It's an amazing beach if you want wide open, few people, want to let your well behaved dog off…read moreleash because no one is around. People ride horses, you can have fires, cool stuff, but it's windy. Like it can get really windy, no where to really chill and hide from the wind. However, if you want to find sand dollars that aren't broken, this beach is the place.

Clam beach is great if you have dogs, it's wide open, quiet, and you can see sand dollars. It does…read moreget windy sometimes , but it's fun if you make the best of it. My 2 dogs love it there

Great Skate Park for your kids or teens to go and hang out! All fenced in and has a huge open…read morebaseball field with bathrooms to either hang out or play and run around in! I definitely recommend the Eureka Skate Park!

Cooper Gulch has a lot happening in this little urban postage stamp park. The skate park is the…read moreobvious draw, but it also has a 9 hole frisbee golf course and a ball field. While skating or disc throwing you may also notice a lot of people walking around with binoculars on. It's a neo-tropical migrant hot spot. Lots of rare birds like to stop in this park before continuing on their journey. There are no restrooms. There really should be since this is a well loved local recreation destination. All the park users I've run into there are friendly and respectful of the multiple uses this little park provides.

This is a great park for kids, teens, and adults! They have great bocce ball court and tennis…read morecourts!

September 11, 2025 - Mike Thompson Wildlife Refuge Area, Arcata, CA…read more My husband found this area on the map, and wanted to check it out. Also called South Spit Wildlife Area, it is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). It is a long narrow spit of land approximately 4-1/2 miles long and contains almost 600 acres of coastal dunes located approximately 5 miles south of Eureka. We arrived on a Thursday afternoon and practically had the place to ourselves. The BLM website says the area can draw anywhere from 20,000 to 80,000 visitors a year--a huge swing--but we must have lucked into the off season. Aside from a family playing on the beach, a couple of fishermen casting their lines, and a few workers updating the kiosk, it felt wonderfully quiet. We explored the area a bit. Unfortunately, we missed the off-leash season for dogs, so our pup had to stay on her leash. (Dogs allowed on leash March through September 15 and off-leash the rest of the year.) I could see this being an ideal spot to visit during the off-leash season--perfect for finding a quiet stretch of sand and letting your pup roam alongside you.

Meike Thompson Wildlife Refuge Area, Eureka, California, September 11, 2025…read more We were out exploring and came across this wildlife area on the south spit of the Mike Thompson Wildlife Refuge. It's about a 20 minute drive from the freeway down to the ocean. They do have a pit toilet there with some interpretive signs at the first parking lot you come to on the ocean. You can drive on the south spit north for quite a ways,. We drove for about a mile and then turned around. They do have some areas were you can actually drive down onto the beach. We chose not to do that. We didn't have very good cell coverage there and we didn't want to risk getting stuck in the sand. We did find a place to park and walk down to the beach. There are some areas of the beach that are pretty level and other areas have a steep decline. Beware of potential sleeper waves.

Walking around Freshwater Farms Reserve is like taking a stroll through a Thomas Hardy novel…read more Birdsong erupts from every bush. Trees shade the path at every turn. Doe-eyed cows look at you as you pass, grazing in the nearby pasture. All in all, this is a beautiful nature trail to walk. It is easy to access, well-maintained, and has lots of signage to educate you about the surrounding area. It is not a loop trail, so be prepared to double back once you reach the end. Sadly, they do not allow dogs, which is my only qualm. Then again, since it's a nature reserve, this is understandable. The trail itself is flat and wide, making it easy to access. I would recommend bringing sunscreen and mosquito repellent, however as the tall grass in the area most certainly harbors tiny, winged vampires. However, the views of the old pastureland are breathtaking. The trail itself runs parallel to the slough, so it's good to have a camera at the ready for some shots of the riparian side. Stop in and get some local honey or goat's milk soap at the country store on the way out. It's good for treating oneself for having lugged one's butt off the couch to walk in nature.

Great for a short hike…read more Looking forward to the return of animals and plants that were displaced by turning the area into pasture over 100 years ago. A lot of work has been done to return the wetlands to their former state, and it shows. The rebuilt barn and active garden is also a feast for the eyes. Plenty of parking and usually just a few nature lovers on the trail. Just Do It!

The Azalea State Natural Reserve is an area protecting Azalea plant species…read more.. From their web site: "A reserve for western azalea (Rhododendron occidentale). Each spring, a profusion of pink and white blossoms scents the air. There is a picnic area available. Plan to visit in April and May when azaleas are in bloom." http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=420 So you want to plan your visit in the April/May time frame - if you want to have a chance of experiencing the Azaleas when they are in bloom. Other times, of the year, it's a nice, peaceful place for a hike! #AzaleaStateNaturalReserve

This small state reserve in northern Humboldt county, off the 101, just below McKinleyville. Off…read moreNorth Bank Road, just about a mile or so down on the left hand side(north) of the blacktop. Is one of the top flower watching destinations in California. This state maintained reserve is loaded with western azaleas, and in the springtime it becomes alive with color and fragrance. Because of the temperate climate, blooms can be found year around. Walking trails are literally covered with pink and white blossoms from late April to June (depending on the weather) and the scent of these beautiful trees flowers can be smelled from yards away, lofting through the air - you find yourself lost in a maze of trails with millions of blooms all around. This unassuming little park is really a very amazing place to walk, look, relax and enjoy nature. There are picnic areas, and a couple different maintained low to medium grade walking trails - also a paved parking area. There is also a trail that crosses the roadway and leads into the far side of this cool place. The reserve is open from sunrise to sunset, year around. There are no dogs allowed in this fragile natural reserve, so please leave your fur friend at home or in the car. This natural state reserve, is one of the best places for blooms in the springtime in the entire state - and well worth the effort. A true 5 star gem on the north coast. 00154

Long drive down a dirt road passing idyllic little dairy farms, for some reason called Cannibal Rd…read more right after the sleepy little town of Loleta. The beach was very small and littered with the smoldering remnants of bonfires with discarded car seats and beer cans. Maybe if you venture out to Cock Robin Island there's better swimming. We saw people racing on ATVs in the distance. Felt surreally post apocalyptic with the smell of fennel, salt air and charred wood.

Really cool Humboldt County Park! Day-use area with access to Eel River estuary, No fee, Day-use…read moreonly Limited parking. Easy access to the beach great place to have a campfire. No bathrooms. No facilities at all. Great place to run your dog or kids!

Old town Eureka has so much to see and do... It's a fantastic area to just wander…read more All kinds of different shops from antique shops, to clothing, shops, to shops where you can buy items from Humboldt County. The chain "restoration hardware" started right here in old town. They also have both new and used book shops. One of them is the bookLegger, which has both. A fun shop to stop in is Seymour's novelty shop. From Whoopie cushions, to pink flamingos, to everything in between. There is also a "California visitors center", where you can go in and get local tourist information. There are some great places to eat, from restaurants to otherwise. My two favorites are "los bagels" on 2nd St., and "living the dream ice cream". at the foot of F Street... In season, you can take the Humboldt Bay Harbor tour on the Madaket, a historic boat which used to be a ferry before the days of the Samoa Bridge. During the summer. They have a big open air market on Friday night, and the old town Fourth of July festival is another open air market. That is also lots of fun to visit. The crown jewel of old town has to be the Carson mansion.... A beautiful old building. Unfortunately, it's not open to the public, as it's a private club, but if you know a member, or you can get get in as part of an event, it's really nice on the inside. There are some homeless people in old town, but they pretty much stay to themselves, the best thing to do is just use common sense. You will have a great time here. On the first Saturday of every month, is the popular "arts alive festival." From 6 to 9 PM, they have live music, late night, gallery openings, and businesses celebrating the local vibrant arts scene. It's very popular, and another great event.

Quality/Quantity - So, overall we had a very good time…read more But of course, if you know me, I try to create my own good times. :) See all my other Eureka Yelp reviews. Main attractions in Old Town are: Harbor walk, be safe as the homeless can be aggressive here. Many good dining options, including Lost Coast Brewery Cafe, Brick & Fire Bistro, Five Eleven, Phatsy Kline's Parlor and Lounge, etc. Eureka Visitor Center - Another one of my highlights of the trip, but then I happen to crash the grand open party! Dick Taylor Craft Chocolates. Carson Mansion - Looks good from the outside. Close to the public. Main attractions in Eureka 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. 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. Atmosphere - Historic, victorian homes, art, etc. Kind of reminds me of Napa or Carmel... 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 approximately 14.5 sq miles with 26.5k population. Service - Good. Mostly self service walking around Old Town. Price - Depends on what you buy, eat, or drink. Owner Comments - Congrats on Eureka's success since 1850. 1856 Incorporated. 1874 - Reincorporated.