City of Eureka as a visitor [Eureka CA] We saw and did a lot more in the City of Eureka this time around when we revisited during the extended Memorial Day weekend 2025. Each below have their own a separate review. New to us: * Sequoia Park & Garden - the garden featured a wishing well and a gazebo. Lots of flowers in bloom which is generally between May and September. * Sequoia Park Zoo and The Redwood Sky Walk - The Sky Walk is accessible only through the Sequoia Park Zoo. Enjoyed both attractions! The suspension bridge was my highlight but I also really liked seeing the flamingos! * Fort Humboldt State Historic Park - cool history where future U.S. President, Ulysses S. Grant, served as a Captain and commander of all Union forces during the Civil War. This place is said to be haunted. * T.J. Maxx - just passing time before movies. As we were about to leave town to head back home we stopped by downtown on Memorial Day. Many businesses were open including: * Old Town Square - historic charm and for the most part I didn't see too many homeless people on the streets as many have mentioned in their reviews. We came around 10:00a. * Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate - located right on the waterfront of Humboldt Bay. Sampled some artisanal chocolates and enjoyed a Browned Butter Rice Krispy Treat from their cafe bar. * Los Bagels - tried their Scrambagel for the first time. Very good in organic sesame seed bagel. This is a cafe with Mexican and Jewish influence. Revisited: * The Donut Mill - Ham & Cheese Croissant for breakfast * Broadway Cinema - "The Last Rodeo" [an Angel Studios production] * Brick and Fire Bistro - featured in DD&D twice... first one in and we got to sit inside the main dining room this time. Had the Kobe Fettina Steak again. We've pretty much explored all we wanted to see in the City of Eureka so won't be back in a long while. We'll probably revisit again in a few years. Review #2521 updated read more

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I have issues in many places over the years,in eureka most people are fairly pleasant and helpful,oddly enough the police are actually pretty cool(weird to say that from me) many interesting things to do ,the marinas are cool,tons of affordable dispensaries,many interesting places to eat, everything is affordable,it's colorful,not to loud in most areas. Problematic situations aren't your problem if you don't apply yourself to them ,housing is reasonable for California It does not have some of the general issues as often is other spots in the area such as power outages or poor connectivity It's kind of small but there is always a lot going on if you're into roaming and budgeting, actually fairly quiet at night There are a few negatives, quite a bit of homelessness and addicts but that's everywhere now. I've been homeless so it doesn't bother me aside empathy Thank you eureka police for being respectful and empathetic to people and not robbing shooting and beating people on a regular basis people here complain about the police far too much. I blame that on addicts and hippies and some old anti police attitude mess. I used to sell drugs in other states. These people complaining must have been doing something wrong as the cops here have a lot to deal with Also amazing weather almost all the time ,I don't mind the winter rains it's better than snowy subartict And the design and structural ambience is nice Best place in Humboldt in my experience so far and a favored spot in Cali Thank you for not discriminating eureka Thank you code enforcement for doing your jobs Thank you city workers and PGE and especially all federal benefit offices such as EBT,Medicaid,social security, section 8,also AAA, Avoid pro pacific,they aren't pros they will take your money and not do full repair ,hold your vehicle for as long as they can illegally lie about not being able to find parts or fix certain things and only fix what they want ,very disrespectful,may leave your vehicle off property open to vandalism in the streets,like job security Absolutely most horrible scum mechanics I've come across in forty years, probably on drugs or something I don't know anything about the lodge there hopefully the brothers are more well behaved ,mature and dedicated to what the organization is really about as opposed to other places I've been Eureka is a prime northern coast area. Please don't mess it up or start being pricks like everywhere else I really appreciate you read more

This is our 2nd visit to Eureka in 2 years and I like this town more and more. The biggest draw is the weather. It is SF weather at affordable prices then there is Eureka's progressive culture. We live in Silicon Valley for now but will retire in the next 10 years so we are looking for our next home & Eureka is very high on the short list. I love the historic district, it is 1 of our favorite places to hang out. Eureka has many murals all over town which was fun to check out. We have heard so much about the unhoused situation, but honestly, we had no problem with them. In fact, the unhoused people we came across the whole time we were here were just as friendly as the locals - they said hi and told us to have a great day. The only other place unhoused persons had said hi to me and talked with me was in Fremont. I work in Fremont and love it. Eureka is not a big place compares to Fremont or Sunnyvale but it has 2 of the best grocery stores in town: Eureka Natural Foods & the Co-op. I love both shops. I love the spirit, the politics and the friendly people here. I shall continue to come back and stay longer each time.... read more

Quality/Quantity - So, overall we had a very good time. But of course, if you know me, I try to create my own good times. :) See all my other Eureka Yelp reviews Main attractions are: Micro Breweries - So many to choose from, the most popular one is probably Lost Coast. Of course, we went to both their locations and a few more other breweries. The Redwood Curtain Brewery also stood out for us on this visit. They also have Cider companies, but that is not my preference/not my drink of choice. Old Town - Just okay, be safe. The homeless are more aggressive out here. Eureka Visitor Center - Another one of my highlights of the trip, but then I happen to crash the grand opening party! Dick Taylor Craft Chocolates. Sequoia Park - I enjoyed this. A nice easy walk/hike. Sequoia Park Garden - Really small, but still very nice and beautiful. The caregiver was also really friendly. Sequoia Park Zoo - If I had young kids, I would have enjoyed it more. My daughter enjoyed it. Carson Mansion - Looks good from the outside. Close to the public. Atmosphere - Small city, but I am told the largest for their county. I believe the largest coastal city is between SF and Portland, OR. The city is approximatley 14.5 sq miles with 26.5k population. Service - Good. Price - Depends on what you buy, eat, or drink. Owner Comments - Congrats on your success since 1850. 1856 - Incorporated. 1874 - Reincorporated. read more

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I love Eureka. I know full well it has its goods n bads. Every city, town has them. I love that its right on the water, redwoods everywhere, has a very diverse downtown, beautiful murals, unique old mansions, a zoo even, delicious FRESH seafood, historical points of interests, breweries & bars, omg what more do you want? This city has flavor! In every sense! I visit throughout the year. Lots of lodging choices throughout town. read more

This was a very interesting town to stay in. I did an overnight here in Eureka while on my way to visit the Redwoods. Eureka is located on the shores of Humboldt Bay and is the largest coastal city between San Francisco and Portland. It is known for its many Victorian homes with Carson Mansion being the most recognizable. The historic district was my favorite place to hang out. Highlights on my short stay here included visiting Sequoia Park Zoo, dinner at Brick & Fire, checking out Eureka Books, and a stroll on the boardwalk. Eureka has many murals all over town which was fun to check out. The mural on the Arkley Center for the Performing Arts was my favorite. Sadly, the night life was a little sketchy. Lots of homeless people and drug addicts walking around all hours of the night. I could hear screaming outside my hotel in the middle of the night. The town also has a lot of litter and trash everywhere. As much as I enjoyed my time during the day in Eureka, sleeping overnight here was a little scary. read more

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Coming from a tourist standpoint, Eureka ain't all that bad. It was kind of funny to read some of the previous reviews from the locals in the area. Not funny as in laughable, but just crazy to see how so many people view this city negatively. And, what do I REALLY know? I don't live here. I'm not from here. I've only visited. But coming from the Bay Area, I've seen so much homelessness and so many druggies on the streets. Everyday. All the time. I don't wanna say that I'm "numb" or "immune" to it, but... I see it a lot. It does bother me but I'm kind of used to it. I do agree that this city has a major homeless and druggie problem though. But, I still feel like you can find some fun things to do here if you happen to find yourself in this city. Eureka is one of the gateways to some of the most beautiful areas in the state of California: the Humboldt Redwoods and the North Coast. It's also one of the largest cities on the Northern Coast. So, I'll talk about what I enjoyed during my visit here. Of course, the convenience factor. It's so close to the Coast Redwoods and the Lost Coast. The street art is truly incredible. I admire that they value freedom of speech through their artwork. I have to say that I've never seen anything like it before. Some people feel like it trashes the city, but I find it to be really beautiful and eye catching. There's a lot of history in this town, much of which has been captured by its' old Victorian architecture. The Carson Mansion is a one of a kind and a must visit when you're in the area. Old Town Square really captures the essence of Eureka's history. The waterfront has a nice view of the Humboldt Bay. There are lots of nice places to eat and shop in the area. If you like brews, you'll love the popular Lost Coast Brewery. If you're into fishing and boating, they've got a few places to explore. So in short; yes it has a dense homeless and druggie population, but what large city doesn't have this nowadays? It's worth a stop to explore IF you're already planning on coming to the area (like a North Coast or Redwoods exploration trip). You can definitely find a few things to do during your visit. read more

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Eureka!! Such a great name for a city!! Did you know that Eureka is an adjective used to express triumph on a discovery? I always thought that staying in Eureka and spending a few nights would be a cool thing. A place we could use as a homebase for exploring the Northern Coast of California and the beautiful Redwoods. After reading the previous Yelp reviews, I'm glad we have not used Eureka as our base of operations. We've stopped by Eureka a couple of times in the past. We've driven through the city more times using Hwy 101. Happy to say that we have not encountered any of the issues mentioned in Yelp. So based on my modest touristy experiences, Eureka is not bad. Not a vacation destination, though. Too bad because Eureka is such a cool name! read more

Very cool city, great shops the marinas are great lots to do, great food! Now for the bad, lots of homeless lots of drug use. I really with the city management would clean it up because it would be an amazing city! read more

11:30 at night and nobody can sleep at the hotel we decided to stay in (Rodeway Inn) because the city decided to start doing work on the streets out front at that time! They had the road blocked off all day, yet they waited till 1130 at night to start making all the noise! Where's the logic in that? Wonderful relaxing f**king vacation here a-holes! read more

Three stars for an odd little town. It seems to suffer from an economic downturn, which is not good or bad in of itself, but does inform what the town looks like, who is here, etc. The "Old Town" area has some interesting looking shops and cafes but that doesn't mean it's a destination. Thanks. read more

I love Eureka! I grew up there so I am a little biased. Yes there are crackheads an tweakers but the other reviewer was in the wrong part of town. Beautiful community with friendly people and cool shops and restaurants. Check out Old Town Eureka with stunning bay views, great shops, and restaurants. Humboldt county in general is amazing - redwoods, rivers, the Pacific, sun, and fog. Visit, you won't be disappointed. read more

Okay, this review is based on my feelings of the area I have seen in Eureka. I haven't seen or been around the entire city & Humboldt County area but wow. The old part off 101 is like crack head central. You see the police and tweekers roaming around all day & night on Broadway. Well, it is Cali & the Coast! The drive up here was beautiful & scenic but when u get into town watch yourself. Meth heads and weirdo's walking around. A lot of homeless around the boardwalk area too. The 4th of July festival & fireworks were fun though and u finally see some local normal people. Trinidad, Samoa, & Fortuna are nice towns to visit too. North Coast is beautiful and historic. A must visit at least once. Overall, the food, hotel, and events have been cool. Good people and tons of stuff to do. Great experience so far in the Redwoods. read more

I like it here. Its a good town. Lots of nice people. Some bad neighborhoods...Around Broadway especially, but old town is nice.

Yuk the city fathers would be disgusted at what this obviously once cute little costal town has become. We were there on the Fourth of July we stopped in for two days on the way to the Oregon coast. We found a really nice bike path it was about 6 miles each way some of it very new that was fun. There were some homeless on the bike path but that's to be expected in today's age I guess. I would assume this town caters to the homeless because they are prevalent. My first impression of Eureka as I drove through was The whole town needs a paint job. There needs to be some program where the homeless people clean up the streets. Because there's lots of homeless and lots of trash. Those two problems could cancel each other out with the proper people in charge. This obviously once was a great little tourist town now frankly it looks like a drug town and is frightening in some areas. I was traveling with my wife and 2-10 year-old boys who were taken aback by just how ugly this town is. There was some sort of a Fourth of July celebration going on but after seeing the city my family was afraid to go there. Seems like there's a lot of meth in this town. One positive is fireworks are still legal. We bought some fireworks supported a local charity and lit them off in a parking lot back by the RV. I can't think of any reason I would ever go to this town again. We travel two weeks in the summer and at least one three day camping trip every month. Those travels will never again include driving through this town. I will now go I five and crossover in Oregon. I am writing this once I arrived in Gold Beach Oregon. The thing I noticed right away when I got to Oregon is there was no trash on the road anywhere. The condition of the highways is much better and a little beach towns are cute quaint and beautiful. Compare that to California is completely rundown and trashed. California coastal cities figure out what they're doing in Oregon and do it. It is a tragedy at these once cute little coastal towns are now such a disaster. It is so sad read more

Road trip up the coast landed me in eureka for the night. Homeless everywhere. We were verbally harassed twice while walking down the street. As we walked to the taxi we ordered, a gentleman approached us, asked if i wanted to purchase drugs (offering weed or crystal), then jumped into our taxi before we could. I complained to the driver but apparently they were friends. Will never be returning. read more

I lived in eureka for 3 years and still visit often. It is such a beautiful area it's really too bad the city allows all the junkies to hang out everywhere and transients to camp all over. I often dream of moving back just for the weather and beauty but when I think of living in such an oppressed place again I actually cringe. This area could be amazing if all of those people were out of the picture but they make it a crime ridden, druggie town. Too bad the city doesn't value the safety of its citizens and visitors over them!! Just returned from a visit and noticed many once well kept houses are now falling into disrepair. Many homes openly have junk all over their lawns and porches. Which is a reflection of city ordinances not being enforced. I guess it's a sign of the economic times in this town. Very, very sad!! Weathers great and lots of beautiful sights around the area. I like to eat a Chapalas downtown. Pretty good food. Samoa cookhouse never disappoints either:) read more