Planning a family trip this summer? Bring the kids to Ferndale! The Victorian Village has offerings for every age and many interests, from imaginative play to the great (and Instagrammable) outdoors. 

Located about 20 minutes south of Eureka, just off Highway 101, Ferndale serves its year-round stream of visitors as a vacation destination in its own right; as a home base for exploring Humboldt County and the Lost Coast; and as an unforgettable pit stop on longer road trips.

So unbuckle the car seats, stretch those legs, and get ready to make family memories in Ferndale.

1. Hadley Gardens

Opened in 2022, Hadley Gardens (655 Main St., open daily) has quickly become a favorite for visitors and locals alike. Kids can make a beeline to the Victorian replica dollhouse while grown-ups read up on the garden’s native flora. Traverse the “living walls” pathway together for a mini forest bathing session and take in the sounds of the waterfall and birds. Then, see if you can find the hobbit doors!

2. Summer 2023 events

Ferndale’s event season is ramping up, with highlights for kids including the annual Pet Parade (June 3), the Fourth of July Parade (July 4), and the Humboldt County Fair (August 17-27; closed Monday). See our full calendar here (and note our beloved December activities too, including the lighting of America’s tallest living Christmas tree on December 3).

3. Kid-friendly Ferndale dining

Ferndale Pizza Company, No Brand Burger Stand, and ice cream at the Cat Shack are just a few of the local dining and dessert options that families love. Ferndale Pizza offers indoor and outdoor dining, with unique pies, a salad bar, and spaghetti that generations of Ferndale babies have messily devoured. No Brand (a must-visit for little cowboys and cowgirls in training) and Cat Shack are outdoor venues. 

For breakfast, try Poppa Joe’s (cash only), cooking up huge pancakes and more while the regulars play dice in the back. For quick snacks, head to Red Front—Ferndale’s after-school spot—or Valley Grocery, which includes a deli.

Looking for coffee, pastries, bagels, more upscale dining, and nightlife? See Ferndale’s dining directory here.

4. Kid-friendly Ferndale lodging

Why not stay a while? Ferndale is known for its ornate Victorian hotels, B&Bs, and homes, and also has traditional motels. But the options don’t stop there. You can find modern, historic, and rustic vacation rentals, both in town and in the countryside. You can camp, enjoy a home-cooked meal near the Pacific Ocean, or even stay in a restored farmhouse and tour a real working dairy. Find Ferndale’s lodging directory here.

5. Firemen’s Park

There’s nothing like a playground to let the kids burn off some energy, and Ferndale’s is located in scenic Firemen’s Park (100 Berding St.). Follow the road past the Joe Oeschger baseball field as it winds along Francis Creek. Swings and slides await. 

Public restrooms are available here and on Main Street next to the Post Office.

6. Russ Park

For families ready to do some hiking, head to Russ Park, just steps from downtown Ferndale. This 110-acre nature preserve is home to a mature Sitka spruce forest, a wealth of wildlife, and paths to the secluded Zipporah Pond. AllTrails rates the hike as moderate.

A portable restroom is available here.

7. Centerville Beach

Ferndale is just five miles from the coast. Head west on Centerville Road until you reach the Centerville Beach parking lot, where you can set off to picnic, build sandcastles, and let your pets run off-leash. Or continue to the Fleener Creek Trailhead at Lost Coast Headlands for a moderate hike down to a more secluded beach, with stunning views of the north end of the Lost Coast. 

We want everyone to stay safe at the beach. Swimming is not advised. Please see this beach safety brochure from the National Weather Service.

8. Ferndale Museum

The nonprofit Ferndale Museum (515 Shaw St., open Wednesday-Saturday 11am-4pm) is a treasure trove of historical information on the Victorian era, redwoods, and Humboldt County. It features Victorian room settings, a working seismograph (the oldest in the U.S.), natural history exhibits, antique farming and dairy equipment, and more. It also has a gift shop and bookstore, offering local history books, postcards, reproductions of the work of local artists, Ferndale memorabilia, and collectibles.

9. Walk, bike, stroll & roll

Maybe you’d like to keep it simple with a jaunt around town. Ferndale’s Historic Main Street shopping district has treasures for all ages. Take advantage of our relatively flat roads for a bike ride (adult bike rentals are available at Humboldt Hometown Store, and ample bike parking is available). Notice Francis Creek’s winding path through the city and find a bridge that spans it. Or head out on one of our personal favorite evening routes: Go east on Rose Avenue, then south until it hits Grizzly Bluff Road, then take a right and bear right at the Strawberry Hill fork to return to town. How many horses you can spot? 🐴

10. Ferndale Library

Ferndale’s Carnegie library was built in 1910. Now a branch of the Humboldt County Library, ours offers a wide-ranging kids’ section for little bookworms looking to recharge. Humboldt County library cardholders can borrow books here, as well as free California State Parks passes and a limited number of passes to Eureka’s Sequoia Park Zoo and Redwood Skywalk on the library’s first open day of the month. Bonus: On June 10 at 3pm, families with kids under age 5 can pick up a free copy of the book “Hiking Humboldt Kids.” 807 Main St., open Tuesday to Saturday.

Correction, 6/7/23: The Hiking Humboldt Kids book tour will stop at Ferndale’s library on June 10.

Thank you for visiting Ferndale! We’d love to see your photos. Tag us on Instagram at @visitferndale and tell us about your favorite family activities in the Victorian Village.