8 Things to do in Eureka to help plan your perfect weekend getaway

Surrounded by a beautiful curtain of redwoods on one side and the coastline on the other, Eureka is just the perfect destination for nature lovers. We’ve been to the Redwood National Park area multiple times but hadn’t made time to explore the charming town until recently and ended up loving our stay there. So, here’s my favorite list of things to do in Eureka and everything else you need to plan your weekend trip to this beautiful town.

How to get there

The easiest way to get to Eureka is by car. The drive from San Francisco takes around 5 hours on Highway 101 and also gives you beautiful views of redwoods on the way. I’d highly recommend taking a detour to drive through the narrow Avenue of the Giants on the way.

When to visit

The area is more popular among tourists during September-October because of warmer weather. We visited at the end of October and it was a little chilly in the evenings. But, we were able to enjoy our stay.

The area gets rain between November and April. In my opinion, the shoulder months (November, March, and April) are also great to visit especially if you plan to spend time in the redwoods. The rain brings fog and mist – the experience of being in the woods full of fog is a special one. Accommodations are also relatively cheaper during these months.

Where to stay

Eureka has a lot of different accommodations to choose from – Airbnbs, cabins, and hotels. You can also choose to stay in the neighboring town of Arcata which also offers some beautiful options. Here are a few recommendations for your stay.

Best Western Plus Humboldt Inn. We stayed here on our recent trip to Eureka and loved what the hotel offered. Our favorite feature of our stay was undoubtedly the spa – we would start and end our day relaxing in the beautiful huge hot tub. Clean rooms, friendly staff, and free breakfast made our stay enjoyable. They also offer a free limo service on Saturdays till October where they can offer you a ride to and from the hotel to any restaurant downtown for free at night. We didn’t try it out but I thought this was such a fun thing!

Airstream Airbnb. If you like trying out unique cute Airbnb stays, this is the perfect one for you. We stayed here for a weekend a few months ago and loved how tastefully it was decorated. Located in Arcata, the airstream is right by the beach and comes with a small kitchen in which you can make a light breakfast. However, note that it is a small area and the bathroom can be a squeeze.

Know before you go

The people of Eureka are warm and welcoming. Whether we were on a trail taking a stroll or in the downtown window shopping, people around us said hi and smiled.

That said, we also found a few places shady with homeless people and people who looked like they were high on drugs. One of the things we did was biking along the waterfront trail and we decided to turn back and not bike the entire trail partially because it did not feel safe to continue.

Don’t get me wrong – Eureka is a beautiful town that I highly recommend people to visit. But, be aware of your surroundings, explore well-known places, and don’t leave your valuables in the car while exploring it.

Things to do

Redwood Skywalk

How fun would it be to get a bird’s eye view of the lush forest floor from 100ft above the ground? In Eureka, you can. This is probably one of the most unique and immersive things you can do in the redwoods in California and is a must-do on your trip. The 0.25-mile loop takes you on beautiful suspension bridges into what’s believed to be the world’s tallest urban forest.

The skywalk is a part of the Sequoia Zoo and entry tickets cost around $25 per adult for the zoo and the skywalk. Starting December 2023, there is a plan to start holiday lights on the skywalk at the end of December – I am sure it’s going to make it look even more magical! For more up-to-date details, visit their website.

Samoa Dunes and Beach

This is a true hidden gem that not many tourists end up visiting but offers quiet beaches and amazing sunset views. We drove our car over to the Samoa dunes beach viewpoint where we could park it over a soft dune hill and view a beautiful sunset from the car. We also spent some time walking along the calm coast at the Samoa beach and it was delightful. Manila Dunes and Ma-le’l Dunes are other options in the area to explore.

Sauna and hot tubs

Your experience in Eureka is not complete without enjoying a soak, especially if you are visiting the area in the colder months. Here are two wonderful options in the area.

Cafe Mokka. I’ve kept this a secret for the longest time, but it’s time to share this hidden gem! If I could spend an entire day in this place, I would. The place looks like a cute cafe on the front but has the most magical-looking private hot tub and sauna experience in the backyard. The best part is that the cost is very affordable. Drop by the cafe and make a reservation 1-2 days before the day to make sure you get a spot.

Oasis. The stay at Best Western Plus Humboldt Inn comes with free entry to the largest hot tub in Humboldt County. The tub is open to the hotel guests for a few hours in the morning and the evening.

Sequoia Park Loop

We had walked the Skywalk the previous day and were fascinated by how beautiful the forest floor looked. We later realized a local favorite trail went through there and had to go hike it.

The trail gives great views of the Redwood Skywalk and will also take you to the cutest duck pond and through the prettiest fern groves. The hike is roughly a 2-mile loop with a slight elevation and is pet-friendly.

Avenue of the Giants

Known to be one of the most beautiful drives in the country, Avenue of the Giants makes a great stop on your trip to Eureka. There are several hikes on the Avenue that you can try during your visit. Here are two of our favorite ones.

Drury Chaney Grove. This is surprisingly not a popular grove but we’ve hiked here multiple times and it’s our favorite. In the right season, the ferns grow to around 6 ft! The total hike is around 5 miles, mostly flat.

Founders Grove. This one’s probably the most popular in the area and right by the visitor center. Being a short 0.5-mile nature walk, it offers an easy way to see some of the tallest trees in the area.

The Waterfront

The waterfront area near the visitor center offers kayaking opportunities and has some nice restaurants to grab lunch or dinner with a view. We took a stroll around the area and checked out a few cute shops in the downtown. When you are there, check out the Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate and Los Bagels.

Victorian Mansions

Eureka was a center for the gold rush and the lumber boom which led to the town being a commercial hub of the logging industry. During that time, several ornate Victorian mansions popped up and still look magnificent today.

The Carson Mansion and the Pink Lady are two popular mansions in the town. You can take a short walk from the waterfront or downtown to visit both of them.

Sequoia Zoo

This zoo might be small but has some of the cutest animals I’ve come across. The red pandas and flamingoes were my favorite! If you are going to check out the skywalk, the entry ticket covers both the zoo and the skywalk.

I hope you found the blog post helpful in planning your visit. I personally can’t wait to be back again in the redwoods soon!