Last updated 6/14/24

Stroll down Main Street in Ferndale, and you’re virtually guaranteed to see a few motorcyclists exploring the Victorian Village. Ferndale is a popular stop for all sorts of travelers, sitting just five miles off Highway 101 near the northern end of California’s fabled Lost Coast and conveniently situated between Redwood National and State Parks (to the north) and Humboldt Redwoods State Park (to the south).

Now, Harley-Davidson is showing Ferndale some love!

Back in October, production company Caravan came to town to film some of Harley’s new 2024 model road glide motorcycles in and around Mind’s Eye Manufactory and Coffee Lounge, Artisan Alley, and Ferndale farmland. You might also recognize shots they filmed in nearby redwood forests and at Samoa’s Humboldt Bay Social Club.

The result? See for yourself (starting around 1:25):

Appearing in the ad for Harley are photographer Cory Tran and his father, Trung. In the video above, they greet Ferndale’s Dan Lawrence in the Mind’s Eye workshop run by Marc Daniels. You’ll catch a glimpse of the native Alaskan boats that Marc builds and teaches others to build, both in Ferndale and Alaska (learn more here).

Here’s another video with a few more glimpses of Ferndale (starting at 0:12):

In an accompanying story on Harley Davidson’s website, the company says:

Civilization continues to grow and creep into the most remote parts of our country, but for now northern California’s Lost Coast remains untouched– an idyllic setting for a father-son ride on all-new 2024 Harley-Davidson® Road Glide motorcycles. […]
In the morning, in the sleepy Victorian town of Ferndale, Cory and Trung stop at a local coffee spot, Mind’s Eye, which is not only a café but also a shared workshop for local craftspeople. Walking through the shop, they are dazed by the display of handmade boats and other projects, and in conversation with locals about their father-son adventure comes a warning: the preferred route is dangerous due to road washouts and poor conditions. 
Even still, the multi-generational riders make it to Mendocino, enjoy clean corners and flowing stretches of highway together for hours."

Ferndale, located just 20 minutes south of Eureka, is the perfect picturesque place to stay overnight for motorcyclists following Harley’s route:

Starting from Crescent City, California, ride south through the interconnected web of Redwood parks until you hit the coast. Open views of heavy surf alternate with technical corners all the way into Eureka. After an overnight stay, take 101 South toward Leggett, then hop over to the coastal Highway 1, passing small coastal villages from Fort Bragg to Mendocino. 

So, whether you’re riding on two wheels or four, we look forward to welcoming you to Ferndale. A big thank you to Harley-Davidson, Caravan, Cory Tran, Trung Tran, and the whole crew who visited Ferndale. Thanks for sharing your story!