Before or after you venture into the redwoods, Old Town Eureka is a must-see. Restaurants, galleries, theaters, coffee houses, boardwalks and antique shops make up only a portion of everything this cozy quaint Victorian town has to offer. The arts are very much alive in Old Town Eureka from the renowned Native American wing in the Clarke Historical Museum to the murals that adorn the walls of buildings in the area. Experience Eureka’s history on walking tours or take in the sights while relaxing in the back seat of a horse-drawn carriage.
Eureka’s Historic Old Town
525 2nd St, Eureka, CA 95501 (707) 441-4150
Food available on-site.
Restrooms available.
Approx. 4 hours to enjoy.
Weather is seasonal, and temperatures range from 45°F-65°F. We suggest wearing layers.
Carson Mansion
143 M Street, Eureka, CA 95501 (707) 443-5665
Witness this iconic example of Victorian architecture, which towers above the Bay in Old Town Eureka. Since 1884, this gingerbread, storybook mansion–a Eureka landmark–has been one of the most written-about, photographed and celebrated Victorian homes in the country. Built by lumber magnate William Carson, it boasts towers and turrets, columned porches, gables and striking ornate details, all topped off with a radical paint job.
No food on-site. Restaurants within walking distance.
Restrooms available nearby.
Approx. 1 hours to enjoy.
Blue Ox Millworks & Historic Park
1 X Street, Eureka, CA 95501 (707) 444-3437
The Blue Ox Millworks is where Victorian craftsmanship of the 1800s is used to create authentic custom products for homes around the world. They have done custom work for governor mansions, national parks, historic cathedrals and even President Bill Clinton. Come to the Blue Ox to watch antique woodworking machinery in operation, visit a skid camp, learn about traditional boat-building, and meet the blue oxen, Babe and Blue. You can take a self-guided tour or call in advance and have one of the crew show you around.
In 2021, the Magnolia Network produced “The Craftsman,” a series following master woodworker and Eureka native Eric Hollenbeck as he restores historic homes and other local treasures at Blue Ox Millworks. Two seasons are available to stream.
No food on-site. Bring a snack or picnic.
Restrooms available.
Approx. 1 hours to enjoy.
Humboldt Bay & Woodley Island
Woodley Island, Eureka, CA (707) 443-0801
There is something for everyone down at the Humboldt Bay. Here you can stroll down the wooden pier as the clouds roll by and ships sail back into the harbor after a long day at sea. Enjoy a nice evening of waterfront dining and then book a sunset cruise and see the Pacific Ocean in all of its glory. Venture over to Table Bluff Lighthouse to take photographs of the beautiful landscape on Woodley Island or grab you kayak paddle and hit the waves.
Food available on-site.
Restrooms available.
Approx. 4 hours to enjoy.
Weather is seasonal, and temperatures range from 45°F-65°F. We suggest wearing layers.
Madaket Cruise on Humboldt Bay
1 C Street, Eureka, CA 95501 (707) 445-1910
Take a one-of-a-kind guided tour on the Madaket, the nation’s oldest passenger ferry. This 8.5-mile, one-hour cruise travels along the inspiring Eureka Waterfront. You will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the colorful Humboldt Bay, the timber industry, wildlife, shipping, maritime lore, local indigenous histories and so much more. Seasonal schedule: Daily Mid-May — October.
No food on-site. Bring a snack or picnic.
Restrooms available.
Approx. 1 hour to enjoy.
Weather is seasonal, and temperatures range from 55°F-65°F. We suggest wearing layers.
Redwood Sky Walk
3414 W St, Eureka, CA 95503 (707) 441-4263
This amazing aerial experience in Eureka, California, takes visitors to new heights among the world’s tallest living things. The $4 million canopy trail, the longest in the western United States, rises more than 100 feet above the forest floor in Eureka’s Sequoia Park, a 65-acre community forest that features trees rivaling those of nearby Redwood National Park and the Avenue of the Giants. The quarter-mile sky walk, most of it ADA compliant, is included with admission to Eureka’s Sequoia Park Zoo, the oldest certified zoo in the state of California.
Eureka
Tucked just inland of Humboldt Bay, Eureka is the largest city between San Francisco and Portland and the perfect home base for your Redwood adventure.
Filled with a rich history of gold mining and bustling port activity, nowhere is Eureka’s Victorian heritage more evident than in Old Town. Here you’ll find a meticulously restored district of shops, restaurants, galleries and museums. The Eureka Boardwalk is open for strolling and bay watching and is also home to the Carson Mansion. If it is a water-facing activity you’re looking for, you’ll have no problem finding waterfront dining opportunities, kayaking excursions, oyster tours or sunset cruises. Leaving this lovely place, however, may be a challenge.
Head inland from the bay and you’ll find it hard to miss the massive old-growth redwood forest smack dab in the middle of Eureka (just under 70 acres to be exact). Developed trails, stairways, bridges and corduroy roads make this an easy adventure. Don’t forget to stop by the Sequoia Park Zoo to say hi to our magnificent red pandas or check out the new river otter experience. Few cities the size of Eureka have zoos, let alone world-class exhibits such as these.
Whether it is before or after you find yourself lost amongst the ever-famous Redwoods of Humboldt County, Eureka is a perfect jumping off point on any itinerary.