This southern Humboldt town is a
handy staging point for excursions to California's Lost
Coast, including vacationing at Shelter Cove.
Conveniently situated at the southern end
of the Avenue of the Giants, Garberville has a lot
to offer: an arts festival in the late spring,
Shakespeare in the outdoors at mid-summer, and an overall
rustic ambience. The Benbow State Recreation Area
is centered on a six-mile lake created by a dam. This is
the site of the June Arts & Crafts Fair and a
well-known jazz festival.
Eating in the Garberville area can be very
rewarding, especially at the renowned and popular
Benbow Inn. Hartsook Inn at Piercey has a
good restaurant that is unlicensed, but diners are
encouraged to bring their own wine. Calico's Cafe,
also on Redwood Drive, is a small cafe with fresh baked
goods, soup, sandwiches, etc. Sicilito's at 445
Conger Street serves Italian and Mexican food in addition
to seafood and steaks.
Garberville Hotels
Tudor-style Benbow Inn (707-923-2124) should be
considered for at least one night's stay. It's two miles
south of Garberville, overlooking the south fork of the
Eel River. There's a nine-hole golf course, a cozy
quasi-Victorian atmosphere and a dining room with a
considerable reputation ($$ to $$$). In Garberville,
accommodations are rather ordinary, although there are
several respectable motels and cafes with a natural
touch. Humboldt House Inn, a Best Western motel at
the north end of Redwood Drive, the main street, has 56
units and a swimming pool.
Up the street are several older but comfortable motels
including Motel Garberville, at 948 Redwood Drive,
which has a restaurant on site and special deals for
steelhead anglers. The Rancho Motel, a few doors
away, has a heated pool.
A few miles south of Garberville, in Piercey, the
Hartsook Inn has 62 cabins set in the forest next
to Richardson Grove ($).
Camping
For campers who require full hookups, Dean Creek
Resort in Redway (707-923-2555) has serviced sites on
the river with hookups, cable TV, a whirlpool and sauna.
Benbow Valley Resort (707-923-2777) is two miles
south of Garberville: a deluxe RV park with its own
9-hole golf course, paved RV sites, full hookups, a cafe,
and a full slate of amenities.
