Arcata Plaza
The buzzing hub of Arcata is a place
where 20-somethings toss Frisbees,
farmers hawk crops (legal or otherwise)
and bearded professors saunter by
dreadlocked vagabonds. Lined by
boutiques and bars, the centerpiece is a
bronze of President William McKinley
who sternly observes one festival after
another. The 1915 Hotel Arcata (cnr G &
9th Sts) is a National Historic Landmark
on the northeast corner.The Walk » Walk up G St past a number
of excellent, cheap restaurants and take the
pedestrian bridge over the highway at 17th St,
which brings you to campus.Humboldt State University
Humboldt State University is the
secluded intellectual center of the
North Coast. In addition to a clutch of
leading environmentalists its alumni
also include novelist Raymond Carver
and Stephen Hillenburg, creator of
SpongeBob SquarePants. The Campus
Center for Appropriate Technology
(CCAT) is a world leader in developing
sustainable technologies; on Fridays at
2pm you can take a self-guided tour of
the CCAT House, a converted residence
that uses only 4% of the energy of a
comparably sized dwelling.The Walk » Walk south through campus to
reach 14th St. Take a left to enter Redwood Park.Arcata Community Forest
Few city parks hold a candle to
Redwood Park, where 700 acres of
forest is crossed by trails for biking,
hiking and horseback riding. Without
the big stands of trees common to
the area, it doesn’t have an untamed
feel, but trail No 1 is a half-mile loop
that makes an enjoyable hike for kids.
Despite a few scruffy, semipermanent
residents, whose tents flout the ‘no
camping’ ordinance, the place feels
magical, particularly when there’s a
performance on the park’s stage.Take this walk on Trips
STRETCH..
YOUR.LEGS
1 ab
Start/Finish Arcata Plaza
Distance 4 miles
Duration 4–5 hours
ARCATA
The.North.Coast’s.colorful.college.
town.offers.a.stroll.on.the.most.
progressive.edge.of.America,.an.
artsy.community.–.with.visionary.
sustainability.practices,.excellent.
parks,.amazing.food.and.a.wealth.
of.historic.buildings.–.that.marches.
proudly.to.its.own.beat.