Crescent City California Outdoor Activities Guide

Ocean World aquarium is privately owned and operated and has been in Crescent City since 1964. Originally Ocean World was called Under Sea Gardens and was located in the small boat basin. It was a barge that was built in Seattle as an aquarium and floated down to Crescent City and rested in the harbor. Visitors would descend below the surface of the water to observation windows to view the sea life.

In 1985 the barge was moved to dry land and took on a new life as Undersea World aquarium. The aquarium now consists of tanks holding over half a million gallons and an abundance of sea life, including sharks, seals, sea lions, rays and wolf eels. Now with a name change to Ocean World and added attractions of shark petting, interactive tide pool, and a highflying sea lion performance, we have something for the whole family.

Your Ocean World Experience

Your visit to Ocean World includes a fully guided tour by our highly trained staff who will show you (and your group or family) and tell you about the creatures of the sea. The tour lasts about 45 minutes and it is fun, educational and entertaining. These tours are intimate with many unique and one of a life time experiences waiting for you.

The tour starts with the Touch and Feel Tide Pool where you will have the opportunity to see and touch many of the strange and interesting creatures that live within the rocks near the shores of the Pacific Northwest. Next we descend into our aquarium where you will see sharks, bat rays and our playful seals and sea lions. You will learn about the life of sea creatures that live right off of our coast here in California.

Then you will be given the opportunity of a life time to pet a real shark. To many who come to visit Ocean World, this is rated as the thing they liked best about the tour, to touch and feel one of the most amazing creatures living on our earth.

Your Ocean World tour wraps up with an intimate Seal or Sea Lion Performance. You will get to know our Pacific Harbor Seals as they make you laugh and amaze you with their antics and amazing feats.You will be introduced to our newest stars, who are learning new behaviors every week. Your tour end in what has been said to be the very best gift shop on the North Coast. At Ocean World, we pride ourselves on bringing the unique and “must have” gifts for you to get for yourself or for that special someone. No other gift store offers

LOCATION:
304 Highway 101 South Crescent City, CA 95531

TEL:
(707) 464-4900

Website:
http://oceanworldonline.com

Direction:
0.8 mi From Hotel

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is the last in a long string of redwood parks that stretch up Northern California’s coast. A few miles inland from the ocean, the park is densely forested with huge ancient trees. In fact, it contains seven percent of all the old-growth redwoods left in the world. No roads or trails mark “Jed Smith’s” core—just pure, primeval majesty.

The park was named for Jedediah Strong Smith, who in the 1820s became the first white man to explore the interior of northern California. The park was established in 1929 with a small parcel donated to Save the Redwoods League by the family of lumberman Frank Stout.

About Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park’s 10,000 acres are managed cooperatively by the National Park Service and California State Parks, as are Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, and Redwood National Park. A World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve, Redwood National and State Parks protect 45 percent of California’s remaining old-growth redwoods—an area almost four times the size of Manhattan Island.

LOCATION:
Nine miles east of Crescent City on Highway 199

TEL:
(707) 465-7335

Website:
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=413

Direction:
9.9 mi from Hotel

Crescent Beach Beachfront Park is a large family park with a beautiful oceanside setting, offering acres of lawns, a playground, picnic tables, swimming pool. It’s a great place to come to and enjoy the beach and the surrounding areas. Beachfront Park is just a short stroll away from the beach. Take in the ocean view as your children play their hearts out. It is a perfect spot in Crescent City to hang out and enjoy the company of friends or family.

This park has a great playground for kids (Kidtown), with lots of things to climb on and slide down, making it a popular spot for locals. It has a community pool (indoor) and public library that is open to the public. Picnic areas provide a wonderful place to gather with the green expanses and adjacent beach on the bay. Skaters, joggers, and walkers will appreciate the sidewalks. Every July 4th there is a big party there with carnival rides, contests, booths, art, food, games, pony rides, etc. It’s always clean; but the weather is what is not dependable as we do get rain at intervals, but we have “;secret” sunny sunny days when everyone comes out even during the winter.

This is a gated area designed for kids to have fun. Thanks to Crescent City’s attention to detail and especially dozens of volunteers from the local LDS Church who conduct deep maintenance periodically, this place is a “;must visit” for people who are traveling and need to give their children some wholesome exercise. Development and building of Kidtown was very much a community project. A local doctor was a very first supporter and donor, followed by Del Norte Healthcare District, many local nonprofits, agencies, and Humboldt Area Foundation. Students brough jars of coins. Finally, two brothers dedicated proceeds from their mother’s house and gave $80,000. One weekend the park was constructed as over 400 volunteers converged on the park and began to raise walls, swings and slides.

Crescent City Event Venue
Several local events, such as the Crescent City 4th of July Parade, Festival and Fireworks Show are held at or include Beachfront Park. One of the biggest fireworks show on the north coast is held on July 4 as fireworks are shot off over the beautiful Battery Point Lighthouse for an amazing display. On Labor Day Weekend, the Annual Redwood Coast Grills Gone Wild BBQ cookoff and contest (sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society) is held. Classic auto fans will enjoy the Annual Sea Cruise Car Show the first week of October at the Park.

Beachfront Park Amenities: Grass Park, Picnic Area, Kids Play Area, Ship Memorial, Pier, Disc Golf Course, Horseshoe Pits, RV Park, Public Indoor Pool, Public Library

Activities: Walking, Jogging, Birdwatching, Windsurfing

Pet Policy: Dogs allowed on leash

Fees: Free parking

LOCATION:
901 Front Street, Crescent City, CA 95531

Direction:
1.2 mi From Hotel

Battery Point Lighthouse is probably the most visited structure in Del Norte County is the Battery Point Lighthouse. This is in spite it only being accessible at low tide. Throughout the rest of the day it is an island located just offshore of Crescent City at the end of ‘A’ Street.

History & Tours: The lighthouse was first lit on December 10, 1856. The Battery Point Lighthouse still serves as a private aid to navigation, kept and maintained by the Del Norte County Historical Society which staffs the Lighthouse with keepers year round. Tours include a climb to the lighthouse tower where a Fifth Order Drumm lens, still operational and maintained by our keepers, is in use. The tour of the residence includes looks into each of the residence rooms where original furniture often crafted by keepers many years ago is still in use. Most of the artifacts on display are from Battery Point Lighthouse’s over 150-year history.

Plan Your Visit for Low Tide: Be sure to plan your visit to the Lighthouse while in Crescent City while the tides are out. The Island is open to the public whenever the tide permits, however, Battery Point Lighthouse is only open for tours to the public as announced each year during the months of April through September, and again, only during certain hours, tide permitting. Generally, the days Battery Point Lighthouse is open will be Wednesday through Sunday.

IMPORTANT NOTES: There are no public restrooms or toilets available at Battery Point Lighthouse or on the Island. There is a public restroom in the City Parking Lot located at the foot of ‘A’ Street.

Island Access: By walking across a sandy beach and some rocks. Please always use caution, even at low tides. Watching out for “sneaker waves” and allow yourself plenty of time to travel to and from the Island during low tides and before any incoming tides cover the access way to the Island.

Children should not be unattended on or near Battery Point Lighthouse and the island and beach areas. Dangerous waves and a rocky shoreline are picturesque, but can be very hazardous at any time during the day, during high or low tides.

No cameras or photographs are allowed inside the Battery Point Lighthouse Museum.

LOCATION:
235 Lighthouse Way, Crescent City, CA 95531

TEL:
(707) 464-3089

Website:
https://delnortehistory.org/lighthouse-collections/

Direction:
0.9 mi from Hotel