Fortuna California – Gateway To The World Famous Giant California Redwoods

Fortuna California is often referred to as the “Gateway to the California Giant Redwoods“. Yet Fortuna City is a lot more than that. It’s also the start of many a world traveler to Northern California starting a trip up the magnificently scenic Pacific Highway coastal highway. What visitors gawk and admire at is not your average American scenery or tourist views. On top of that nature lovers and those with a green environmental preference will be treated with a distinct calmness and non-hustle bustle of a natural environment along with great sightings of local wildlife, fish and fauna. Yet it’s all surreal to say the least. Your subconscious mind may well say you have seen and observed much of this before. Most likely you have on Television or the movies.

When visiting the area take a breather to enjoy the majestic appearances of the trees – both the calming rustle and scents emanating from the eucalyptus trees as well as the world famed Giant Redwood trees which both Fortuna and California are world renowned for. Yet apart from wildlife, trees and other scenes of natural beauty the City and the environs of Fortuna City also presents dazzling sand beaches, wetlands and other areas of the great outdoors.

Remember yet much of California and western American all started with the great gold rush. The history of Fortuna and its communities started with the first settlers who lived in the region in the mid 1870’s referring to the area as the “Slide Hill”. Over time the settlement grew, economic activity was initiated and the population grew. The name “Slide Hill” originated as a local geographic descriptive term, derived from the sloping land portion that is found north east of the Eel River. Along the way as the area further developed and grew the name Slide Hill grew and evolved into the name “Springville”. Yet economically the area grew and prospered even diversifying both from agriculture, fostered and nourished by waters from the Eel as well as a lucrative timber industry – under the direction of regional timber robber barons. What was but a little settlement grew by leaps and bounds into a town whose role was of a dominant and major regional center overall.

Yet commercialization and growth took more major jolt upwards with the advent of 19’Th century “progress” when the Eel River and Eureka Railroad construction was completed in 1884. Rail transportation being the power of force and progress it was , established commercial and transportation channels providing for a reliable and simple connection for products and support services for both the lumber / timber industries as well as farm produce that could now be integrated into the markets and distribution / transport systems afforded by the more established and more populous regions in now newly accessible Humboldt Bay areas.

Yet even now with contact with the outside world and its characters and vices brought into other areas of California by the great Gold Rush Fortuna City , its environs and residents retained their simplicity , virtues and overall charms. It was no mystery nor secret that Fortuna was nicknamed “The Friendly City” from the beginnings its very inception in the 1880’s.

Thus if you are planning a trip as a tourist to Northern California – whether to drive up the coastal highway in private car or bus, perhaps wish to see the Giant California Redwood trees with your own eyes or even if you wish to partake in the City on the Hill San Francisco consider well Fortuna City as your starting point on your travels.

Laura Tagliarra

Experienced travel writer covering both the south & northern California regions – especially Los Angleles & the Bakersfield regions as well as having great experience in both the San Diego Mission Bay Seaworld area & Cancun Puerto Morelos Playa del Carmen Mexican tourism paradise havens – San Diego Mission Beach Apartment Condo Rentals by Owner