Featured
Events
May 18-19:
Portuguese Holy Ghost Festa
May 25-27:
Kinetic
Sculpture Race
July 19-August 11:
Musical Theatre,
"Victor-Victoria"
Visitor Info
Arts, Antiques, Attractions & Shops
DVD Treat Yourself! Feed Your Soul
Read the 2009 Ferndale Enterprise Souvenir Edition online here
Business
Move Your Business to Ferndale
Explore Humboldt County
More Links
The USA CityLink Project
Ferndale Wins!
Prettiest Painted Place
(small town)
in the Northwest Region 2012
“When you die it’s gonna be like this. This is what heaven looks like.”
--horse trainer Ruby Thomas, 2011
Voted the North Coast's Best Attraction for Visitors!
Centerville Beach named
Best
Beach on the North Coast
It's just 5 miles from Ferndale's Historic Main Street to California's Magnificent Lost Coast
Winners of the Holiday Ferndale Passport Shopping Sprees
Thanks to everyone for playing!
1st Prize:
John Gilliland
2nd Prize:
Martin
Woodley
3rd Prize:
Leanne
McCulloch
Forbes named Ferndale one of AMERICA’S PRETTIEST TOWNS! "From its well-preserved Victorian-era main street, to its five-minute drive from California’s magnificent, undeveloped Lost Coast, Ferndale is a surprising trip back in time, with just enough modern quirkiness to make it unique."
"A genuine Victorian hamlet" (AP reporter Jennifer Marin), Ferndale has been dubbed "the best preserved Victorian village in California," by Los Angeles Times former travel editor Jerry Hulse.
This was perhaps our perfect vacation -- surrounded by a stunning natural setting from the Lost Coast to the big trees, a walkable city, excellent food at Matias', The VI, Lost Coast Cafe, Cream City Cafe, and exciting options at the Valley Grocery deli, comfortable and attractive lodging at the Redwood Suites -- and we felt like the only tourists in town.
We visited the museum and were impressed with the dioramas and the machine shop. We even stopped by the public library, chatted with the librarian, and practiced using the Dewey Decimal System card catalogue. We also caught a kids' baseball practice during a late afternoon walk.
Whatever you folks are doing to keep all this going, please keep doing it.
Chris Kirk-Kuwaye, Hawaii, 2010
"FERNDALE" Road Trip with Huell Howser, ORDER YOUR COPY HERE!
Nestled between the two redwood forests in a thriving dairy
community, you may discover Northern California's best-kept secret, The
Victorian Village of Ferndale.
Sunset magazine confirms that "you can immerse yourself in Ferndale's Victorian spirit."
Park your car to step back in time. Enjoy magnificently preserved Victorian architecture as you stroll; pick up visitor information from any shop. On the National Register of Historic Places, Ferndale's Main Street is a photographer's paradise and a shopper's delight.
Explore the old-fashioned mercantiles, antique
stores, art galleries, and specialty shops, hear the ringing of the
blacksmith's hammer, and talk with the friendly people. Watch fresh
candy being dipped by hand to whet your appetite for a fine dinner
and an evening of theatre.
Resting by the fire in your elegant bed and breakfast inn, think about tomorrow: a walk along nearby coastline, a nature hike in Russ Park (the 110-acre forest bird sanctuary), a boat tour of the Eel River Delta, a visit to the museum, a tour of Fern Cottage, a leisurely day filled with old-fashioned service and friendly faces.
You will find a town where the old way of life
has not been compromised. The splendid buildings have been carefully
restored, embellished with lovingly-tended gardens, and people take
the time to smile a friendly greeting.
Although it's been suggested that the Victorian
village is a fairytale setting, Ferndale is a working, all-American
town which takes pride in its beautiful community and cultural heritage.
In the late 1800s Ferndale was an agricultural and transportation center, a melting pot for Scandinavian, Swiss-Italian, and Portuguese immigrants.
The entire village is California Historical Landmark No. 883.
There's nothing stodgy in this small town, though; Ferndale loves to have fun!
The cradle of the wild and whacky Kinetic
Sculpture Race, Ferndale continues to host the
finish of this off-beat art event, now a three-day contest. The village
is home to many colorful events and festivals: Foggy Bottom Milk Run, Tour
of the Unknown Coast bicycle run, Portuguese Holy Ghost Celebration,
the Humboldt
County Fair, Bargain Lovers' Weekend, and the Christmas Lighted Tractor
Parade, to name just a few.
Christmas in Ferndale is magical. Children from the elementary
school decorate Christmas trees in front of Main Street shops and members
of the volunteer fire department hang more than 900 lights on a huge Sitka
spruce at the end of Main Street for the lighting of America's tallest
living Christmas tree (151.5 feet in 2011).
Christmas and Tractor Parade photos copyrighted by Matt Knowles of Aesthetic Design & Photography. If you would like a print please contact Matt at 707-786-4643
The Victorian Village of Ferndale, full of surprises, deserves
more than a day to discover. 265 miles north of Sacramento and San Francisco,
it's a beautiful drive from the major airports (Sacramento, San Francisco,
Oakland, San Jose) or fly into the Arcata/Eureka airport in McKinleyville,
45 minutes north of Ferndale (car rentals, Door-to-Door
Airporter shuttle service available).
From California Highway 101, take the Fernbridge/Ferndale exit. Cross historic Fernbridge and drive through five miles of pastoral views to Ferndale's Main Street.
For more information, call the Ferndale Chamber of
Commerce
(707) 786-4477
Support
the
AMAYSING
GRACE
FOUNDATION
