Victorian Ferndale

I'd long wanted to visit the small, Victorian town of Ferndale, just south of Eureka in Humboldt County.  Located about five hours north of San Francisco, Ferndale is too far to travel for a weekend getaway so I had to wait for a longer trip to California's far north.  Earlier this month, I took guests to see the redwoods in the Avenue of the Giants and Redwood National and State Parks and needed a place to overnight in between.  I immediately thought of Ferndale.  

Gingerbread Mansion Bed and Breakfast

Currently closed and on the market for $1 Million

If you enjoy Victorian Architecture, Ferndale's the place for you.  A stroll through the small town takes you past dozens of beautiful Victorian homes and buildings.  When you arrive you can easily pick up a guide for a walking tour of the town.  

The small main street is lined with shops, restaurants, and galleries. One of my favorites is The Blacksmith Shop, a gallery of handmade, blacksmithed items.  Ferndale Arts is a cooperative gallery showcasing works of many local and nearby artists.  The Ferndale Museum has a collection of local artifacts and contains a wealth of information on local history.

My guests stayed at The Victorian Inn, a lovely restored Victorian hotel. Erected in 1890, the hotel is built entirely of redwood.  Rooms are decorated with Victorian style furnishings but include modern amenities such as flat screen televisions in some rooms and internet access throughout the hotel.  The Inn's VI Restaurant is probably the best place to dine in Ferndale.

Victorian Inn

A tour of California's far north is quite rewarding and an overnight in Ferndale is a relaxing stop.  If you'd like to have someone else do the driving, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel for a private tour.  I can be reached at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.