money.
A travel poster evokes Old Havana.
This cool vintage cabinetry would grace any kitchen.
When you’ve shopped till you’re ready to drop, relax and enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride through Old Town.
Do you long for the personal touch of a bed and breakfast? Or are you looking for a closer connection with nature? Inns, B&Bs, campgrounds, and the usual chain hotels are all available to suit your fancy. Check listings at eurekachamber.com.
Local eateries offer a variety of options, from seafood to cafe casual to Irish pub fare. Our favorites? Jack’s Seafood on the bay, Café Nooner in Old Town and Roy’s Club Italian restaurant.
If you love architecture, don’t miss the hundreds of unique Victorian homes like the Pink Lady.
Regarded as one of the finest executions of American Queen Anne Style architecture, the stunning Carson Mansion has been called “the most grand Victorian home in America.”
The amount of detail on every surface of the exterior is remarkable.
When you’re ready to get outside city limits, make the most of your visit to redwood country by taking in its best features. Nothing will make you recognize the fleeting nature of human life more profoundly than walking in the shade of majestic 2,000-year-old trees. Drive through the scenic Avenue of the Giants or take a stroll among the coastal titans in the Redwood National Forest.
Where’s the top of this darned redwood tree?
Photograph a herd of wild elk in lush fields or hike through Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
Go whitewater rafting down the free-flowing turquoise Smith River. If fishing is your thing, cruise down the Eel River, a designated National Wild and Scenic River.
Collect shells and driftwood treasures at Trinidad State Beach, and visit the lighthouse at Trinidad Head, or go beachcombing in Patrick’s Point State Park. Hike the longest undeveloped shoreline in the contiguous United States on the Lost Coast.
© Caruth Studio