Via - July/August 2014 - California - (Page 28)

W E E K E N DE R N E E D T O K NOW Protect your house Eureka, Calif. S ummer is high season for wildfires, and this year's drought only adds to the tinderbox conditions. A few simple actions can help you maintain a fire-safe home. Visit disastersafety .org/wildfire for location-specific tips on creating defensible zones and for links to more resources. T The Eagle House at the corner of Second and C Streets was built in the late 1880s. Room for cyclists Starting in September, California will join Nevada, Utah, and 19 other states to legally define the safe passing distance between motor vehicles and bicycles. Dubbed the Three Feet for Safety Act, the new law requires drivers to yield a minimum three feet of space between the vehicle's side mirror and the cyclist's shoulder or handlebars. When road conditions don't allow for that gap, drivers must slow to a "reasonable and prudent" speed. For tips on sharing the road, visit AAA.com/bike. Ask a mechanic AAA Premier members can call (866) 541-9808 to get personalized advice from AAA My Auto Expert technicians skilled in diagnosing car problems, estimating repair costs, and offering second opinions. Not a Premier member? Visit AAA.com/ upgrade to see all the added benefits. I 28 VIA JULY+AUGUST 2014 n A self-guided walking tour of the historic Old Town district brings you face-to-face with dozens of grand Victorian and Queen Anne buildings- such as the Eagle House-many of them open to visitors. The renowned, castlelike Carson Mansion is closed to the public, but well worth ogling from the outside. eurekaheritage.org. n Spy on egrets, cormorants, and harbor seals as you bike or stroll on the Hikshari' Trail, a 1.5-mile paved path through the Elk River Wildlife Sanctuary. The Redwood Region Audubon Society offers guided bird walks. redwoods.info. n Fill up like a lumberjack at the Samoa Cookhouse, the last logging camp-style dining hall in the West. Think pancakes, roast pork, and other hearty fare served in all-you-can-eat portions on long tables covered in redchecked cloths. The Cookhouse and Logging Relics area displays artifacts that helped account for the healthy appetites of bygone days. 908 Vance Ave., 442-1659, samoacookhouse.net. n Shaded by an ancient redwood grove, the Sequoia Park Zoo-the oldest zoo in California-is home to white-handed gibbons, alpacas, peccaries, and more. The newest residents will be salmon, otters, and bald eagles in an exhibit opening by the end of summer. 3414 W St., 441-4263, sequoiaparkzoo.net. n At once old-fashioned and newfangled, Living the Dream Ice Cream scoops a rainbow of flavors, including maple bacon and chocolate lavender. 1 F St., 407-3508, ltdicecream.com. n Slurp fresh oysters and sample local wines and beers at the Humboldt Bay Tourism Center, a traveler's resource that doubles as a raw bar and tasting room. 205 G St., 672-3850, humboldtbay tourismcenter.com. n The eclectic assortment of antiquarian books, maps, photos, and ephemera at Eureka Books thrills spontaneous browsers and serious collectors alike. 426 Second St., 444-9593, eurekabook sellers.com. -josh sens TOP: DAVID H. COLLIER he past is always present in this vibrant Northern California seaport, famed for teeming fisheries and towering redwood forests. Hundreds of ornate Victorians hark back to the lumber trade that boomed in the 1850s. Today, Eureka draws travelers with a mix of dining, shopping, and outdoor diversions. Area code is 707. http://www.disastersafety.org/wildfire http://www.disastersafety.org/wildfire http://www.samoacookhouse.net http://www.eurekaheritage.org http://www.sequoiaparkzoo.net http://www.ltdicecream.com http://calstate.aaa.com/auto/car-traffic-safety/bicycle-safety http://www.redwoods.info http://www.humboldtbaytourismcenter.com http://www.humboldtbaytourismcenter.com http://calstate.aaa.com/membership/compare-our-membership-levels/compare-our-membership-levels http://www.eurekabooksellers.com http://calstate.aaa.com/membership/compare-our-membership-levels/compare-our-membership-levels http://www.eurekabooksellers.com

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Via - July/August 2014 - California