Eureka

The fog sits low over Humboldt Bay most mornings in Eureka, and the smell of salt water follows you all the way into Old Town. It's the kind of place that slows you down a little, which is probably why road trippers tend to linger longer than they planned. Most people passing through spend time walking Old Town Eureka, where the Carson Mansion sits at the end of a residential block looking almost too ornate to be real. The waterfront is right there too — good for stretching your legs after a long drive. A lot of trips also build in a stop along the Avenue of the Giants before or after Eureka, where you're driving a two-lane road through old-growth redwoods so tall they block out the sky. For food, travelers tend to land at Lost Coast Brewery for a casual dinner, or Brick & Fire Bistro if they want something a little more sit-down. Ramone's Bakery is a reliable morning stop before getting back on the road. If you're mapping out a California coastal or northern California road trip, running your route through Eureka gives you a natural stopping point between the redwoods and the coast.