Our tour to the Victorian village of Ferndale begins in Crescent City at the McDonalds restaurant, 8:00 A.M. on Wednesday, November 5, 2008. We will return to the McDonalds' parking lot at approximately 6:00 P.M.
Learn more at http://www.crescentcity.org/
Battery Point Lighthouse
Sequoia Sempervirens Coastal Redwoods
As we travel south along Highway 101, we will pass beneath mighty Redwood trees in Del Norte State and Redwood National Parks. As our guide explains some of this remarkable tree's features, striking images of these ancient giants appear on the FunBus' 42-inch flat screen high-definition T. V. Screen. We will be introduced to the newly-discovered "Canopy Forests" growing a hundred yards above our heads.
Video images will inform and entertain us throughout our tour.
Learn more at http://www.nps.gov/archive/redw/trees.html
Nowhere in this great nation are the beaches more dramatic than on California's North Coast. Rocky headlands embrace sculpted coves as waves crash onto jagged rocks and black sands.
Thousands of shore birds work the water's edge as ospreys and eagles dive upon shallow prey in the sapphire waters.
Locals and tourists alike delight in collecting agates, driftwood and varied shellfish along our many beaches.
For more photos go here
Wilson Beach
Famous Klamath Bridge "Golden Bear"
Two "Golden Bears" stand guard at each end of the Klamath River bridge, the southern gateway to America's Wild Rivers Coast. Our driver will share the bears' inspiring David vs. Goliath story and the history of the Klamath River and its peoples. A slide show will portray the town of Klamath's struggle to recover from the catastrophic flood of 1964.
Gain new insights on the important Klamath River salmon and steelhead fisheries: What's wrong and what can be and what is being done.
Learn more at http://www.klamathcc.org/
Most road trips along Highway 101 feature sightings of the beautiful Roosevelt Elk near Davidson Road and/or in the meadow surrounding the "Red Schoolhouse." These largest members of the deer family, named after President "Teddy" Roosevelt, form the biggest such herd in the world .
During late summer and fall, we are likely to see dozens of [antler less] cows surrounding a lone bull. Their loyalty to him has been assured by his having driven off the other males and his persistence in herding his harem into a compliant assemblage. The FunBus stops for photos!
Learn more at http://www.shannontech.com/ParkVision/Redwood/Redwood4.html
Young Roosevelt Elk Bull
Loleta Cheese Factory entrance
Humboldt County prides itself with a reputation for quality dairy products, not the least of which are fine cheeses.
The Loleta Cheese Factory offers 34 hand-crafted flavors, all available for tasting by the more than 30,000 yearly visitors. Factory owner Bob Laffranchi personally oversees the transformation of butter-rich milk from his dairies into more than two million pounds annually of preservative-free cheeses.
Other featured products at the Loleta showroom include gourmet spreads, sauces, oils, vinegars and varietal wines from North Coast vineyards.
Learn more at http://loletacheese.com/take-a-tour.html
First among Ferndale's many charms is its Victorian architecture.
The FunBus will visit some of Ferndale's more outstanding examples of19th-century Gothic Revival, Italianate, Eastlake and Queen Anne homes. We will spend time in the historic Main Street District, where art galleries, antique shops and boutiques abound.
Poke around; introduce yourself; share a story; investigate the past; purchase something for your future. Take it easy - time is on our side.
Learn more at http://www.victorianferndale.org/chamber/
http://www.victorianferndale.org/chamber/
FunBus at the Gingerbread House
FunBus at the Victorian Inn
We will have lunch at the highly-regarded Curley's Grill.
Located on the ground floor of the majestic Victorian Inn, Curley’s Grill is widely-known for its friendly and elegant atmosphere, fair prices, consistent quality and generous portions.
Proprietor Curley Tait has been in the restaurant business in Chicago, Los Angeles and Ferndale for over sixty years. In his spare time, he has also managed Spanky and our Gang and the Steve Miller band and bred, raised and showed world-class Arabian horses. Curley's many talents have translated into the many facets of his culinary offerings.
For menus, go to here
Among Humboldt County's many outstanding museum offerings can be found a dazzling array of variety. The Kinetic Sculpture Museum in Ferndale features past entries in the annual Kinetic Race in which contestants muscle their human-propelled vehicles from Arcata to Ferndale over the three-day Memorial Weekend. Each entry boasts a unique "personality" and is subjected to the rigors of highway, dirt, sand dunes and water on the way to Monday's boisterous Victory Party.
Other notable museums in Humboldt County include the Ferndale Museum, Humboldt Bay Maritime Museum, Clarke Historical Museum, Natural History Museum, Fortuna Depot Museum and the Discovery Museum.
Learn more at http://humboldtsearch.com/directory-cat_id-6-cat_name-Museums.htm
"Rover" and "The shoe" at Kinetic Gallery
FunBus at Ferndale Museum
Our last stop in Ferndale will be at the Ferndale Museum. Here we can browse through exhibits depicting the history and heritage of the area including artifacts, tools, furniture, an operating seismograph, a telephone switchboard, working crank phones, farm and logging equipment, a barber shop and a complete blacksmith shop.
Walking through the museum is like strolling down a Ferndale street in the late 1800s and peeking through windows into the past. Each room is a static portrayal of life in a yesteryear.
There will be a $1.00 charge at the museum entryway (not included in the tour package).
Learn more at http://humboldtsearch.com/moreinfo-acc_id-62.htm
On our return trip, you are encouraged to enjoy some of the cheeses and wines you so wisely purchased during our tour. :) (We have wine glasses and openers, paper plates, napkins and cheese cutters onboard the Fun Bus)
We thank you for joining us on this FunBus Tour and hope to welcome you aboard on a future adventure!
Homeward bound