Toasty on the Coast

There it is — just enough of a brr in the air to justify cozying up. Put some mileage on that sweater collection and meet us in Humboldt County for fall and winter fun. We know all the best places and people …

And bears! Meet Tule, the sweet rescued black bear that’s won all our hearts over at the Sequoia Park Zoo. We’ll take you to his enclosure to see how he learns from enrichment activities and hear from the animal experts who care for him. We challenge you not to smile when he sits like Winnie the Pooh.

Speaking of enrichment, have we got a full itinerary for you and everyone in your party. Peruse our Perfect Trips to find out about fishing for surfperch on the Mad River or hopping in the saddle for some horseback riding. Discerning collectors will want to know where the hot spots are, whether for works by local artists or holiday ornaments. We’ll show you where to take your little Pokémonsters for some old-school baseball card collecting, too.

You don’t visit a rural county to eat a light breakfast. We’re getting serious about pancakes, biscuits and hash browns over at McIntosh Farm Country Store, where the local eggs and smoked meats raise the bar for the first meal of the day. Then, we’ll take you to Siam Orchid, where the fresh take on Thai favorites will warm your bones and brighten your palate. Pro-tip: Don’t skip dessert.

The Humboldt Craft Spirits tasting room is a hidden gem — not a bar but a place to sample the locally made vodka, gin, rye and, especially around the holidays, liqueur made with local Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate. Meet the folks who make it and take my advice: Grab a bottle for the s’more cocktail recipe.

Do you have people to shop for? (Is one of them you?) Find your new and natural fragrance at Tulip. You can stop and smell the luxurious scents and even customize one for yourself … or whomever. A more rugged but still stylish vibe reigns over at Bell & Hook, with gifts and bespoke items for the adventurer, armchair or otherwise.

And finally, whenever you’re in the county, flip to the maps to get the lay of the land and the extended Calendar section for what’s going on across the region.

Stay toasty.

—Jennifer Fumiko Cahill