Crystal and I recently took a weekend away to visit the redwoods in northern California, a place that never fails to make you feel both small and deeply connected to the earth. Our last trip to Humboldt County was way back in 2008, and stepping back into that landscape after so many years was surreal. The world feels like a very different place now, yet the redwoods, as always, seemed unchanged, calm, ancient, and immense.
This time, instead of staying in Eureka, we made Arcata our home base. We found a charming little cottage on Airbnb tucked into a quiet neighborhood surrounded by redwoods. Arcata immediately felt welcoming, artsy, progressive, and grounded in community. Compared to our tiny coastal town, it was incredibly diverse in both culture and age. There was an energy in the air that reminded us of college towns, a blend of creativity, activism, and local pride.
On our first evening, we wandered downtown in search of dinner and stumbled upon the Friday Night Market. The entire town square had been transformed into a lively gathering space filled with live music, the smell of wood-fired pizza, and people chatting under strings of lights. Local artisans had set up a couple dozen booths around the inside of the square, while food trucks and vendors lined the perimeter. We grabbed a bite to eat and people-watched for a while, soaking in the mix of students, families, and long-time locals. It was one of those moments where you feel instantly part of a place.
The rest of the weekend was spent exploring trails and wandering through the endless cathedral of redwoods. Every path seemed to lead to something new, a grove filled with soft filtered light, a creek winding between moss-covered trunks, or a sudden view out to the misty coastline. Between hikes, we browsed the local shops in both Arcata and nearby Eureka, finding a few small treasures to bring home.
Now that we live so close, this feels like the perfect spot for quick weekend escapes. Everything is within reach, great food, art, and trails that could take a lifetime to explore. Within an hour’s drive, you can find dozens, maybe even hundreds, of trails through some of the most beautiful forests in the world.
We’re already planning our next trip, and this time, it definitely won’t take us another seventeen years to get back. The redwoods have a way of reminding you what matters most, and we can’t wait to return.
