What to eat and do in Arcata, Humbolt County

I just got back from a trip to Arcata, in Humbolt County, Northern California. The foggy town of Arcata is flanked by the Pacific Ocean on one side, mountain ranges on the other side, and surrounded by Redwood forests to the North and South.

Not only is Arcata well worth being a destination on its own, it also happens to be the half way point of a great drive between Grants Pass, Oregon and the Bay Area, California. If you ever have the chance to make a road trip through the area, there is plenty of awesomeness to see, including ghost towns and vortexes. I will tell you about those another time!

If you happen to be in Arcata on a Saturday, don't miss the farmers market on the main plaza. Besides the foods of many hardworking farmers, you will find handmade crafts and even custom poetry, written on the spot. Live music is performed and you'll find families and drifters dancing side by side.

waiting for breakfast at Renata's with grandma and baby

my son enjoying his morning coffee

If you haven't had breakfast yet, head up to Renata's Crepes, located one block from the main plaza, at 1030 G Street. My cousins rave about this place. They use three types of crepe batter: buckwheat for the savory crepes, a smooth white flour batter for the sweet crepes, and a gluten-free batter for those who are gluten-sensitive. Their sweet crepes are hard to pass up, but their savory crepes make a great breakfast or lunch. Although their menu has many fine choices, I was feeling finicky the last time I ate at Renata's, and they were kind enough to whip up a custom order for me (ham, brie, onions and scrambled eggs).

lunch at Japhey's

When you are ready for lunch, do not  miss the food at Japhey's for the best meal in town. Their excellent food makes up for their odd hours (they are closed on the weekends?!). You can choose between half a dozen kinds of noodles and customize with your choice of broth or dressing, protein, and vegetables. They make all of their own sauces, and source their ingredients locally, and organic, when possible. Part of their philosophy is to run an open kitchen, make everything themselves, and keep prices low. You can hardly go wrong with a philosophy like that. I recommend the green curry with chicken, served over rice. It is mild and sweet, as curry goes (my 9 month old enjoyed sharing my bowl with me), but it is so comforting. I find it hard to resist, even when I want to try something new. I solved that problem this time by ordering the chicken curry for lunch and the noodle salad with prawns, for "dessert."

Japhey's sits next to an upscale bistro, Folie Douce, if you want something fancier for dinner. Floie Douce serves up (expensive) West Coast fare and wood fired pizzas, and is quite good if you are looking for something more appropriate for date night. I went there for dinner last year and they made a killer risotto and introduced me to a non-alcoholic juice made from wine grapes that I just loved. I would make an even stronger recommendation for Larrupin Cafe, a twenty mile drive, north on Highway 101. If you eat a meal there, be sure to add a few jars of their dill mustard-sauce to your bill, to bring home with you.

There is plenty to do in the area, besides eating. A trip to Patrick's Point beach will give you beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean. Scenes from Jurassic Park were filmed there. If you are feeling romantic, you can hike up to Wedding Rock, where many couples say their vows each year. Another hiking trail will take you to Agate Beach, where you can hunt the surf for agates, a type of quartz.

If you are looking for a warmer activity than foggy beach hikes, take highway 299 towards Redding. A 45 minute drive inland can mean a 45 degree temperature change. Look for swimming holes marked with "river access" signs. If you prefer to play it safe, drive to Willow Creek and swim in Trinity River, at the public beach in town.

hidden swimming holes

clean water and sunshine is good for the soul

Before you leave Arcata, you can pack your picnic basket at the local co-op, the locally owned Wildberries Market, or Los Bagels, the "multi-cultural bagels bakery cafe" with the beautiful mural in the parking lot. If you are grocery shopping, and lucky enough to catch a food demo by the "Tofu Lady", be sure to say hello to my grandma.