Family Fun Itinerary

Explore all the family fun Humboldt County has to offer

Humboldt County has lots of great activities the whole family will love. Check out this itinerary for family friendly fun.

Mckinleyville/Trinidad/Orick
Redwood National and State Parks
- The whole family is sure to be in awe of the tallest trees in the world. A great way to get the family out into the redwoods is to take a hike. Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park within Redwood National Park offers over 70 miles of trails, most of them suited for the whole family.

Fern Canyon
- A must see in Redwood National and State Parks is Fern Canyon. Fern Canyon with its 50 to 80 foot walls covered by luxuriant ferns and mosses, dripping with moisture is the natural wonder that Steven Spielberg chose as a location for Jurassic Park 2: The Lost World.

Due to the volume of visitors, California State Parks / National Park Service will require Day Use Permits to access to Gold Bluffs Beach and Fern Canyon.  Reservations will be required May 15th to September 15th. Reservations are not required September 16th to May 14th. Visitors are still required to pay the day-use fee.  Apply for a Permit: https://www.redwoodparksconservancy.org/permits/fern-canyon-permits

Horseback Rides – Riding horses through Redwood National Park is sure to make memories to last a lifetime. The Redwood Creek Buckarettes offer one and half, two and four hour horseback ride tours through Redwood National Park. Interpretive tours include information on Coastal Redwoods, the world’s tallest trees, as well as wildlife, flora and local history.

Bike Rides – Taking a family bike ride through the redwoods is a great way to get exercise while seeing these amazing trees up close. 

If you didn’t bring your bikes you can rent some from Redwood Adventures. They also offer mountain biking tours through the redwoods.

Kayak on a lagoon. Big Lagoon in Humboldt Lagoons State Park as well as Stone Lagoon has warm, flat, calm water, and the kayaks are easy and safe for anyone to operate.

Get up close with the creatures of the sea - The Telonicher Marine Laboratory in Trinidad allows you and your kids to explore the deep blue. Detailed interpretive signs near each of our seven aquaria, two touch tanks, and various other displays will introduce you to the animals that live at the Marine Lab as you explore at your own pace. $1 per participant.  

Eureka/Humboldt Bay
Sequoia Park and Zoo
- Spend a couple of hours or the day; there’s plenty to do and see. Stop in at the Gift Shop - Dine at the Zoo's Cafe, a snack bar and more (proceeds from the Gift Shop and Cafe go to support the zoo). Children love the zoo barn and petting yard.

Take a cruise on the scenic Humboldt BayThe Madaket is the nation’s oldest passenger ferry and offers an 8.5 mile one-hour cruise along the Eureka Waterfront. Narration includes all points of interest, including the discoveries of Humboldt Bay, timber industry, wildlife, shipping, maritime history and activity, Indian history and more. This is a great way to learn about the Humboldt Bay area!  Seasonal adventure runs mid-May to October.

Take in the sights of Historic Old Town Eureka while riding in a horse drawn carriage – Old Town Carriage Co will guide you on a most unique & informative tour of Eureka's once bustling commercial district. Great for a family outing or to spark a little romance with an evening ride. Look for Marty at the Gazebo on 2nd & F streets.

Have an adventure on the bay.  Rent a kayak, single or double, from Humboats and check out the wildlife.

Arcata/Blue Lake
Check out the local Natural History Museum - The Natural History Museum boasts many hands-on exhibits including microscopes, computer programs, touch drawers and a fossil dig box. The museum exhibits a world-class collection of over 2,000 fossils as well as displays on local natural history. Fossils range from tiny trilobites to mammoth tusks covering millions of years of life on earth.

You’ll see thousands of fish at the Mad River Fish Hatchery - Free hatchery tours are offered during spawning season (generally January through March), from 8:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. -- rain or shine (tours are 30 minutes long). School groups and the general public are encouraged to attend. Tour participants will be able to observe the entire process from the selection of specific adults for spawning, to the final disposition of fertilized eggs in the hatchery egg incubation system.

Willow Creek/Hoopa
Take a whitewater rafting trip down the river – There are several outfits along the Trinity River and each one has experienced, professional guides who can take you and your family on a fun, safe and exhilarating ride down the river.

Six Rivers Rafting Co provides the highest quality experience, delicious local and organic food on full day trips, and most importantly an above average amount of fun and adventure. Northern California whitewater rafting and kayaking trips are perfect for families, adventure seekers, and nature lovers. Come, and enjoy the river!

Take a sentimental journey back to the days of the early pioneers at the Willow Creek China Flat Bigfoot Museum, which highlights the history of logging in and around Willow Creek, is perhaps best known for its collection of materials on Bigfoot! The Bigfoot exhibit has pictures, newspaper articles, maps of sightings, Bigfoot casts, which have been made with a plaster like material to replicate the foot prints that have been collected over the years and donated to the museum. Come… see the collection and read all about Bigfoot!

Throughout Humboldt County
Take a hike – There are hundreds of miles of hiking trails throughout Humboldt County and you’re guaranteed to find one perfect for your family. Check out these links for trail ideas:
Hikes & Trails in Northern Humboldt County

Coastal Trails & Hikes

Sue-Meg State Park

Hikes & Trails in Humboldt Redwoods State Park

Arcata Community Forest

Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park
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Catch a fish – Fishing is a great outdoor activity for the whole family and is especially good when you get that fish on the line. Humboldt County is the perfect place for fishing because Humboldt County is blessed with six rivers, three lagoons, Humboldt Bay, and the easily accessible Pacific coast. So no matter where you are you’re never far away from a great fishing spot.

If you’re really in for some adventure there are several fishing charters that will take you out on the ocean, bay or river. Follow these links for great fishing throughout Humboldt County. Boat Ramps & Fishing Locations and Fishing Information on the North Coast.

Drive through a Redwood – Driving through a tree is something that will amaze you and your kids and fortunately there are three drive-through trees in and around Humboldt County to choose from. So drive through one or drive through them all. 
Tour Thru Tree – Klamath

Shrine Drive-Thru Tree – Myers Flat
Chandelier Tree – Leggett.

Go to the Beach – These aren’t your typical beaches. Humboldt County beaches are different, unique and full of life and adventure. Each beach gives you something new and different, from caves to wild elk to a black sand beach. Here’s a list of Humboldt County’s top ten beaches.

Go for a Swim - Humboldt County has some wonderful natural swimming holes that can make for a lot of summer fun. Check out this list of swimming holes in Humboldt County.

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