Adventure Town: Arcata, California
Plan a long weekend getaway with our Arcata adventure guide, featuring great outdoor escapes, where to stay, and where to eat.
Pop. 17,294
GPS: 40°52’N; 123°05’W
Spend enough time in bike-friendly Arcata, on Cali’s foggy northern coast, and you’ll develop Popeye thighs like the locals. In this über-liberal community, recycling is religion and the Green Party rules.
Play
The riding selection is as broad as the virgin trees in nearby Redwood National Park, from the gentle five-plus-mile (eight-plus-kilometer) Hammond Trail to the surprisingly technical dirt in Community Forest, a Central Park-size preserve (www.cityofarcata.org).
Eat
Hit up the Plaza Grill for good, cheap fresh stuff—salads, sandwiches, and the like (www.plazagrillarcata.com).
- National Geographic Expeditions
Sleep
The Lady Anne Bed and Breakfast is a quaint Victorian throwback, complete with croquet games on the front lawn, with modern perks like Tempurpedic mattresses (doubles from $125; www.ladyanneinn.com).
