Attractions and Places To See around Indianola - Top 13

Stop by the Humboldt Coastal Nature Center (open Wed–Sun, 10am–4pm) to explore local exhibits and learn about the area. Self-guided tour brochures are available at the trailhead, where signs mark the route. Your pets are welcome, but you must keep them leashed.

The Plaza, with its lawns and flowerbeds, is the social and commercial center of Arcata. Charming shops selling locally handcrafted goods, sporting goods, boutiques, and restaurants line the Plaza and the streets beyond. Arcata is a college town with particularly interesting bookstores and coffeehouses. Stop at Arcata Artisans on the Plaza. Don't miss Jacoby's Storehouse. This restored historic building features shops and a delightful central area where you can sit, enjoy an ice cream cone or a snack, and relax.

The Ma-'e'l Dunes offer a range of recreational opportunities that allow visitors to experience a diverse and dynamic coastal landscape of forests and salt marshes, sand dunes and beaches. The northern portion of Ma-le'l is part of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge (HBNWR). Access to the trails is limited to pedestrians only. The road to the north parking lot is closed to vehicles on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to provide visitors with a "wilderness" experience. The southern portion of Ma-le'l, managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), allows dog walking and equestrian activities on designated trails. Please protect natural and cultural resources by following visitor guidelines.

The Humboldt Coastal Nature Center is unique in the region. Its location makes it a public gateway to over 1,000 acres of coastal land, and its facilities and programs make it the only center on California's North Coast where people of all ages and abilities experience and learn about all of Humboldt Bay's diverse habitats. The Humboldt Coastal Nature Center's exhibits, trails, and programs combine experiential education, conservation-oriented recreational access, and hands-on restoration activities to enhance public understanding of local coastal environments and inspire community-oriented stewardship of these fragile resources.

“The Pinc,” as the new owners now affectionately call it, has seen plenty of history through its jewel-toned stained glass windows at 202 M Street in Eureka. Located on Humboldt Bay, the majestic, historic home was built in 1889 by lumber magnate William Carson as a wedding gift for his son J. Milton Carson and his wife Mary Amelia (Bell) Carson. William lived across the street in the famous Carson mansion, considered one of the most magnificent Victorian homes in America. The J. Milton Carson House, known locally as “The Pink Lady” over the years, is crowned with iconic, ornamental Victorian features. Famous as a classic example of the Queen Anne architectural style, its large bay windows, delicate cornices, graceful spires, and lace gingerbread trim attract tourists and architecture lovers alike.

Fort Humboldt State Historic Park is a California state park in Eureka. His displays interpret the former USA. The Army fort occupied from 1853 to 1870, the interactions between European Americans and Native Americans during roughly the same period, the logging equipment, and the area's local narrow-gauge railroad history. Within the collection are trains, logging equipment including a fully functioning steam donkey engine and an authentic excavated Native American canoe. The fort overlooks Humboldt Bay from a cliff. The North Coast regional headquarters of the California State Parks system is located locally.

One block square park in the center of old town

Maps, restrooms, drinking water fountain at this trailhead, with the northern trail looping north an then west to the beach, while the sandy trail at the south end of the parking area is shortest distance to the beach