Top 19 things to do and attractions in Ferndale

I love visiting this museum. One of my favorite parts are the exhibits of interior spaces, such as a barber shop. It's reminiscent of the displays at the Royal BC museum in Victoria, which is one of the highest compliments I can offer. You would never expect so much in a small town museum, but the Ferndale museum delivers!

The Ferndale Museum is a wonderful small-town museum that preserves and shares the deep history of Ferndale and the Eel River Valley. Housed just a short walk from Main Street, it is filled with artifacts, photographs, tools, and everyday items that tell the story of this Victorian village and the surrounding farming and logging communities. The exhibits are diverse and hands-on. You’ll find everything from Victorian home settings to a working blacksmith shop, barber shop displays, and even an active Bosch-Omori seismograph that still records earthquakes. The museum also highlights the area’s Native American history, the roots of the dairy industry, and the importance of logging in shaping the region. Every corner feels personal and grounded in local life. What makes the museum special is its authenticity. The volunteers and staff are passionate and knowledgeable, eager to share stories and context that bring the exhibits to life. It feels more like a living community archive than a formal museum, which makes it welcoming and easy to explore. There’s also a small gift shop with books and items tied to Ferndale’s history. Visiting here is the perfect complement to walking Ferndale’s historic Main Street. After admiring the ornate Victorian architecture, the museum fills in the human story behind the buildings. It’s affordable, accessible, and absolutely worth a stop for anyone curious about local history or the unique heritage of this corner of Humboldt County. If you love small museums that overflow with character and pride of place, the Ferndale Museum is a must-see.

Volunteers were great! Nice little museum. $2 per adult, kids under 16 are free. Definitely worth checking out, there are some interesting things and stories.

The staff were super friendly and very knowledgeable about all of the exhibits. I loved all of the old phones and farm equipment. Very nice spot, I would recommend it very much and I am definitely going to be coming back.

Jerry filled my head with historical facts about Ferndale and nearby areas. We talked for about an hour. Parking is free 2hrs parking. The cost is only 2 dollars.

I will never visit the Ferndale Museum again. I see from your website that to see the exhibits you ask for a donation only. But upon entering the museum the woman at the desk told me it was a $5 fee for each person. I paid $10 which is not what I had experienced in past visits.

Ok, this is a hidden gem ( not well hidden). My son and I took the haunted tour and were delighted by the staff and displays!

Nice Park! It's not very technical, but steep in parts near the top. I broke a sweat by the time I got to the very top and was rewarded with an amazing view of the valley below. Cool little loop on the way down around a pond and views of Ferndale. Clearly marked trails that are well maintained. Some evidence of larger animals, but besides birds and 2 bunnie wabbits, nothing encountered. Beautiful park.

I absolutely love this trail. It's very well maintained. I walk there about 10 times a year or more. Their are areas where you really get a good workout but not for long. Stops to do and sit on benches . Nature all around. Birds , and I am sure of wildlife. So be careful. There's a lookout area to sit at a table to admire Ferndale. And other area to sit by a pond. It's just a very nice trail. Enjoy & please respect it and others.

Spectacular hike, rustic path up the hill, pond at the top, and forest cliff ravine views. Fun well mapped path, some great views of Ferndale. Cell service available. Cool variety of fungi along the trail. Benches and picnic tables along the path.

Great set of trails with good views from the look outs on clear days. The northern facing slope and cool damp ocean air keeps the forest damp with lots of cool plants, birds, and fungi to be observed.

This place is enchanting, with mushrooms, a swamp and a cool staircase about halfway through, my son and I love this trail near Ferndale. There are several loops to choose from, we take the loop that is under two miles. In December it stays pretty wet so the conditions are just right for spotting mushrooms and there are several overlooks of the town of Ferndale. It's worth visiting!

Happy to find this lovely trail when we were visiting the area with our dog. The National and State redwood parks in the area don't allow dogs (even leashed) on trails so great to stretch our legs here. Beautiful stika spruce forest.

Nice little park. Very vertical, I didn't go all the way to the top. I took the Main Trail up as far as Zipporah Pond and then picked up the Village Trail which took me down to Ferndale Cemetery. I'll wear lighter weight clothes next time!

Ferndale Cemetery is a serene, historic gem with well-kept paths and striking memorials. Its peaceful ambiance invites reflection, though signage could improve for easier navigation. A tranquil escape, perfect for quiet contemplation.

This is an absolutely beautiful cemetery! I wonder why it is not been in more movies. The layout is just spectacular. You can really feel the history walking through. This is very well-kept and there’s lots of beautiful flowers and trees throughout the cemetery

Cemeteries are supposed to be creepy, but this one is truly beautiful and was established in 1868. Rhododendrons surround the grounds and we walked through and read many headstones. Loved the flowers and next time I will bring some to leave. We saw a man jog through the cemetery while we were there. This is a great place to stop on the way to the Redwood National Parks. Lots of great little coffee shops in town as well.

Absolutely beautiful cemetery. Please note that it is on a hillside, quite the hike to the top, but there is a road that you can drive up if you are unable to walk the full length.

Truly unique and amazing cemetery. Fantastic layout.

Those who have passed sleep peacefully at Ferndale Cemetery. With a stunning view from the top of the cemetery overlooking a widespread valley. Many of the gravestones have been around since the Mid 1800s. You can feel the history and authenticity. There is no lingering sense of dread only peacefulness. I recommend to everyone interested in authenticity and the history of Ferndale.

beautiful cemetery, interesting layout and lots to see. it feels very historic and full of stories. uniquely picturesque, the more you wander around the more stunning it becomes.

They had our favorite Chocolate Covered Cinnamon Bears, which are hard to find! The Mercantile carries a large variety of sweets, soaps and everything in between. ❤️

I am so very grateful and appreciative to Golden Gait. They went above and beyond anything I could have asked for. I had a personal request and they made it happen. I will always be so grateful for my experience with them. They have reminded me that there are still kind and caring people in this world. Words cannot express enough how thankful I am. Wonderful store and people!

Super fun place to shop for fun toys and gifts, specialty food, kitchen, and house wares. Huge fun variety, plus historic exhibitions of food and housewares. Fun place to visit, great place for gift shopping and candy.

I always have a wonderful time exploring this store & I have never left empty handed. Hats, kitchen gadgets, toys, amazing candies. We were just there yesterday and I want to go back today! The little museum upstairs is charming too. But seriously if you can go in this store and not find someone that delights you... you need to examine your life choices.

Loved this Victorian-era town, complete with everything, especially an old mercantile with many many old school items! Definitely worth a stop!

This little shop is adorable. So many neat and original items!! If you want to find a pretty gift for someone here's a good place!

Amazing selection of handmade goods, local foods and gifts. I spent an hour in there and came out with several goodies to bring home.

Beautiful, unique shop with hand forged utilitarian and art objects. We were traveling through Ferndale and stumbled across the shop. We purchased hooks and candle holders as gifts but found so many things we wanted. Highly recommend - I’ve never seen another place like it!

Amazing shop with beautiful works find numerous Craftsman. The blacksmith who works here is exceptional with numerous unique designs. Custom work is also available. Don't miss this very unique shop!

Superb. The shop has everything from more traditional blacksmith pieces to fine art and jewelry. The craftsmanship and quality are without parallel. Ferndale itself is a gem as well, a slice of Marin county transplanted four hours north (assuming you like Marin!).

Loved this Victorian-era town, complete with blacksmith! Definitely worth a stop, at least to look!

Super cool place to visit they have tons of cool items and great pockets knives

I’ve taken road trips as a hobby for 25 yrs and have seen all kinds of shops along the way. This shop is definitely ONE-OF-A-KIND and a dying art- HAMMERED IRON. He has all kinds of unique things and can make special orders. He also has large pieces two doors down from this shop - Art pieces. He is connected with blacksmiths across the country too. Check this out for all kinds of unique treasures for your home.

I found the most beautiful handmade cross. So many unusual and unique gift ideas.

PROCEED WITH CAUTION! Sold me a non functioning POT pedal with a six year old battery! He said " interesting it worked several months ago " I'll never shop here again.

There is no better venue for live music. Seeing a concert here is an amazing, magical experience. If I still lived in Humboldt, I'd see every show they hosted here, no questions asked.

Paul is an excellent music instructor. He carries top quality instruments as well.

Great shows great venue

This place cannot be missed! A truly unique gem, incredible drinks and a really magical atmosphere. There’s a wood shop in the back? You have to see! Can’t wait to visit again… thank you! 🙏

Get the lavender lemon bar if it’s available! This place was fantastic, the coffee is enjoyable and made expertly: typically I prefer lighter roasts, but the barista knew what they were doing and I had an excellent oat milk lavender latte, and my boyfriend had an oat milk cappuccino that were both delicious. The lavender lemon bar is nice and thick, perfectly tart and sweet. Definitely stop here! Look around at the kayaks too!

Nice coffee shop, very cool art, and the kayak building workshop. Very cool exhibits to see, and indoor and outdoor seating. Cappuccino was great, maple pecan donut not quite what I expected. Great place to visit for coffee.

I only had coffee and the gluten free peanut butter cookies, but they were all amazing. Service was great, and every one was super friendly. Also loved the atmosphere.

Love this combo coffee and kayak building workshop. Beautiful Alaskan skinned kayaks on display. Awesome vibes and interesting history. I was stoked to learn the owner did lot of the restoration at Victorian inn down the street.

This review is about sustainability only! Thank you for offering real, reusable mugs to those who are enjoying their coffee to stay. By 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean, then fish, and it means a lot to me as a customer to find and support local businesses who are doing their part to empower customers to create less trash. I’d love to see even more promotion of this to your customers, as I did see a few who were enjoying their coffee to stay, but out of it to go cup. Just a thought! Perhaps asking the customer explicitly if they will be staying could go long way. Anyway, thank you for your intention, and thank you for giving me the dignity of a delicious coffee without nasty, plastic trash associated with it. I truly appreciate it. Lovely service, lovely atmosphere, lovely clientele. Will be back!

This is one of those unique coffee houses well worth pulling off the highway to experience. Born from the vision of the owners Mark and Leah, as well as the artisans who work their craft as baristas. It's the hub to the local craftsmen, makers, and artists who call Minds Eye their home., it's really a treasure trove of curiosities and artifacts and a great place to grab your coffee before exploring the rest of town.

The theater itself is nice, but just as you don't judge a restaurant primarily on how it looks, this review is mostly about the the product served when my wife and I went there, the play Blithe Spirit. There were a couple of good performances; the rest would have been considered poor if we'd been watching a high school production. And the makeup...it was arguably the worst I've ever seen, and I was a middle school teacher who went to a lot of plays. Guess that's why taking photos is prohibited.

Awesome! I saw Cinderella there. The lead played Joanna in Sweeny Todd, I saw her there too.

I wish I knew before buying tickets that the content was R rated. Left after 20 minutes. No refunds available.

Great show. Beautiful venue

Went to see "Peter and the Star Catchers" play, and I was very entertained. Concessions are sold at a good price, and the seats are very comfortable. Staff are welcoming.

I loved the seeing the Elephant Man at Ferndale repertory theatre . I was so impressed with how it was presented..The handsome man that deformed his body on stage to play the elephant man had my brain seeing the Elephant Man! There was humor that lightened the serious nature of the play. All actors were great!

This review based on the business alone not the play. They were very friendly at the door. The place is quite small. Seats are comfortable they even relax back. You are close to the person next to you. The bathrooms are smaller. The food it horribly expensive. I can buy a 6 pack of the same cider for the price of a small dixie cup. But I had a great time.

We stopped here because there was a dog competition and thought it would be a fun different way to spend part of the day. They had both speed and agility competitions. It was a very large ordeal lots of people. They also had several different booths to buy cute dog stuff and some food booths. The fairgrounds provided a very good venue for this event and It was nice to see the fairgrounds being used for other things. Both big dogs and small dogs, nothing more hilariously cute than a corgi doing an agility course.

This was winter fun at the Humboldt Ice Rink. Granddaughter & friend had a blast! Always a great time, enjoy this alot here. A must go to Day or Night of winter fun. They have a snackbar and tables to sit. Very nice atmosphere!

Great County Fair in 2019! Hat day was so fun to watch as were the races. Food was good and I was happy to see some locals like College Cake Balls.

First weekend winding down, close Monday and Tuesday, then Wednesday the Humboldt County Fair goes full throttle thru Sunday. Come git y'all some fun!!

Had dinner there with the Rotary club. My first time there. Was pleasantly please by the number of folks attending. The lobster was so yummy and the steak melted in your mouth. I enjoyed the event and the hall.

Love the exhibits. Great carnival food. Don't forget to ride the zipper, its the best

This county fair is a great country fair! Lots of farm animals on exhibit, raised by youngsters in 4-H and FFA. Plus horse racing on the weekends, carnival rides, and delicious foods. It takes place each August.

Very nice art gallery. Worth a visit :)

Nice gallery for a small town.

Friendly service & beautiful art!

Beautiful place showcasing beautiful art.

Beautiful art

Pretty good for the only Mexican restaurant in town. Tortilla soup is good. Chile relleno was good. The Mexican rice was good. The refried beans was not so good. The patron margarita was delicious!

This place had some tasty food. We liked the avocado appetizer the best. Unfortunately when they brought my food it was cold… yuck.. I waited but the waitress didn’t come check on us very soon. I decided to get up and ask the waitress if the food could be warmed up. She was eating at the host stand when I approached so just a bit awkward. My partner’s food was too hot and mine was so cold it seemed it had been sitting out for a while. After the waitress went to heat up the food in back the sauce was dried up and I was not very happy with my meal.

We were looking to have some hot filling Mexican food this afternoon when we arrived in this town. We were served Salsa and chips. The chips were crunchy and felt fresh but the salsa tasted like a store bought or stale. I took a jalapeno margarita which came in a not-so-mexican small glass. It tasted great but the quantity was disappointing based on the price. I took the Camarones or A La Diabla. It came with butter garlic fried shrimp, rice , beans, tortillas and a ridiculously few pieces of salad(check photos). I don't know what the deal with salad was. I had to separately place an order for a fresh pico de galo (charged extra). The tortilla tasted fresh but the taste of the shrimp was a big turn off. It had a strong smell of fish (instead of shrimp) which is totally unusual. It was probably fried in leftover fish oil. The pico was fresh and the saving grace of this dish. My wife enjoyed her burrito bowl though. Overall i wasn't too pleased with the food here. It was less of a mexican taste and tasted more like a fusion. It was unnecessarily expensive.

We had the best time at Tuyas. Service was great, margs were even better. The nachos were to die for. They allow dogs on the patio so we got to enjoy the town on a nice sunny day.

Fantastic experience! Lily is the greatest! The cocktails were fresh and amazing. The food was delicious! We can't wait to come back!

Walked over from the Gingerbread Inn to grab dinner. While waiting for my food I had a Rum haha drink, it was good and the bartender was friendly, fast, and seemed like good company. However I grabbed my fish tacos and cashed out. The food was decent, worth the price. But not great and no queso dip. I won't stop back in for food. I forgot to take pics of my food but enjoy my drink pics. Maybe drinks, it has a fun bar vibe with several big screens to watch sports or TV.

TOURIST TRAP! I don't normally post bad reviews but these are the saddest nachos I’ve ever had in my entire life. Is this a joke? Is someone pranking us? This is offensive and a disrespect of Mexican culture. 12 whole chips. And this was the "Full Portion." Really embarrassing to call this a Mexican food restaurant. Please do better for the sake of Ferndale and for Mexican culture.

Pop into this cute little fairy garden with a tiny Victorian home! Just a nice little garden, takes just a few minutes to walk through there and see some really cool stuff! Wish more places had these little wayside stops, they give you a great sense of what Ferndale is and a nice spot to stretch your legs!

Oh, this little park is so cute. I love the waterfall the little house, the solar flower it’s a lovely little step aside from town and it has a little bit of everything being a plant lover I got lots of gardening ideas to.

Cool park to learn about native plants, ecosystems, landscapes.

This is a new public garden showing native plants in various local habitats, from sandy dunes to a misty shaded area. I look forward to watching the various plantings mature. Night lighting is provided by a smart solar "flower". There is a cute, 2-story victorian doll house, as well.

Nice whimsical garden with a lot of good information on native plants, worth a quick stop

Cute gardens on the Main Street of town. Free with plenty to see. Beautiful flowers, doll house and live walls.

I live close by and walk in here every time I am in Ferndale. I love the spring time there, the flowers are growing and just nice to stroll in the small quaint area. The house is really something to see. The water fall, just the beautiful layout of everything. They really done a great job putting this together. Thank you to all.

Many RV spaces have electricity and water hookups. I don’t believe any have sewer hookups, but there is a wastewater dump station elsewhere on the fairgrounds. There are clean showers and restrooms. The road through the RV park is gravel, and the ground in the RV spaces is bumpy requiring the use of blocks to level the RV. I camped there in late July when Sacramento Valley towns were experiencing triple digit temperatures. Temperatures at the Fairgrounds did not exceed 65°F. I wore a fleece vest and a down coat most of the time I was there. There are lots of interesting places to visit nearby.

Always a good time! Love living here. Hore racing, daily events & entertainers, music, vendor booths, carnival rides, games to play and yummy, huge variety of foods & drink. A Humboldt County tradition, 10 days of family fun to be enjoyed by everyone. A must go to at least once while you're in the area.

We stayed here three nights and loved it. The host, Kai, was friendly, personable and helpful. The pasture was so beautiful to look at across the street. Our spot on the grass was grassy and level. The location was so excellent, being 5 miles from the beach in one direction, and less than a mile to downtown. The showers were the best we’ve had in the four months of traveling. Boiling hot and very clean.

We loved staying there. Showers were clean and hot. The camp host was super rude and judgemental at first. We were kind and quiet so she eventually calmed down a little.

Home to the Humboldt County Fair!!! So much to see and do!!!! It's in August...great venue because of the history of Humboldt County!

Still the same place I remember growing up. So nice to see people out and about laughing,smiling. So many covid babies some of you all were so bored. Lol

It is a safe enough leave place to stay but a little dirty and there was some sort of warning siren that went off 4 times in the middle of the night. For $20 it was not quite worth it.

Beautiful town filled with lots of historic buildings and friendly people. A true hidden gem. Not just a background for the Dustin Hoffman movie “OUTBREAK” or the classic Jim Carey “THE MAJESTIC” but ta family friendly town that you can stay in comfort and slow down and enjoy your days. Lots of outdoor activities in and nearby. Bring your camera and fishing pole and even a beach blanket. Grab a picnic supplies from a local shop.

Great spot to find info about things to do in Ferndale as well as tourist information for things to do in the area! Cool shops and art galleries too... just a half block from the clean public restrooms!

Nice architecture nice shops

This gorgeous NRHP-listed bridge from 1911 is the longest poured concrete bridge in the world and for some technical engineering reason I don’t understand it has virtually survived all earthquakes it has experienced.

Super nice place to hang out

Historic bridge. It's super neat and a quick stop.

Beautiful spot to stop and take some pictures.

Great scenery, no vehicle river access at this location for several years now but walking paths exist.

Good structure for old bridge

The Eel River at Fernbridge overfloweth... 25.7 feet! Flood stage is 20 ft. It was AMAZING and soooo POWER-FULL 😁! Nothing like Mother Nature reminding us who is in charge. And also the awesome power of human nature... a shout out to John B Leonard... he is who built the reinforced concrete Arch Bridge 1910-1911. I believe it is the oldest standing arch bridge still in use IN THE WORLD!! WOW!

Centerville Beach County Park: Quiet, uncrowded gem. Spotted two seals playing in the waves—awesome experience!

Nice place to spend the day. Not a lot of visitors.

Not too many places you can drive to the sand/edge of the beach anymore....enjoy it while we can folks.

Centerville Beach is a large, sunny beach with easy access. The drive through Ferndale is lovely and the peak a boo views of the ocean rounding the corners to the beach are spectacular. The parking lot is small and can be full at times but the beach is big and great to take kids. There are colorful rocks in the surf, sandy/clay cliffs to play on and plenty of large driftwood to climb. Beware, the tide can rise and cover the parking area so be careful. Otherwise a great place to run and play with kiddos. It's a dog friendly beach too!

Made a quick stop to this immaculately kept beach to get our feet wet and enjoy some fresh sea breeze. We live in Texas so this was definitely outside of our norm. My daughter had an amazing time and we had fun taking pictures and looking at rocks.

This is a great place to take a walk along the ocean, the waves are dramatic and super fun to run from as they crash upon the pristine beach. The nearby cliff serves as a beautiful backdrop to the perfect sunset spot. Often people crear bonfires and there are dogs a plenty. It's a little out of the way, but worth the beautiful drive.

Great place to walk and ride

An amazing opportunity to see history up close. Family owned and maintained since 1800's with all the original furniture, clothing, toys and more. Beautiful location and well worth the visit.

A Fantastic House Museum...

Beautiful place to worship our lord

Beautifully restored wood paintings at the altar, this church is a hidden gem in the rustic pastoral area of Ferndale. The wooden construction is admirable, harking back to a time where more natural materials were used in the raising of religious edifices.

Just tell me where Brandy's house is, I WANT JOE DIRT, 5 stars :D

Beautiful! Father was wonderful. Our little grandson was Baptized there. So was his mother, father, and his grandparents. Thank you!

Even more beautiful inside.

Beautiful church. One block from Gingerbread Mansion Inn. Great part of town walk.

Traditional Latin Mass is offered the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month! Call for more information!