Things to Do in Arcata A lively university town with a historic downtown plaza, Arcata is the North Coast’s hub for culture, art, and music. Any weekend of the year, local theater groups and bands play their hearts out in groovy bars and community centers across town. Humboldt State University's Center Arts attracts some of the world’s best in ballet, folk, country, classical, contemporary music and comedy if your tastes run toward big-name talent. centerarts.humboldt.edu. During the day, visitors can join the locals enjoying the plaza and chat with artisans selling their wares in original shops. Take a hike, jog or bike ride through the Arcata Community Forest. After a day of shopping or hiking, it's easy Tip: With a to find peace reputation for gray and solitude to weather, Arcata’s watch the sunset, sunshine is one on one of the of the North many uncrowded Coast’s bestbeaches. kept secrets. When the Bring a weekend comes, blanket to try to layover on a spread across Saturday to expethe grass on rience the Arcata the plaza and soak Farmers’ Market. up the pleasantly Since 1979, the rewarm rays of North gion’s growers have Coast sunshine — if gathered on the it’s foggy, just wait Arcata Plaza to sell five minutes! plants, flowers, veggies, organic meat, honey, eggs, and fresh-baked delights. Local bands and world music troupes share the center stage on the plaza, playing beats that make toddlers dance and farmers smile. A cornerstone of the community, the market takes place year-round, rain or shine, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 16
2021 | ARCATA VISITOR GUIDE
Celebrate Arcata’s History First, take a trip to the Wiyot Heritage Center to learn about the past and present history of the Wiyot Tribe. The center (about 20 miles south of Arcata) aims to promote the understanding, revitalization, and celebration of Wiyot culture through a permanent collection of Wiyot cultural materials. 1000 Wiyot Drive Loleta, CA : (707) 733-5055, Wiyot.us. Next, take a walk through historic Arcata courtesy of the Historical Sites Society of Arcata and check out four
free interactive walking tours of historical architecture. Find the tour routes at arcatahistory.org/tours. Another chapter of Arcata history is found at the Humboldt Bay Maritime Museum, where you can learn about the seafaring heritage that our area is so vastly steeped in. From the first ship to enter our bay to the exciting lives of lighthouse keepers. You can also book a cruise on the Madaket while here! 77 Cookhouse Rd, Samoa humboldtbaymaritimemuseum.com.
