Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge
than 200 species of birds migrating annually along the Pacific Flyway. Between the fall
and early spring, when Aleutian geese descend en masse to the area, more than 25,000
geese might be seen in a cackling gaggle outside the visitor center.
The peak season for waterbirds and raptors runs September to March; for black brant
geese and migratory shorebirds mid-March to late April. Gulls, terns, cormorants, pelic-
ans, egrets and herons come year-round. Look for harbor seals offshore; bring binoculars.
If it's open, drive out South Jetty Rd to the mouth of Humboldt Bay for a stunning per-
spective.
Pick up a map from the
visitor center
(1020 Ranch Rd; 8am-5pm)
. Exit Hwy 101 at
Hookton Rd, 11 miles south of Eureka, turn north along the frontage road, on the free-
way's west side. In April, look for the
Godwit Days
festival, a celebration of the spring
bird migration.
Eureka
One hour north of Garberville, on the edge of the giant Humboldt Bay, lies Eureka, the
largest bay north of San Francisco. With strip-mall sprawl surrounding a lovely historic
downtown, it wears its role as the county seat a bit clumsily. Despite a diverse and interest-
ing community of artists, writers, pagans and other free-thinkers, Eureka's wild side slips
out only occasionally - the
Redwood Coast Dixieland Jazz Festival
(
www.redwoodcoastmusicfestivals.org
) is a rollicking festival with events all over town,
and
summer concerts
rock out the F Street Pier - but mostly, Eureka goes to bed early.
Make for Old Town, a small district with colorful Victorians, good shopping and a revital-
ized waterfront. For night life, head to Eureka's trippy sister up the road, Arcata.
Sights
The free
Eureka Visitors Map
, available at tourist offices, details walking tours and scenic
drives, focusing on architecture and history.
Old Town
, along 2nd and 3rd Sts from C St to
M St, was once down-and-out, but has been refurbished into a buzzing pedestrian district.
