TheCultureTrip.com names Ferndale one of The 10 Most Beautiful Towns in California

TheCultureTrip.com, which specializes in the best art, food, culture, and travel, has selected Ferndale as one of The 10 Most Beautiful Towns in California. "When thinking of California, many visitors are familiar with cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego. The Golden State is also home to many picturesque small towns and villages that will inspire every visitor. We've put together a list of some of the loveliest places to be found in California, from coastal charmers to mountain beauties." Click here to see them all.

SUNSET Magazine Features Humboldt

The West’s premier lifestyle and travel monthly magazine is placing the spotlight on Humboldt County. The September 2014 issue devotes the cover and eight full pages to a series of epic Redwood Coast adventures. (Read it here.)

Ably facilitated by the staff of the Humboldt Co. Convention & Visitors Bureau, San Francisco-based author Dan Duane, who often focuses on outdoor adventure, wrote the cover story. He began his trip with an overnight paddle to the newly reopened boat-in campground on Stone Lagoon. His most memorable experience took place, not surprisingly, at the foot of a tree in Redwood National & State Parks. He also roamed Artisan Alley in Ferndale, hiked the outskirts of the Lost Coast, and savored fresh seafood in Trinidad.

“I spent the final evening of my trip 20 miles out of Eureka, in the odd but charming town of Ferndale, near the banks of the Eel River, in lush dairy lands just north of the King Range. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a place quite like Ferndale, a perfectly intact turn-of-the-20th-century village that seems to have stopped growing 100 years ago.”

Andrea Minarcek, a senior Sunset travel editor tasked with mapping out a Redwood Coast itinerary in a side story, listed dozens of stops and summed up as follows: “You could drive the heart of the North Coast in five hours. But that would be missing the point. To suck up the wildest beaches, tallest trees, and freshest oysters in the state, you’ll need at least three days.”

Read the full story here

Legoland photo courtesy of The Ferndale Enterprise

Ferndale in Legoland!

The Ferndale Enterprise reports that Ferndale buildings have been reproduced in Miniland at California's new Legoland Theme Park, along with other, more well-known American sites. What an unexpected honor!

Discover The Victorian Village of Ferndale, full size, on California's North Coast. From California Highway 101, take the Fernbridge/Ferndale exit. Cross historic Fernbridge and drive through five miles of pastoral views to Ferndale's Main Street.

Legoland photo courtesy of The Ferndale Enterprise

Tesla High Power Charging Station at the Victorian Inn

June 23, 2014--The Victorian Inn, Redwood Suites and the VI Restaurant are excited to announce the installation of a Tesla High Power Charging Station on the premises of the Victorian Inn, 400 Ocean Avenue, Ferndale. The charging station will provide a convenient and fast charging solution for Tesla Model S owners staying in one of these two inns or while dining in their restaurant during the busy summer travel season.“We are continuingly searching new ways to enhance our guests’ overall experience. By combining the leading-edge technology and the forward-thinking of Tesla with our commitment to providing an exceptional experience for our guests, we now have the ability to offer a high-tech, eco-friendly solution for Model S owners traveling this summer,” said Lowell Daniels, co-owner of these three businesses.

“Guests can charge their car for a few hours, at no cost to them, while enjoying a bite to eat in our popular VI Restaurant & Tavern, or “fill it up” overnight while they enjoy the comfort of one of the great guest rooms. Driving a luxury car deserves a luxury experience, and we are pleased to provide that high quality experience to Tesla owners. It’s a win-win for everyone,” added Daniels.

The Tesla High Power Wall Connector offers more than twice the power of typical charging stations, adding up to 58 miles of range to the Model S in just one hour.

“Thanks to our growing Supercharger network, Tesla Model S owners are hitting the road in increasing numbers,” said Cal Lankton, director of global EV infrastructure for Tesla. “By offering a convenient destination charging service to Tesla owners, The Victorian Inn, Redwood Suites and the VI Restaurant are replicating the convenience our owners have become accustomed to at home. Waking up relaxed with a fully charged Model S makes for a fantastic road trip experience.”

The Victorian Inn is a 13-room inn was built entirely of native Humboldt County redwood in 1890. Known as Ferndale’s historic Russ Bank Building, it was a notable architectural testament to its time, a magnificent tribute to luxury, craftsmanship, and comfort. Each room has a unique story to tell, and the Inn has become one of the most photographed buildings in Northern California. Innkeepers Lowell Daniels and Jenny Oaks purchased the Russ Building in 1999. Today the inn embodies the elegance and romance of the timber boom era. High ceilings, vintage fixtures and furnishings, beautiful appointments and private baths typify the Victorian Inn’s nostalgic guest rooms. A stay at the Victorian Inn includes a gourmet breakfast, and the onsite VI Restaurant and Tavern serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks seven days a week.

Innkeepers Daniels and Oaks are active in the Ferndale community through their participation in the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce, Ferndale Rotary, Ferndale Repertory Theatre, Portuguese Hall Association, Humboldt County Convention & Visitors Bureau and other local organizations. They are passionate about promoting the local visitor industry. Dedicated to making each Ferndale stay a cherished memory, every day they look for new ways to encourage visitors to sample the adventures unique to the Redwood Empire and Pacific Coast areas that surround the Victorian Village of Ferndale.

“Your room is ready!” at the Victorian Inn. Click here to find out more about the boutique inn, or call 707-786-4949 (888-589-1808 toll free).

FERNDALE WINS!
Prettiest Painted Place (small town) in the Northwest Region, 2012

Ferndale outshines Port Townsend, WA;
Astoria, Oregon; and Wallace, Idaho.

Attractively painted neighborhoods, remarkable Main Streets, meticulously restored commercial areas, authentically preserved historical districts, exquisite outdoor mural programs, and creative flair in the use of exterior paint on everything from streets and sidewalks to life-size folk art. America in indeed blessed with an abundance of pretty painted places!
After four months of rigorous contact work, background research, and thorough evaluation of the nearly 200 exceptional communities who were nominees in this year’s competition, the judges chose one small town and one large town in each of six regions as the nation’s 12 “Prettiest Painted Places in America”:

In the Northwest Region, the small town winner is The Victorian Village of Ferndale, California and the large town winner is Eureka, California.

In the Northeast Region, the winners are Brookville, Pennsylvania and Downtown Frederick, Maryland.

In the Southeast Region, the winners are Historic Downtown Smithfield, Virginia and Key West, Florida.

In the North Central Region, the winners are Bay View Association, Michigan and Stillwater, Minnesota.

In the South Central Region, the winners are Old Arabi Neighborhood, St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana and Lafayette Square, St. Louis, Missouri.

In the Southwest Region, the winners are Tubac, Arizona and Manhattan Beach, California.

Because certain regions were so very competitive, there is a separate category of award for nine nominees who are not among the winners, but have “exceptional merit” as beautifully painted places. These communities are: Cape May, New Jersey; Crested Butte, Colorado; Old Louisville, Kentucky; Ottawa and Franklin County, Kansas; Owego Historic District, New York; Paducah, Kentucky; Historic Park City, Utah; Richmond, Indiana; and Original Townsite Historic District, Victoria, Texas.

Congratulations to the 12 national winners and the nine “exceptional merit” communities!