Arcata, California

1. Arcata Community Forest

Only a few blocks from downtown Arcata, there’s a redwood forest just waiting to be explored. Arcata Community Forest has been designated the rare title of a ‘model forest’, which it shares with only 20 other forests in the US, for its excellent forestry.

The forest is comprised of 790 acres of land, which vary from 250 to 1010 feet elevation throughout the premises. The ravines and wooded hillsides contain many tall and ancient redwood trees, and visitors can access the forests via a number of ways.

There are corduroy roads, bridges, and trail steps along the way for hikers to access some of the steeper and more difficult terrain, and also plenty of trails that are accessible for bicyclists and horseback riders.

14th and Union Street, Arcata, CA 95521, Phone: 707-822-8184

2. Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary

The 307 acres that make up the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary are part of the city of Arcata’s ingenious and cutting edge wastewater treatment facility. There are freshwater, salt, and brackish marshes, as well as sloughs formed by the tide, mudflats, and grassy land as well on the property, and by combining wastewater treatment with the natural ecosystem of a constructed marshland, Arcata is proud to say that they’ve created an ecological resource out of their wastewater. There are thousands of birds that migrate along the path of the marsh, and over 300 unique species of bird have been spotted in the area. At the Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center on the premises, visitors can learn about the creation of the marshes, the birds that fly through it, and the ecological impact of marshes.

569 S G Street, Arcata, CA 95521, Phone: 707-826-2359

3. Arcata Farmers' Market

Farmers Markets are popular these days, and even the smallest towns can sometimes claim one as their own. But the North Coast Growers’ Association’s Farmers Market in Arcata was one of the first four certified farmers markets in the entire state of California, and today it bears the distinction of having been run continuously for longer than any other certified farmers market in the state. Arcata Farmers' Market vendors are all smaller farms, with the stalls run by the farmers themselves or their direct employees, and there are no middle men between the grower and the the seller. This way, visitors can be sure that they are receiving fresh, local food created by the vendors themselves. Here, visitors can find not just fruits and vegetables, but also products like cheese, seafood, mushrooms, plants, flowers, and honey.

PO Box 4232, Arcata CA 95518, Phone: 707-441-9999

4. Clam Beach County Park

The nearby city of McKinleyville is located right along the Pacific Coast, and in McKinleyville, visitors will find Clam Beach County Park. This quaint beach park is named for the abundance of razor clams which can be found there, and visitors can dig for them if they wish. There are also camping sites at Clam Beach County Park, with sites for RVs as well as for tent camping. Both overnight guests and day trippers will enjoy the scenery, the beach, and the trails in the area, including the Hammond Coastal Trail which runs from Little River State Beach to Mad River Beach and is suitable for hikers, bikers, and horseback riders.

Clam Beach Dr, McKinleyville, CA 95519

5. Mad River Beach County Park

A visit to Mad River Beach County Park will actually feel like exploring two completely different parks. The first part consists of the Mad River, located only a few miles from where it meets the Pacific Ocean, and the large tidal influence here makes it great for kayaking, canoeing, and other types of boating. There is a boat ramp in this part of the park as well as a parking lot and restroom facilities, and visitors will often find the water full of people paddling and enjoying the water. The other part of the park is the beach, which is great for long walks or days of relaxing. The sandy, grassy dunes make for lots of fun and exploration for visitors, and the beautiful views of the Pacific are simply breathtaking, especially at sunset.

1 Mad River Rd, Arcata, CA 95521, Phone: 707-445-7651

6. Humboldt State University Natural History Museum

With admission prices for adults, seniors, students, and kids, and even a perfect family admission pack that includes up to two adults and four kids, the Humboldt State University Natural History Museum is a great destination for families. The educational exhibits inside this university-funded museum will teach visitors about the redwood forests of the region, prehistoric mammals that once lived in North America, and animals, insects, and plants that live here now. The museum also hosts many hands-on educational programs on topics such as wildlife tracking, honeybees, and other topics, many of which are family friendly.

1242 G St, Arcata, CA 95521, Phone: 707-826-4479

7. Humboldt Crabs Baseball

There’s nothing quite like a ball game: the hot dogs, soft pretzels, ice cream, and popcorn hawked by sellers in the crowd, the music blaring over the loudspeakers, and of course, the joy of watching the game with friends or family. The Humboldt Crabs are a collegiate team that play every summer at Arcata Ballpark since their founding in 1945, and visitors in Arcata during the summertime will not want to miss the excitement and fun of a baseball game. The Crabs’ game schedule can be found on their website, and visitors can purchase tickets either online or by calling the Humboldt Crabs’ information line.

PO Box 4422 Arcata, CA 95521, Phone: 707-840-5665

8. Mad River Fish Hatchery

Operating since 1971, the Mad River Fish Hatchery is dedicated to preserving populations of chinook salmon and steelhead fish in the region. For decades, the hatchery stocked lakes all over Northern California, like Ruth Lake and Freshwater Lagoon, with trout and other fish. In 2004 the hatchery was forced to close, but not for long. In 2005, the Mad River Fish Hatchery reopened its doors and has been raising fish ever since. The hatchery is open to the public every day from 7am until 4pm, and there, visitors can go fishing, have a picnic, or explore the river area, as well as learn about the important role the hatchery plays in the fishing world.

1660 Hatchery Rd, Blue Lake, CA, Phone: 707-822-0592

9. Alchemy Distillery

In 2015, Alchemy Distillery officially made its first batch of whiskey, but the dream to open a distillery was much older than that for its owners, who first dreamt up the idea in 2010. Alchemy Distillery is focused on running a grain-to-bottle company that took part in every aspect of the liquor making process instead of purchasing liquid grain neutral spirits like many other distilleries do. Alchemy’s product, called BOLDT, can be found at retailers all over the West Coast, and it is made from fresh grains from local farms. Alchemy Distillery has a commercial kitchen that hosts a variety of local chefs. The bar features the complete line of spirits as well as a mocktail menu. Please call for hours. alchemydistillery.com Phone: 707-822-8013

10. Arcata Theatre Lounge

Built in 1937, the neon, vertical marquee sign of the Arcata Theatre Lounge is hard to miss in the city’s downtown area. This historic place features elements of Art Deco design as well as a decidedly Art Moderne touch, all of which can be plainly seen in the geometric light fixtures in the theater and the sweeping curves of the other interior elements. Today, the Arcata Theatre Lounge has undergone several renovations but still maintains its historic style and atmosphere. The theatre shows classic films, cult favorites, and new releases, and on Sundays they even show NFL games so fans can watch their team play on the big screen.

1036 G St, Arcata, CA 95521, Phone: 707-822-1220