Key Points<\/p>\n
Located just north of Humboldt-Redwoods State Park, Ferndale, California, is filled with gorgeous, Victorian-era homes.<\/p>\n
Stroll down Main Street to snap pics of Ferndale\u2019s very own Painted Ladies and hotels like the Gingerbread Mansion Inn.<\/p>\n
Shop for funky, one-of-a-kind souvenirs at the Golden Gait Mercantile and the Farmer\u2019s Daughter.<\/p>\n
A few miles inland from Northern California\u2019s famed Lost Coast, a colorful village rises out of the misty redwood forests. 19th-century homes, stores, and hotels line the streets in brilliant hues, taking visitors back to a simpler\u2014and more colorful\u2014time. And while the Victorian architecture of San Francisco may be better known, in my humble opinion, the tiny town of Ferndale has the big city beat.<\/p>\n
I recently visited Ferndale during a trip to Humboldt-Redwoods State Park<\/a> (which is about 22 miles away), and what was intended to be a brief detour soon became a lengthy sojourn around town to take in the architecture. It\u2019s hard not to be spellbound\u2014nestled amid dense forests and rolling dairy pastures, Ferndale looks like the very definition of a storybook town.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is a magical place,\u201d says Caroline Titus. The editor of the Ferndale Enterprise Souvenir Edition<\/a> visitors\u2019 guide, Titus volunteers with the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce and has lived in town for more than 30 years.<\/p>\n Related: Amazon\u2019s Black Friday Deals Are Already Here\u2014Shop Our 70 Favorite Travel Finds Up to 90% Off <\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThe entire Main Street is on the National Register of Historic Places<\/a>,” she says. “People are friendly, and we have great shopping and restaurants. And we\u2019re in such a convenient location.\u201d<\/p>\n Indeed, if you want to see California\u2019s redwoods<\/a>, you\u2019d be hard-pressed to name a better destination. Humboldt-Redwoods and Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park<\/a> are within easy reach of Ferndale, and you can get to Redwood National and State Parks<\/a> in roughly an hour. But it\u2019s not all about the trees. Ferndale is also five miles from the coast and sits on the bank of the picturesque Francis Creek, a tributary of the Salt River.<\/p>\n As stunning as Ferndale\u2019s outdoor attractions are, the town itself has ample scenery, too. A stroll down Main Street takes you past rows of idyllic Victorian homes\u2014Ferndale has its very own Painted Ladies, and movies like \u201cSalem\u2019s Lot\u201d were also filmed in town.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s very easy to do a walking tour of Main Street and the side streets,\u201d says Titus. To help visitors find their way around, the Ferndale Enterprise Souvenir Edition includes printed maps, which you can also access online at Visit Ferndale<\/a>.<\/p>\n While you wander, don\u2019t be shy about popping into the town\u2019s many locally run businesses. Unique souvenirs, vintage gems, and even sweet treats await. \u201cThe Golden Gait Mercantile<\/a> is a fun place to shop,\u201d says Titus. \u201cIt’s like an old general store with creaky wood floors. The Farmer\u2019s Daughter is also great\u2014it’s run by a true dairy family, so not only do they have great items for sale, they also have the cheese, milk, and ice cream that they produce. That’s just to name a couple of the great stores.\u201d<\/p>\n Speaking of, you might want to save some time to learn more about Ferndale\u2019s cattle and dairy industry and to find out how this picture-perfect town came to be. \u201cThe Ferndale Museum<\/a> is an excellent, world-class museum located right next to Main Street, and it’s a great place to pop in, especially on a rainy day,\u201d says Titus. \u201cThey have fascinating exhibits, and you can learn all about the history of Ferndale.\u201d<\/p>\n After your tour, a bite to eat will likely be in order. A variety of casual restaurants<\/a> abound, like the local favorite Poppa Joe\u2019s, the Mexican eatery Tuyas<\/a>, and the ever-popular Ferndale Pizza Company. With options up and down Main Street, though, you\u2019re all but guaranteed to find good eats, no matter where you stop.<\/p>\n At the end of the day, you can spend the night camping at one of the nearby state parks\u2014trust me, the serenity of a redwood forest at night is like nothing else. Or, you can stay in one of those Victorian homes. Many have been converted into cozy vacation rentals and bed-and-breakfasts, including the Gingerbread Mansion<\/a> and the Shaw House Inn<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Gingerbread Mansion is one of our famous hotels, and at one time, it was a hospital,\u201d says Titus. \u201cAnd the Shaw House was the original house in Ferndale.\u201d<\/p>\n She also notes that Ferndale has a host of events happening year-round, including a Halloween cemetery<\/a> and the annual lighting of the largest living Christmas tree in the U.S.<\/a> But the best part? No matter when you decide to visit Ferndale, you\u2019re unlikely to encounter any crowds.<\/p>\n \u201cYou’re always going to find a parking space,\u201d says Titus. \u201cIt\u2019s just a slower way of life, and people get very relaxed when they\u2019re here.”<\/p>\n