Angels Camp - Downtown Angels Camp feels like you have stepped back in time. Many of the original buildings from the Gold Rush Era still line the street, and there are a variety of shops. In the Historic Downtown are restaurants, unique shops, a movie theater, hair salons, antique shops, and not to be missed... Stories in Stones. This fantastic earth science store is definitely worth a visit. The owners Russ and Pam Showmaker have spent their lives traveling the world to bring unique artifacts to their store. They have fossils, shells, minerals, and jewelry that will take nearly anyone’s breath away... even if you are not a “geology junky.” Call ahead to see if Russ will be offering any free lectures during your stay, (209)736-1300. Just up the road is the Angels Camp Museum. This is a fantastic place to learn about Gold Rush history. The 3-acre grounds include a carriage house with 31 carriages, mining and logging exhibitions, as well other Gold Rush Era collections. Last, don't forget to stop by the Calaveras County Visitors Bureau. The friendly staff can tell you about any special events and give you brochures and other area information.

Calaveras County Calendar of Events - Look here to find out what's happening in the neighborhood.

Greenhorn Creek Golf Resort - Robert Trent Jones II and Mother Nature have teamed up to create one of Northern California's finest golf experiences. The course meanders effortlessly through the stunning Sierra Nevada foothills. You'll discover 18-holes of championship golf with 5 sets of tees, ranging from 4,882 to 6,749 yards, which make Greenhorn Creek both challenging and enjoyable. Public tee times are accepted 7 days in advance. Soft spikes required.

Forest Meadows Golf Course - Fun-to-play 18-hole, Robert Trent Jones II executive par 60 course. Beautiful mountain setting at 3,200 foot elevation in tall pines, cedars, and majestic oaks. Above the fog and heat of the valley. Open to the public year-round. Tournaments welcomed. (18-minute drive)

Meadowmont Golf Course - A 9-hole, par 36 golf course in the beautiful mountain town of Arnold on scenic Highway 4. At 4,000 foot elevation, this flat and very family-friendly course is fun, easily walkable with rates from $10-$18 for 9 holes and 2nd 9-hole rates from $5-$7 (carts available). Tournament groups welcome! (28-minute drive)

Saddle Creek Golf Club - Highly ranked golf in an unforgettable setting! Saddle Creek Golf Course complements the natural contours of our spectacular foothill setting. Generous fairway landings and the 100+ white sand bunkers define its golfing character. 5 sets of tees on every hole. Public tee times welcome, 14 days in advance. Soft spikes required. (35-minute drive)

There are numerous Gold Rush towns in the area that have unique shops. As mentioned above, Angels Camp has an interesting variety including the not-to-be-missed, Stories in Stone. Downtown Murphys (10-minutes) there are numerous unique gift shops including a kitchen specialty store, candy store, toy store, animal store, and 8 restaurants within walking distance. Murphys is also well known for it's 12 wine tasting rooms within a 10-minute walk. Other area towns include Jackson (35-minutes), Mokelumne Hill (20-minutes), Sonora (25-minutes), and Sutter Creek (40-minutes). Please call or visit the Visitor’s Bureau (located in downtown Angels Camp (209)736-0049) to get more information on each.

Calaveras Wine Association - Calaveras County is quickly becoming known for it's numerous award winning wineries. Just along Main Street in Murphys (10-minute drive) alone, there are 12 wine tasting rooms have their welcome mats out, and several more are within a few miles. One of the best known wineries in the area is Ironstone Vineyards. The museum at Ironstone boasts a 44-pound gold nugget. Visit the Calaveras Wine Association for a complete list and more information.

Mercer Cavern - Has a 45-minute walking tour which descends into the cave the equivalent of 16 stories. (20-minute drive)

Moaning Cavern - Offers guided walking tours as well as repelling. (15-minute drive)

California Cavern - Has a variety of different tours for different levels of enthusiasts. (25-minute drive)

Sutter Gold Mine - Sutter Gold Mine is a modern hard-rock mine. It offers a comprehensive look into the gold-mining process and its historical progression from gold panning and hydraulic mining to hard-rock techniques. Besides that, it's just plain fun to go underground and see what's usually only seen by miners the inside of the earth. (35-minute drive)

Black Chasm National Natural Landmark - Visitors to the cave are enchanted by the beauty of a wide variety of formations including stalactites, stalagmites, flowstones and the vast arrays of rare helictite crystals, for which Black Chasm is justly famous. (45-minute drive)

Columbia State Historic Park - See "Parks" above for more information. (20-minute drive)

Ironstone Vineyards - See "Wineries" above for more information. (15-minute drive)

Moaning Cavern - See "Caverns" above for more information. (15-minute drive)

Calaveras County Visitors Bureau - There are several popular scenic bike routes in the county. Please visit the bureau for more information on these. (5-minute drive)

Bear Valley Resort - (209)752-2301. Lift assisted biking on two professionaly built mountain biking trails. Call for more info and hours. (1-hour drive)

Bear Valley Adventure Company - Flatwater kayak and mountain bike rentals, lessons and sales, fishing supplies and bait, gas, mini mart, maps and information. (1-hour drive)

Glory Hole Recreation Area - Road Bike - 8 miles of low traffic roads. Mountain Bike 18 miles of single. (15-minute drive)

Gold Country Bicycle Tours - Provides scenic cycling experiences in Calaveras and Tuolumne Counties, showcasing the natural beauty and historic charm of the Mother Lode. Custom rides are perfect for families, friends, or company retreats. All tours feature a fine midday meal, experienced guides and a support van.

Stanislaus National Forest - This pristine forest boasts 250,000 acres of beautiful National Forest land. In the warmer months enjoy activities such as hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, horseback riding, off-road vehicle driving, camping, picnicking, rock climbing, low-speed motor boating, whitewater rafting, kayaking, stream and lake fishing. Then when the sonw falls enjoy downhill and cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and much more. The Calaveras Ranger Distinct Office is open 6 days a week in Arnold, Monday through Saturday. (30-minute drive)

O.A.R.S. Outdoor Adventure River Specialists - Quality whitewater adventures, single and multi-day trips, experienced guides, great meals, and safety first - all on the best rivers. Featuring daily one-day Stanislaus trips, plus trips down the American, Tuolumne, and Grand Canyon. Call for free color brochure.

Sunshine Rafting Company
Adventure awaits at Knights Ferry with the river rafting on the Stanislaus River. Sunshine Rafting Company offers you raft, paddles and gear in order to have an exciting rafting trip along this river. With a few mild rapids, rafting trips can last 3.5 to 5 hours. Visit their website for more details.

Stanislaus National Forest - This forest boasts over 800 miles of rivers and streams. Stay in a campground, or hike into the backcountry seeking pristine solitude. You can swim near a sandy beach or wade into cold clear streams cooling your feet while lost in the beauty of nature, raft the exciting Tuolumne River, or Kayak one of the many gorgeous lakes. The Calaveras Ranger Distinct Office is open 6 days a week in Arnold, Monday through Saturday. (30-minute drive)

S.N.A.C.- Flatwater kayak rentals (28-minute drive)

New Melones Lake Marina - Full-service marina on the third largest reservoir in California, slip rentals, luxury houseboats, fishing and patio boats, gas pumpouts and convenience store. (15-minute drive)

Lake Tulloch Resort and Marina- Marina with boat launch ramp, berths and rentals. Ski boats, patio boats, fishing boats and kayaks available. Fishing supplies, bait, mini mart, ice and groceries. (35 minute drive)

Glory Hole Sports- Largest selection of tackle in the Mother Lode. Water toys, wakeboards, skis, marine supplies, mini mart, beer and wine with a fresh deli. (10-minute drive)

Lake Tulloch Resort and Marina- Marina with boat launch ramp, berths and rentals. Ski boats, patio boats, fishing boats and kayaks available. Fishing supplies, bait, mini mart, ice and groceries. (35-minute drive)

Lake Alpine - Lake Alpine is located on highway 4 about an hour's drive east of Angels Camp. The elevation of the lake is 7,300 feet. The forest service has developed day use picnic areas that are located on the north side of the lake. These areas have barbecues and picnic tables.  You can swim but the water does not warm up until the middle of August.  There is a boat launching ramp across from the lodge with plenty of parking and the lake is stocked every season for premium fishing. (1-hour drive)

Stanislaus National Forest - This forest boasts over 800 miles of rivers and streams. Stay in a campground, or hike into the backcountry seeking pristine solitude. You can fish from a sandy beach or wade into cold clear streams while lost in the beauty of nature. The Calaveras Ranger Distinct Office is open 6 days a week in Arnold, Monday through Saturday. (30-minute drive)

Bear Valley Resort - (209)752-2301. Visit winter's wonderland. Enjoy skiing and snowboarding for all abilities on 1,280 acres with 67 runs, 1,900' vertical and an average of 30 feet of annual snowfall. Bear Valley features include a high-speed quad lift, a carpet lift for beginners, 4 terrain parks, an in-ground half pipe and free guided tours on weekends. Also available are lessons, rentals, repair, retail shop and food/beverage featuring a canyon view saloon deck. Highway 4 to Bear Valley is an all-weather highway, chains may be required during winter weather. Contact CalTrans for road restrictions at (800)427-ROAD. (1-hour drive)

Cottage Springs Ski Area - (209)795-1401. Two lifts, night skiing, sledding hill and tube rentals. (50-minute drive)

Bear Valley Cross Country - Enjoy 65 kilometers of scenic groomed track, skating and snowshoeing trails, four trailside huts, trailside café. Sledding Hill. Complete cross country ski rental and lesson programs. (1-hour drive)

Stanislaus National Forest - Enjoy year round activities such as: hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, horseback riding, off-road vehicle driving, camping, picnicking, rock climbing, low speed motor boating, whitewater rafting and kayaking, stream and lake fishing, downhill and cross country skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and more on the 250,000 acres of National Forest land in the Calaveras Ranger District. The Calaveras Ranger Distinct Office is open six days a week, Monday thru Saturday. (30-minute drive)

Bear Valley Snowmobile - Experience the High Sierras on expertly maintained snowmobiles, either on self-guided tours, or with a knowledgeable guide. Bear Valley Snowmobile adventures are for the entire family, so bring your camera and your kids and choose from three beautiful trail areas. (1-hour drive)

* Times based on distance from cottages