What to See and
Do | Where to Eat | Where
to Stay | Camping
Two small towns of Ferndale and Fortuina
-- in central Humboldt County -- typify the history and
current activity of the area. Fortuna is a market town,
servicing the needs of the agricultural areas in the
southern part of the county. Ferndale is a historic
village and a favorite tourist center, the result of
well-preserved heritage architecture and a canny tourist
promotion program.
Aside from downtown Eureka, Ferndale boasts
the best preserved Victorian architecture in California,
a tidy main street looking as if the village had been
locked in time, and some interesting places to stay, eat
and shop for antiques and the work of local artists and
crafts people. The museum displays village artifacts.
This town, near the Lost Coast, has been the
victim of earthquakes but retains its original character,
with many original Victorian homes and other buildings
that take visitors back in time to a much earlier era.
The town of Fortuna was established around
1875 by farmers who came to the area from northern
Humboldt. Originally called Slide, the town's name was
later changed to Springville, due to the fresh water
springs in the area, and then to Fortuna. The town is 250
miles north of San Francisco. A half-hour's drive east of
town on State Hwy. 36 is Grizzly Creek Redwoods State
Park, a 234-acre recreation area with memorial
groves, short nature trails, swimming and fishing in the
Van Duzen River. Highway 36 leads to the Trinity
Alps, offering views of several rural hamlets along
the way, including Carlotta, Bridgeville and Dinsmore.
Several motels as well as some fine bed and
breakfast inns -- including Victorian Inn, Gingerbread
Mansion Inn -- are perfectly located for a visit to the
many attractions of Humboldt County, including the Avenue
of the Giants, the Lost Coast, and the natural areas of
the Eel Valley.
Right in Ferndale are Victorian shops and galleries --
along Main Street. There's a walking tour map available
in town, guiding you to the notable buildings. The
Ferndale Museum is at Shaw and 3rd. It's filled
with artifacts from the early days of Humboldt County,
and is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4
p.m., and on Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m.
The Kinetic Sculpture Museum (Main and Shaw) is
open daily. For a natural experience, go to Russ Park, a
bird sanctuary and wilderness park, just a half-mile from
downtown Ferndale.
Centerville Beach is close at hand. From
Ferndale, drive along Main Street to Ocean, turn right
and follow Ocean for five miles.
The Lost Coast is the remote landscape set
between the King Range and the Pacific Ocean. Begin your
loop drive to the Lost Coast by driving to Petrolia from
Ferndale, continue south and be sure to see the seaside
village of Shelter Cove, and finish the loop by
taking the Avenue of the Giants or Highway 101 -- to
return to Ferndale. For more information on this
fascinating region, go to the Lost
Coast Page.
Visitors to Fortuna should check out the visitor
center in the River Lodge Convention Center.
Located on the banks of the Eel River. This is a
state-of-the-art convention facility with banquet
facilities, reception room, fireplaces, displays of local
art, and a fine view.
Cheese lovers have to visit the Loleta Cheese
Factory. The village is just off Highway 101, and the
factory is open for tasting and buying cheese from 8 a.m.
to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The Pacific Lumber Company, the largest redwood mill
in the world, has free self-guided tours. The mill is
located in the company town of Scotia, on Highway 101.
Tours are available Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m.
and 2 p.m.
Where to Eat
Should you be looking for a place to dine in Ferndale
there is Curley's in the Victorian Inn, and a
genuine soda fountain at the Fern Cafe on Main
Street.
Fortuna has been expanding its facilities as a place
to stay and eat. Eel River Brewing Company,
located in the Riverwalk/convention center area of town,
offers pub food and great beer for lunch and dinner. The
Village Pantry is a regional coffee shop, and
Hot Brew -- an espresso bar and bistro on Fortuna
Boulevard -- serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
