I fell madly in love earlier this year. I was visiting Northern California, taking a work + bucket list trip to visit the Redwood National Park. By researching and looking at maps, we decided that Crescent City, California would be the best place to stay. That was the right pick! Before YOU head that way, read on about Where to Eat and What to Do in Crescent City, California!
Back to that falling in love thing …
Did you think I met a man there? Noooooooo! Even better. I met lots and lots of ancient trees (I go for the old ones) and spent time just sitting by the ocean. Between the natural, rugged coast and the Redwood National Park’s amazing trees, I left my heart in Northern California.
Where to Eat and What to Do in Crescent City, California
10 Sights, Bites and Brews You Don’t Want to Miss
1) Redwood National Park
I first heard about the Redwood Forest in second grade, at my elementary school in Ohio. My teacher, Mrs. Van Tassel, played the piano and led us in singing a variety of patriotic songs every single morning, including This Land Is Your Land ( … from the Redwood Forest, to the gulf stream waters … this land was made for you and me). A picture can’t possibly capture the redwoods’ magnificence (not that I didn’t try with hundreds of snaps). You have to see them, feel them, smell them and hear them. Those charmers touched a place deep inside me and shifted me in a way that I hope never shifts back.
All that to say: you most definitely don’t want to miss the Redwood National Park. There are a lot of different state and national park areas you can visit. Jedidiah Smith State Park is a must-see. It’s just nine miles east of Crescent City (pictured above and below) and contains seven percent of all the old-growth redwoods left in the world. I loved the Stout Grove area of Jedediah Smith Park so much that I went alone, and then back a second time when my friend and day-job client, Texas Poet Laureate Karla K. Morton, joined up with me. Karla is currently on a three-year National Parks Tour with fellow Texas Poet Laureate Alan Birkelback, visiting all 60 national parks with a book in the works!
Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.” – Rachel Carson
Note: I’ll be writing a more in-depth article about the Redwood National and State Parks next … so stay tuned for that.
2) Eat Breakfast at the Apple Peddler
For breakfast, check out the Apple Peddle, located at 308 US-101, Crescent City. The coffee’s hot and fresh, the service is friendly, and when you ask for crispy bacon and crispy hash browns (my favorite), they deliver!
3) Battery Point Lighthouse
After spending time with the trees, I was ready to explore the ocean, so I drove toward the coast in Crescent City and found this gorgeous lighthouse, located at the foot of A Street. Nestled on a little island, I couldn’t figure out how to get over to it. A local pointed out to me that you can only get there by foot … at low tides.
So I returned another day with my friends at low tide (Karla K Morton is pictured below).
First lit with oil lamps, the Battery Point Lighthouse was opened in 1856. During over 150 years of its history, many keepers and their families have tended its light. Today, it’s registered as a California Historical Landmark, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and continues as an active lighthouse that serves as a private aid to navigation.
It’s particularly beautiful at sunset. You can learn more about the lighthouse (which also houses a museum) at www.delnortehistory.org/lighthouse.
5) Port O’ Pints Brewery
After a beautiful day of hiking in the Parks, we checked out local brewery and pub, Port O’ Pints at 1215 Northcrest Dr in Crescent City. This place was, by far, our favorite. It looked like it was the local favorite as well and has a bit of a dive bar feel, but don’t let that fool you! Between the award-winning craft beer (brewed on site), the food, the Irish Pub atmosphere and the cornhole game outside, it was the winner for us and the first place I’ll go for lunch or dinner when I visit again. We shared a beer flight to taste test before ordering a full beer and had a hard time choosing … because we liked them all.
We each ended up selecting a different favorite: Belgian Wit (my pick, pictured below), Irish red and an amber ale.
Something to note: I love beer but don’t actually drink it very often because it really bothers my allergies, especially if it’s bottled or canned, rather than fresh at a brewery. Not only did I enjoy the taste of the Port O’ Pints craft beer, but I didn’t get a stuffy nose and itchy eyes from it. So, when I learned that they sold “grumblers” (half the size of a growler) to go, you bet I took one filled with my favorite beer to enjoy for the next several nights!
We also ordered a bacon appetizer plus these “Pot O’ Gold Nachos,” made with house crafted corned beef, sauerkraut, tomato and porter cheese sauce on tortilla chips. I ate from the sides and bottom to avoid the cheese (stupid dairy allergy). Even without the cheese, they were uniquely delicious. My friends assure me that the porter cheese sauce was incredible.
Rick, the owner, gave us a tour of the brewery, explained their brewing process to us and let us sample a seasonal brew that hadn’t reached the carbonation phase yet (it was darn good, even without the carbonation!).
6) Coastal Drive and Point St. George
Make your way to Pebble Beach Drive in Crescent City, and you’ll be treated to a short, picturesque coastal drive, with quaint homes hugging the road on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. I stopped along the side of the road to watch surfers catching waves … and then found my way to Point St. George.
I parked in a lot with only a few cars and walked up the dirt path, not knowing what to expect … and then I saw THIS!
I walked down to the beach …
… and had it to myself. I highly recommend adding this place to your must-see stops when you’re in the area.
7) Dutch Bros
I’m a BIG coffee fan. I’m also really picky about my coffee and was happy to discover and try, for the first time, Dutch Bros coffee. Their regular joe in the morning is delicious, and my favorite afternoon treat is their iced coconut milk mocha (pictured below). The address is 560 L St in Crescent City.
Tip: Don’t miss the coffee or iced mochas, but skip the muffin tops they sell there for breakfast. We tried three different flavors and weren’t a fan of any of them.
8) Raliberto’s Taco Shop
Right next door to Dutch Bros is a taco shop you could almost miss (except for its bright colors). Located at 523 M St., this place is now my gold standard for tacos.
Seriously, they are the best chicken tacos I have ever had in my life. They come with one of the longest waits … but that’s part of the secret: they don’t make the taco shells until you order them, and the crispy taco shells are amazing. The shredded chicken filling is also part of the formula for greatness – it’s flavorful and tender without being too salty.
Similarly, their breakfast burritos are delicious but require some time and patience as you wait for them to make them. They don’t even cut up the potatoes until you order. Worth it? Oh yes! Our favorite was breakfast from Raliberto’s paired with Dutch Bros coffee … and lunch tacos from Raliberto’s paired with iced mocha lattes from Dutch Bros.
9) Fisherman’s
Located at 700 US Highway 101 S, Fisherman’s was recommended to us by several people, and they most definitely didn’t steer us wrong. It’s called Fisherman’s because that’s where the local fisherman prefer to eat. How can you go wrong with seafood there!?
We all had a cup of the gumbo, which I could have eaten a whole vat of, and the special of the day – salmon teriyaki. We washed it all down with our new favorite, a Port O’ Pints beer!
10) Seaquake Brewing
After another day’s activities, we found our way to Seaquake Brewing, Located at 400 Front St, Crescent City.
This was the largest, newest restaurant of the trip, with an inviting interior.
We did the same thing at this brewery: we ordered a flight to taste test and then ordered our favorite. My choice surprised me — a chocolate porter!
We also ordered wings and calamari strips to share and then full meals (we were hungry).
Finally, in addition to where to eat and what to do in Crescent City, California — a couple things to note about the town of Crescent City itself …
Originally founded as a thriving seaport and supply center for gold mines in the mid-19th century, half the town was swallowed by a tsunami in 1964 and then rebuilt in the 1970s. So if you get a ’70s vibe when you’re there, you’re right on. You’ll also notice that many work hard to preserve the precious history that survived. Also, there is a foghorn that is ever-present, although it took me a couple days before I noticed it. Once I did, I couldn’t stop hearing it … every ten seconds. It is on all the time, year-round. Why? Years ago, 200+ people died when a boat crashed because of the fog. The foghorn was erected not long after that and has continued ever since. It was faint most of the time, but if you notice it — you aren’t hearing things.
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Tall trees and ocean waves – sounds like Paradise to me. 🙂
Lynda – FOR SURE!!!