The center of Ferndale is about six blocks from Morningstar, and offers art galleries, restaurants, and a
repertory theater, as well as an array of charming antique shops and boutiques.  The architecture is pure
Victorian, giving Ferndale the name of 'The Victorian Village'.

A scenic five mile drive will bring you to the sweeping beauty of the Centerville Beach, which marks the
northern end of the Lost Coast.  Dogs are welcome here.  The Avenue of the Giants is a short drive
from Ferndale, and you can hike all day at Humboldt Redwoods State Park, while a few miles inland you
can swim at Swimmers Delight on the Van Dusen river.  Drive north, and you will come to the most
beautiful beaches in the world - Moonstone Beach, Agate Beach and Big Lagoon.  Most beaches allow
dogs.  Eureka, just north of Ferndale, offers a greater variety of restaurants.  In Old Town Eureka you
can visit the Clarke Museum for the best display of Indian baskets and artefacts outside a university.  For
Indian cultural events, you can contact Patrick's Point State Park, and visit the reconstructed Yurok village
there.

A short stroll down a country lane brings you
to the County Fairgrounds, where you can
enjoy the many events that are held there.  In
August the old-fashioned County Fair (click
here for pictures of the Fair) brings visitors
from far afield to enjoy the carnival, as well as
the many events and demonstrations. From
quilts to home-made preserves and dairy cows
to fancy chickens, there is something for
everyone.

In May, Ferndale hosts the finish of the wild
and crazy Kinetic Sculpture Race, (click here
for pictures of the race)

Built in the late 1800's, the original farmhouse served a large dairy farm.  In more recent years, it
became an Arabian horse ranch, and currently is home to horses and a rare plant nursery.  The
farmhouse has been recently remodeled, bringing back much of the appeal of the Victorian interior, but
also providing the comfort of every modern amenity.  There is a deck with a  barbecue where you can
relax and enjoy the views across the meadows and smoke if you wish (no smoking in the house).   The
landscaped side yard also provides private outdoor seating.  To make your vacation complete, you can
bring your pets with you, and there is a securely fenced back yard for your dog.

The family farms that surround Morningstar are dairy farms that are renowned for the quality of their
dairy products, as well as the management of their dairy herds and their land.  Nearby in Fernbridge is
the Humboldt Creamery, where milk is processed from the cows you see grazing next door.  In nearby
Loleta is the Loleta Cheese Factory, where you can see prize-winning organic cheeses being made
from the local dairy herds.

ABOUT MORNINGSTAR