The city of Fortuna is the third largest community on the Redwood Coast and offers a variety of accommodations, dining and shopping opportunities. The Riverlodge Conference Center is a venue for numerous local events and a great place to stop and stretch your legs. The paved Riverwalk takes you along the riverbank with panoramic views of the Eel River Valley.

Fortuna hosts a growing list of wonderful annual events, including the Daffodil Festival, the Apple Harvest Festival, a major Rodeo and the Fortuna Autorama, which showcases not only classic cars but also antique tractors, engines and other collections.

Strung along the Redwood Coast like precious gems are three communities, each very different, known for their special attractions and spectacular natural settings: McKinleyville, with its broad beaches and backdrop of forested hills; Trinidad, with its picture-perfect cove and coastline; and Orick, cupped protectively in a verdant valley that opens to the sea.

A growing town with many young families, McKinleyville offers several points of interest plus excellent shopping, dining and visitor services. A thriving artists colony, Trinidad puts the word "picturesque" to shame. As one drives north on Highway 101, Trinidad Head can be seen miles before reaching the town, and the Head offers a hike rewarded by stunning ocean and coastal views. At its base, petite Trinidad Bay is dotted with boats; there's a working fishing pier with a restaurant. In the vicinity of Trinidad are some of the most beautiful parks and beaches in California, including Trinidad State Beach and Patricks Point State Park. Orick is the gateway to Redwood National and State Parks. Known as the "Redwood Burl Capital of the World," Orick contains a number of roadside businesses selling all kinds of redwood crafts and gifts, and in July puts on a rip-roaring rodeo.

Fifty miles from Eureka along Highway 299, the town of Willow Creek sits astride the Trinity River. Surrounding this community entirely is the 1.1 million acre Six Rivers National Forest, where a prime activity enjoyed year-round is rafting and kayaking on the scenic Trinity, Klamath and Salmon rivers. Camping, backpacking, rock climbing, mountain biking and hunting opportunities are numerous.

The area is also ideal for scenic driving--Highway 299 has been designated the Trinity Scenic Highway, while Highway 96 from Willow Creek to Hoopa, Weitchpec and Orleans is the Bigfoot Scenic Highway.

Humboldt County's Victorian Village of Ferndale is recognized as one of the most perfectly preserved communities in the West. With its busy Main Street and numerous original 19th century buildings, the entire village is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Not long ago, the town was named the "Prettiest Painted Place in America" in a national competition.

Just beyond Ferndale begins a series of hills that continue on past the Mendocino County line. Between Loleta and Rockport, a distance of more than 80 miles, no major highway approaches the Pacific Ocean. This is California's Lost Coast, the most isolated and spectacular shoreline in the state. For those who yearn for scenic (and winding) roads, the Lost Coast delivers some of the most breathtaking scenery in California.

Poised above the Eel's South Fork, the town of Garberville is the commercial center for Southern Humboldt County and makes a good jump-off point to explore the Lost Coast. Just north of Garberville begins the world-famous Avenue of the Giants, one of California's most spectacular scenic drives. Hugging the banks of the Eel River in many places, the Avenue is the premier route for seeing the redwoods by car. Huge, ancient trees loom over the road as it winds between their massive trunks.

Wildlife, outdoor recreation, relaxation and spectacular scenery - Humboldt County rewards those who make the trek to this California Countryside gem. The county has a great Website to plan a visit; see the Info Box for contact details.

<< 1 : 2
<< Back to All Destinations