After spending the night in the stunning 1891 Victorian Inn, we walked about the town to discover other Victorian beauties.
Beginning on Main Street, since the Victorian Inn was at one end of it, I savored the old timey shops, patriotic flags, and Victorian charm around every nook and cranny.
Settled in the 19th century, Ferndale quickly became home to a dairy farm industry, eventually building a creamery on Main Street, and developing many innovations that spread throughout America.
Operating a port of commerce with sea vessels, Ferndale was also the center of stagecoach travel.
Of all the cities in the continental United States, Ferndale lies the furthest west.
GINGERBREAD MANSION
Built in 1895, the Gingerbread Mansion is now a Bed and Breakfast with a stunning garden.
Originally occupied as a private home, the doctor who lived here in 1920 converted it into a public hospital.
After it closed in 1926, another doctor purchased the building to use for his private practice.
Later roles for this house included usage as an American Legion Post, a rest home, a private home, and currently a Bed and Breakfast.
WINDOW SHOPPING
Of all the winsome shops, I fell in love with The Milk House: Home of the Farmer’s Daughter, which reminded me of my favorite stores in Texas (Fredericksburg and Gruene).
And how perfect since we drove 5 miles through dairy farms from the highway into Ferndale!
So many items that I wanted to buy, but my suitcase was tightly packed and our schedule was tight for the day.
I never find stores this amazing in Virginia, so I totally enjoyed every nook and cranny.
It’s an art to densely pack beauty without making it look cluttered, and The Farmer’s Daughter aced it!
At the top of my list was this brown sweater: lovely texture, simple neckline, ruffles down the front and around the bottom. Swoon. Perhaps paired with one of the dresses…
I should have taken a photo of all the purses, but mine was good until it busted the next day. Should have bought a new purse.
Love this wooden table which I would love to have in my dining room, since I love rustic elegance…French Country.
Oh, the charm of those old fashioned refrigerators with glass fronts!
While preparing this blog post, I found The Farmers Daughter on instagram and looks like they do take orders over the phone and ship!
Check out the Victorian theater!
HOMETOWN OF FOOD NETWORK STAR GUY FIERI
While researching this trip, I learned that the famous Guy Fieri who reinvented cooking shows on Food Network, is from Ferndale, working in his teenage years at Ferndale Meat Co. which was just down the street from the Victorian Inn where we had spent the night.
Heading to the Ferndale Meat Co. first, the next morning, I walked inside to see a real life butcher shop, which provides services no longer found in even local grocery stores.
Next to the Ferndale Meat Co. is a gorgeous white building, Humboldt’s Hometown Store, full of artisan crafts created by locals.
Turning down one of the aisles of the store, we found this section devoted to Guy Fieri history!
Since I’ve only known Guy from some of his tv shows, this was a neat experience to find out more about him!
When Guy was in the sixth grade, his dad helped him build a Awesome Pretzel Co. cart, that Guy towed with his bike to set up a tasty vendor shop to earn money to one day study culinary arts in France.
Encouraged by one of his teachers in 1982, sixteen year old Guy entered the Humboldt County National History Day.
His winning topic, The Awesome Pretzel: The History and Evolution of Pretzels and Pushcarts as it Relates to The Awesome Co., took him from county, then to state, and finally to national level competitions. And the rest is history!
Although best known for food, his heart is devoted most to family and philanthropy.
Duplicating his pretzel cart, Guy has donated them to junior highs for students to learn entrepreneurship while earning money for class field trips, etc.
Owning a ranch in Ferndale, Guy has even purchased some of the buildings in town (including Ferndale Meat Co. and Humboldt’s Hometown Store) to help preserve the town’s Victotian history.
While writing this blog, and researching details, I stumbled upon on his Food Network tv show, Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, Season 19 Episode 1: Guy’s Hometown Tour.
Last night my hubby and I sat down to watch it, rejoicing over all the happy memories and learning more history than what I’ve shared here!
My hubby proclaimed we’ve got to return!
MORE VICTORIAN SWOONING
Outside the blue skies began to peek from the clouds, and we realized our time was getting tight.
We still had a four hour drive to San Francisco to catch our next airplane.
Walking past this gorgeous Victorian charmer for rent, my hubby teased that he’d get for me, since it’s so perfectly like me!
Hmmm…what shop do you think I should open here?
Unloading some packages into our car, still parked in front of the Victorian Inn, we then walked across the street for snaps of this quaint area.
Called the Gum Drop Tree House, these trees seem very Dr. Suessian and quaint little camper are so perfect for this town.
We were so sad to leave because we had barely seen everything.
However it was day five of our twelve day road trip, yet we had already crammed in a lot: We had seen volcanoes, the Lewis and Clark Trail, visited family and friends at my hubby’s brother’s memorial service in Oregon, Crater Lake, Redwood Trees, and this Victorian Village.
Up next was a plane flight for my hubby could attend to family business in Pomona, visiting his mom in memory care in Southern California, and dinner with his cousins in San Diego before flying back to Virginia.
Looking through my locally collected brochure collection, we found a grand lunch opportunity in the midst of more Redwoods! Since we had run out of our own food, and most of the eateries in Northern California are closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and this day was Wednesday, we were excited! Stay tuned!
