Fun Places In and Around Eureka

Eureka has many fun places that have rich memories of good times.

Sequoia Park is a true treasure.  It is many acres of virgin redwood forest in the midst of the city. The park has several major features: A very large playground with terrific equipment, a redwood forest in which kids (and adults too) can spend endless hours exploring, a duck pond with many species of birds year round, and a fun little zoo.
Some of these trees are actually more than a thousand years old.	Even UC Santa Cruz envies Humboldt County banana slugs.  This photo is from the annual race. It takes place in July-August-September each year. One race per year. Spectators need be very, very patient.

Sequoia Park Zoo is immediately adjacent to and surrounded by the park.

This is the County Hospital. It used to be the General Hospital. Before that it was St. Joseph's Hospital. I was born in St. Jo's.

There were three theaters in town but only two were ever open at the same time. Usually it was only the Eureka. We always got the first run movies 4-8 months after release.

This is the Carson Mansion. It is famous for its Victorian architecture. it is owned by the exclusive Ingomar Club for business people.

Redwood Acres is the Humboldt County Fairgrounds. We loved going to the fair each year. The crowds, the rides, the food, the exhibits, the shows, the animals. It was all exciting and good. Best of all, it was within walking distance.  Of course, in those days, walking distance for us was anything within about 5 miles.
	This is the main grandstand. They had everything here, horse races, dirt track, demolition derbies, concerts.	This exhibit hall also housed a business called Skate Land. I learned to dance on roller skates here. In addition, they also had square dancing for teens. Yes, I could do-si-do with the best.

Freshwater County Park  (Another reference) We used to go to the tiny town of Freshwater during the summer to swim.  They dam up a small creek which creates a pool about 150 feet long and maybe 30 feet wide. On any warm day, yes, they do occur up there, dozens of kids and teenagers can be found swimming and basking. An interesting note:  They do have flush toilets here.  However, they are on a septic tank system which leaches into the ground. Fortunately they are located about 50 feet down stream of the swimming hole.  Best not to think too deeply about all that.

Temple Beth El Hodgson and T Sts. in Eureka.
Hard to believe that they will be coming up to their 50th anniversary in the next few years.	My father, Irving Sabes was the president of Eureka's Jewish Community when the property (then a house) was purchased and dedicated as the first synagogue in Eureka.

Back to main page