Home to California State University at Humboldt, a liberal arts school, Arcata is like most college towns in that everyone tends to lean toward the left. Environmentalism, artistry, good breads, and good bagels are indispensable elements of the Arcatian philosophy, as is a cordial disposition toward tourists, making it one of the most interesting and visitor-friendly towns along the North Coast.

The heart of this seaside community is Arcata Plaza, where a statue of President McKinley stands guard over numerous shops and cafés housed in historic buildings. A walk around the plaza—with its perfectly manicured lawns, hot dog vendor, and well-dressed retirees sitting on spotless benches—is enough to restore anyone’s faith in small-town America. At the plaza’s southwest end is its flagship structure, Jacoby’s Storehouse (791 8th St at H St; 707/822-4500; www.jacobystorehouse.com), a handsomely restored 1857 brick pack-train station that now holds shops, offices, and restaurants. If you need a new book, the Tin Can Mailman (1000 H St at 10th St; 707/822-1307) is a terrific used-book store with 130,000 hard- and softcover titles, including a few collector’s items.