California Welcome Centers
The North Coast region has two California Welcome Centers:
North Coast Region Profile
With crashing waves and soaring redwood trees blanketing miles of uncrowded parkland, this is one of California’s most spectacular regions. The largest city, Eureka, is roughly a five-hour drive north of San Francisco where travellers can see lush wine country, charming hamlets, spouting whales and breath-taking sunsets.
MAJOR TAKEAWAYS
- This region is home to the Avenue of the Giants, an unforgettable stretch of US 101 that runs through Humboldt Redwoods State Park.
- North Coast Wine Country spans the Mendocino Coast to the rolling hills of Lake County, featuring intimate tasting rooms and hospitable winemakers.
- Eureka is the largest coastal city between San Francisco and Portland, Oregon.
Counties
- Del Norte County
- Humboldt County
- Lake County
- Mendocino County
Major cities
The largest city in the North Coast region, Eureka, is roughly five hours from San Francisco and has a population of less than 30,000 people.- Arcata
- Eureka
- Clearlake
- Crescent City
- Ferndale
- Fort Bragg
- Mendocino
- Point Arena
- Ukiah
- Willits
Major attractions
Romance finds a home in this idyllic coastal region, where fog rolls in from the ocean to blanket hushed redwood forests and whales spout offshore.
- Clear Lake: California’s largest natural freshwater lake is found in Lake County, and the surrounding community offers up incredible wine tasting, stargazing and water sports
- Glass Beach: Visitors to Fort Bragg often visit MacKerricher State Park, known for the colourful sea glass found along its shores
- Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens: Encompassing 47 acres in Fort Bragg, these gardens feature a diverse collection of plants
- Redwood National Park: California coastal redwoods are the tallest living things in the world, soaring over 350 feet high and are just one of the attractions found in this park alongside rugged beaches, grassy prairies and Roosevelt elk
- Point Arena Lighthouse: In Mendocino County, on the closest piece of land to the Hawaiian Islands, this 115-foot lighthouse enables visitors to get an incredible view of the dramatic cliffs and churning waves below
- Skunk Train: 'The Skunk' once brought steam and diesel-powered trains through the California Coast Range, and now takes sightseers on a fun journey through a 1,122-foot tunnel and across 30 trestle bridges
Weather
The North Coast averages a temperate Mediterranean climate. Along the Pacific Ocean coastline, winters are mild and rainy, and summers mild, cool and dry. Further inland, weather varies from the oceanic climate and temperatures increase throughout the year into a hot summer.DEC-FEB
13°C
5°C
MAR-MAY
14°C
7°C
JUN-AUG
17°C
11°C
SEP-NOV
16°C
8°C