​​Built in 1910, the Motor Vessel Madaket is the oldest passenger vessel in continuous service in the United States — and it happens to run from right here on the Eureka waterfront. Choose a 75-minute narrated harbor cruise or a one-hour cocktail cruise, sipped from what is reportedly the smallest licensed bar in the state of California. Seasonal cruises run mid-May through the first week of October. 

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A Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride Through Old Town (walking distance) >

 

Perhaps the most delightful way to experience the Victorian seaport is by horse-drawn carriage with Brendan Fearon of Old Town Carriage Company, who hails from the Victorian seaport of Liverpool, England. Witty and articulate, he is a veritable living guidebook — pointing out landmarks and relating tales of the history and culture of the area at a leisurely three miles per hour. Rides are offered year-round; call ahead in winter. 

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The Old Town Mural Walk (walking distance) >

 

Eureka's streets are an open-air gallery. A self-guided walk through Old Town reveals a remarkable collection of large-scale murals celebrating the region's maritime heritage, Indigenous history, and coastal identity. Pick up a map at the Eureka Visitor Center or simply wander — you won't have to go far before something stops you in your tracks.

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Gaze at the Carson Mansion (walking distance) >

 

The Carson Mansion is privately owned today and has no public tours, but its exterior is one of the most photographed Victorian homes in the country — and it's just a few blocks away. Walk by at dusk when the light hits the gingerbread trim just right. Worth every step.

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Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate (walking distance) >

 

Small-batch, bean-to-bar chocolate makers using only two ingredients — cacao and cane sugar. Their factory tasting room and café sit right on the Humboldt Bay waterfront, where you can sample award-winning single-origin bars and order what regulars swear is one of the finest drinking chocolates you'll ever taste. Open Monday through Saturday 8am–6pm, Sunday noon–4pm. If you found a Brown Butter & Sea Salt bar waiting in your room when you arrived, now you know where it came from — and where to get more.

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Clarke Historical Museum (walking distance) >

 

Located in the heart of Old Town, the Clarke Historical Museum is dedicated to preserving the history and culture of Humboldt County — from the Gold Rush and the timber era to the rich Indigenous cultures of the North Coast. Its Native American collection, drawn from Northwest California tribes including the Wiyot, Yurok, Karuk, and Hoopa, is considered among the finest in the country. Plan to linger. Open Wednesday through Sunday, 11am–5pm. 

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Morris Graves Museum of Art (short walk) >

 

Humboldt County's only art museum, the Morris Graves Museum of Art is housed in the Historic Carnegie Building — the first free public library in the State of California. Wander through seven distinct galleries, a courtyard sculpture garden, and a performance rotunda — all in a building that nearly got demolished before the community stepped in and saved it for $1.

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Old Town Haunted History Ghost Tours (walking distance) >

 

For those who prefer their history with a little more atmosphere, Old Town Eureka has its share of ghost stories — and guided evening tours that bring them to life. A perfect complement to a stay in a building that's been standing since 1888. We may have a story or two of our own.

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Woodley Island Marina (short drive) >

 

Just across the channel from Old Town, Woodley Island is home to the largest marina on Humboldt Bay — where you can watch fishing and recreational boats come and go, and buy fresh fish and crab right off the boats. The island is also the site of "The Fisherman," a memorial statue by artist Dick Crane, honoring the mariners who have lost their lives at sea. Open to the public 365 days a year. Bring coffee. Walk the docks. Watch the pelicans. There's nothing quite like a working waterfront in the early morning.

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Tour Blue Ox Millworks (short drive) >

 

One of the last remaining Victorian job shops in the United States, Blue Ox Millworks has been keeping the soul of craftsmanship alive for nearly five decades. Watch antique woodworking tools from the 1800s running in full production, visit the logging skid camp, blacksmith and print shops, ceramic and textile studios, and rose garden. Both fully guided and self-guided tours are available, Monday through Friday, 9am–4pm. As seen on the Magnolia Network's The Craftsman. 

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Sequoia Park Zoo & the Redwood Sky Walk (short drive) >

 

Established in 1907, Sequoia Park Zoo is situated on five acres along the edge of an ancient coast redwood forest — one of the smallest accredited zoos in the country, and the only one on the North Coast. The Redwood Sky Walk takes you above the forest floor and into the canopy of the world's tallest trees. Your Sky Walk ticket includes zoo admission. Open daily 10am-6pm, last entry 5:30pm.

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Have a recommendation we missed? Ask at the front desk — our team knows this town.