TIM! TIM! TIM! The…read morelifeblood & soul of this museum is a docent named Tim. A polite yet confident, friendly yet proud personality, Tim gave my girlfriend and I the museum experience of a century. Arriving at the museum, we were greeted by a docent at the entry who was quite kind to us and we enjoyed the initial room and science/medicine rooms - however, if you're the type who reads every line at a museum, you will enjoy it more than we did because the information was IMMENSE. Too much for my adhd brain, but perfect for an avid reader. But it was the carriage house that floored us. Tim greeted us nearly the moment we stepped through the doors to introduce himself as a volunteer at the museum. I figured he may give us a little intro and then let us parouse the 10,000sf facility but boy was I wrong. Tim proceeded to give us a guided private tour for what was easily the good part of an hour. Carriage by carriage, phonograph by phonograph, Tim passionately spoke on the most interesting history, anecdotes, untold tales, and intriguing facts about every item in front of us. It was as if he had plugged himself into the knowledge of the universe and was translating its binary into English for us to understand. I loved every moment and most importantly, I could see that HE loved every moment. We walked out having to look at our tickets to see if we had accidentally purchased VIP guided tour tickets. But no - that is just the character of Tim and of the people who run the museum. We finished at the mining building where we got a chance to see incredible historical items/devices/tools, as well as some BEAUTIFUL specimens of stones - including the 2 most gorgeous pieces of petrified wood I have EVER seen. The docent as this building raved about Tim as well but was no stolid volunteer herself - she was ALSO extremely friendly in her own right, offering us cold water on the hot day we toured. I cannot wait to go back and recommend this museum to any and all in the Angels Camp / Murphys area!

This museum has Gold County History- so much to see!! Wagon…read more& Carriage, Mining & Artisan exhibition and a Water Wheel Power Stamp Mill. In the same building is the Calaveras Visitor's Bureau! If you walk past the Visitors Bureau there is an interesting film on the Frog Jumping Contest and many Frog Facts!!

Railtown State Historic Park is extremely cool and fun for all ages! We got to stand on the caboose…read morebuilt for Back To The Future III, viewed the train smoke stack from Little House on the Prairie train, coal powered steam engines, and we saw the Well from the olddddddd show Peticoat Junction: We also were able to see some old trains including ones with wooden grates in the front, and lots of train parts!! He enjoyed explaining things to me.. For a very small fee you can take a ride on a train. Walk around the grounds and see old engines, workshops with all sorts of parts, machines of all sorts. A map is providing for easy understanding of the grounds. It is a trek to get across the grounds and would be difficult for someone with mobility issues. Both of my children grew up coming to not only this park, but to Columbia also. Our family has made many trips here over the years. We love combining, education, history and adventure. They host Christmas events here like the Polar Express train ride to North Pole. This was such a spectacular event I brought my daughter to when she was little. We watched the movie the night before. When we arrived in our pajamas for our VIP seat, we stood in line where we were lovingly harassed by actors. We boarding the train after getting a golden ticket! We sat in the back car. Actors were dancing and singing and chasing hobos off the train while we enjoyed a ride and spilled hot cocoa out of polar express keepsake mugs. Arriving at North Pile and seeing the elves and Santa pushed it over the edge for my young daughter. She was beyonnnnnd excited!! Will I return: We always do. There's something incredibly nostalgic about this place!

This review is for the polar express train ride. Let's cut right to the sleigh bells: At a cool $85…read morea pop, this ride definitely costs more than a lump of coal. For my family of three, we signed up for the holiday hype, and while it wasn't exactly perfect, it was certainly an event to remember! Singing Christmas carols was an absolute delight! My personal highlight? The hot chocolate scene. The performers were fantastic, and the cocoa itself was surprisingly delicious & paired with a yummy snickerdoodle cookie. The trip to the North Pole, while blessedly short, felt truly magical. Watching all the kids scramble to one side of the train to catch a glimpse of Santa's HQ was a sight. Now, for the "improvements" section. The train apparently needs a gallon of WD-40. Parts of the ride were punctuated by a noise I can only describe as "ears-piercing squeaky"--a sound that could shatter a candy cane. Also, when the classic Polar Express story was being read, those of us in the back were left playing a fun game called "Can You Hear Me Now?" (Spoiler: We could not). Finally, the outside scenery was less "winter wonderland" and more "passing landscape." It would have been brilliant if they had just added a few festive Christmas decorations along the route. Just a few! We aren't asking for a full-scale holiday village, just something besides barren trees. While our ride came with a few minor mechanical and auditory "features," we still had a magical time. It wasn't perfect, but what ever is?

Preston Castle Haunt - what a yearly tradition! My wife, my parents, and I have been making the…read morespooky pilgrimage for years now, and it never disappoints. You just can't beat a haunted house that takes place inside an actual haunted prison. The vibe alone gives you goosebumps before you even step inside. Add in the scare actors (who I'm convinced are local kids living their best creepy dreams), the friendly staff, and the affordable merch, and you've got the full package. This year's haunt felt longer with even more scares tucked around the corners--right up my alley! Preston keeps stepping it up, and I'm here for it. Until next year, Castle... we'll be back.

Came here for the haunted house event about a week ago and I'm not sure if I would come back again…read more Tickets were $35 each (purchased online) and you have to park and walk about 10-15 minutes to the castle or you can take the little van that drives you there which also takes the same amount of time. We took the van to the castle but they don't drop you off directly in front of the castle so you still have to walk down through security and then to the castle. Porte potty's are available right before security and once you walk up the hill to wait in line to enter the castle. There were a couple food trucks when we went, we were expecting a few based on what was said online but not sure if it depends on the time. We waited over an hour in line to enter the haunted house and if you do really believe in ghosts this place is pretty haunted. The event itself wasn't scary, the actors aren't able to touch you but there's obviously loud screaming and they may be a bit too close for comfort to get a reaction out of you. You do have to climb up and down quite a few stairs and then there's a second part lead outside and back in the castle (barely any lighting and it's a dirt road so you have to carefully walk). Many strobing lights as well so do avoid if you are triggered by that. The energy throughout the castle was not pleasant or welcoming, I was very excited for it to be over as the haunted house itself was not very good and I was mostly tired from all the walking. There's a merch truck outside at the end of the castle as well. We also decided to walk back instead of waiting for the shuttle but there absolutely no lighting and many ditches with uneven flooring so you have to be very careful. Overall experience was not my favorite and I wouldn't come back again.

Do you know who is Samuel Clemons? If you guessed him by his author pen name, Mark Twain... you…read moreguessed right. Did you know California's historic landmark #138 is no other than Mark Twain's cabin. Well, it's a replica with the original fireplace and chimney. It's in Tuttletown on Jackass Hill Road off Highway 49 in Tuolumne County. It's about one mile up the road. The replica was built in 1922 and again in 2002. The cabin is next to residential homes. I could imagine back in the day, the view must have been awesome! The lot has room for parking. The cabin itself is gated and not accessible. But the door is open and you can peek inside from afar. I couldn't see much because it was dark inside. There are a few information boards on site with historical information. There is not much to look at. I soaked up everything in less than 15 minutes. There are no seating or viewing platforms. From the info boards, I learned that Samuel Clemens happen to be traveling from Virginia City, Nevada, to San Francisco with some friends and stopped here in December 1864. He stayed until the end of February 1865. While there, he wrote "The Celebrated Story of the Jumping Frog of Calaveras County". He got the idea after hearing the story of a jumping frog contest in a saloon in the nearby town of Angels Camp. I goggled this info.. In 1867, he went on to publish that story as the cover story for his book of collective short stories. The book included previously published stories. The book turned out to be a success with rave reviews about the "Jumping Frog". So some may say, his time spent in this area with the colorful townsfolk launched his career.

Unless you are a major Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) fan this is not somewhere you really need to…read morevisit. It's a little over a mile up a residential road that is somewhat steep and very poorly maintained (4wd not required but it's bumpy). The cabin itself is a replica that was built in 1922 and renovated in 2002. The only piece of the original cabin is the stone fireplace and chimney. Even the land around the property has been developed to an unrecognizable state as to when he stayed here. Yes, in this very spot he supposedly wrote "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" but it's more of an idea of what he lived like. There is parking in the lot for about 5-6 cars but even on a weekend you most likely won't see anyone else. You can't get in to the cabin, as there is a fence around it, which seems silly since it's not authentic. It is open sunrise to sunset. There are no seats, tables, or anything to do other than take a quick picture. It's an important footnote in the history of the American West but if you are looking for better preserved structures with historical significance it's better to explore nearby Columbia State Park.

We visited Ironstone Vineyards to celebrate my daughter's birthday and it was such a beautiful…read moreplace to spend the day. As you drive up, you're greeted by gorgeous landscaping and flowers everywhere -- the setting alone makes you want to slow down and stay awhile. We did a wine tasting and really enjoyed the wines. The Sauvignon Blanc was especially good -- crisp, refreshing, and perfect for a warm day. The Pinot Noir was also a standout, smooth and easy to sip. You can tell they put care into their wines, and there was something for everyone in our group to like. The grounds are spacious and peaceful, with views, gardens, and plenty of spots to wander or sit and relax. It feels more like an experience than just a quick tasting stop. The woman helping us was a bit reserved, but still helpful as we made our selections. Overall, Ironstone is a lovely place to visit if you're in the area -- great wine, beautiful scenery, and a relaxing atmosphere that makes for a memorable outing.

We visited the vineyards yesterday and had lunch. The…read morehamburger was delicious we also had the chicken sandwich and the 3 cheese broccoli soup Everything was delicious Great atmosphere

Came here from a recommendation we got from our hair stylist. It was only an hour away from Manteca…read moreand went really fast. The drive is beautiful and you get to see so many other cute towns. Murphys is so cute. They have a bunch of rentals in the downtown area and have a lot of real estate opportunities. We came for the opening weekend of Anderson Farms and landed in a local Christmas Event at Murphys Park. Can't wait to visit again!

Love this little town, we were here for a wedding and I was concerned of being a minority here…read more Everyone we met, 95% was white and everyone was so welcomed us! People are nice and all businesses were welcome! More than 25+ wine tasting rooms on Main Street, this town is perfect for a weekend get away! "Murphys is located in the central Sierra Nevada foothills between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park, in Calaveras County, California. Rich in goldrush history, Murphys today is a vibrant, thriving community of approximately 2,000 residents, alive with art galleries and live theater, eclectic shops, cute restaurants, charming hotels and B&B's, and a multitude of outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities all just a short drive away. Often called the "Queen of the Sierra," Murphys has retained the charm of yesteryear, even as it has grown and developed into a modern community with all the amenities expected by today's visitors. Many original goldrush-era buildings are still in use today, including the Murphys Historic Hotel and Lodge, a registered State Historic Landmark which once hosted such luminaries as General Ulysses S. Grant, Mark Twain, Horatio Alger, and Charles Bolton, aka notorious outlaw "Black Bart." Towering, stately elm trees line Main St., providing a canopy of green that adds to the historic charm and ambience of the streetscape.Daniel and John Murphy settled the area in 1848, at the start of the great California gold rush. Shrewd traders and smart businessmen both, the brothers made their fortune supplying the legions of gold miners flocking to the area, and legend has it that they were millionaires by the time they turned 25. More about the history of Murphys. Located at approximately the 2,000-foot elevation level, Murphys is ideally situated above the central valley fog, yet generally below the snowline. Year-round weather is pleasant and mild, with temperatures ranging from the mid-30's to 60's during the winter months, and 70's to 90's during the summer." VisitMurphys.com for more details.

This is stated to be the oldest known schoolhouse in California. It has been beautifully restored…read moreto its original condition, perhaps even more-so, as it is pretty sterile, with the floor boards painted pale gray. All of the original brick in the walls remain, and it is pretty nice to catch a brief look at the setup through the glass. You can't go in and sit in the chairs etc. It's a quick visit, worth the quick stop.

We drove here after going to Angels Camp museum. It is right up the road about a mile. There's some…read morenice parking and a picnic area. This is a quick stop to see what schools used to look like and worth looking at if your interested in history.

Stopped in while passing through town and this place is such a gem!! Very nice workers and so many…read moreinteresting displays. There's so much detail that goes into every exhibit. Definitely recommend if you're in the area!

There is no museum that doesn't turn my head. I love history. Love old things (yeah, I wasn't…read moregoing to bring up Mr. B, but some things I simply can't resist). Love old tales. Spend my time wondering what I did in my past lives. I think I must have been an Indian hunter/warrior, I was always good with a bow and arrow and paddling my canoe. Really. Sonora was a small but booming town that cropped up around the same time as the Gold Rush, in 1848. The original settlers were Mexican miners from Sonora Mexico; the East Coasters, European immigrants and Chinese followed later. It was a wild town but eventually evolved into a logging community after the gold mining opportunities dried up. The downtown is still a well preserved, charming memorial to a rich, late 1800's boom town economy with narrow streets, beautiful Victorian homes and commercial buildings. So, hiding on one of the side streets in old Sonora is this multi-purpose building built in 1866 that was originally the home of the county sheriff and his family. It also housed the jail. Can you imagine living there, raising your kids, with the jail facilities in the back of the same building? Story goes, this building was erected after a disgruntled prisoner decided to start a fire in his cell of the "old jail" so they would have to let him out. What he didn't quite realize was the heat from the fire made it impossible for anyone to open the solid iron door to his cell. I liken it to the Man of La Mancha lyrics, ""Whether the stone hits the pitcher or the pitcher hits the stone, it's going to be bad for the pitcher". Nope, this most certainly was *not* his best day ever! Now, the wooden house interior has been radically changed. It is now one large room that displays interesting artifacts and many old photographs. While small and humble, it nonetheless keeps you entertained. And it is manned by some eager to please docents. The back half is where you can visit the jail, a solid brick walled building with heavy iron doors, a total of 10 individual cells. Today, each of the cells are different time capsules featuring artifacts from early Sonoran life. For those curious, this property also houses the Tuolumne County Genealogical Society Library.

We had to stop by somewhere to print out something on our way to Yosemite, and this was a perfect…read morestop! 15 cents for a copy! When was the last time they put this price up? won't find that here in the Bay Area! Library was friendly and helpful who is a local moved up there 20 plus years ago. Of course we had to use the bathroom since it was available! It was nice and clean. What caught my eyes were all those quilts hanging on the wall. Per the librarian, the them of the quilts will change each season! All those were made by the locals. There's a meetup weekly for quilters there! The museum side was closed at the time we were there.

An old friend from the Midwest came to California and we had decided to road trip to Yosemite. We…read morehad been driving for a couple of hours and decided to stretch our legs for a bit. We had pulled into a park setting parking lot and noticed the Groveland Yosemite Gateway Museum! Ooooh! Inside this building to the right is the town library as well. As we entered the door, we were greeted with a big smile! They welcomed us and made us feel right at home! This is a small museum. Don't let that fool you!! They have amazingly collected a very large amount of history and strategically organized it in a way to tell a story!! This is a great place to bond with your kids/nieces/nephews to share/teach history in a fun way!! Ooooh! Heck!!! It was fun to see things as an adult!! They have managed to collect old firearms, coins, clothing, pictures, dinnerware, cameras, stuffed bears, and much more. BTW, did I mention this little piece of history tour was FREE??? Yep! It's free!! There's a donation container on the counter. Donations help with the upkeep and more. They do not pressure you to donate. However, please donate! It's very worthy.

We visited here with some family members who lived nearby, and had a very nice time wandering this…read moreold historic town. I just love old fashion shops along wooden walkways. There are quite a few wine tasting rooms that could occupy wine lovers for several days! We enjoyed exploring specialty stores that offered clothing, souvenirs, antiques, ice cream parlor, and even a popular cheese/wine tasting shop. There are restaurants, bars and an old historic hotel. The Sutter Creek Auditorium just happened to have a craft fair while we were there and found ourselves spending lots of money on some inexpensive, quality items. It was a great day for gift shopping as well! That evening we stayed late to see the Sutter Creek Christmas parade that was fun, but consisted mostly of emergency vehicles decorated in Xmas lights which the procession seemed to never end! It started raining and we finally had to head to the parking lot to catch our shuttle. Unfortunately, this event is quite popular and the traffic getting out of this quaint little town was pretty congested and annoying! Eventually, we slowly, but finally made our way back to our point of origin where our car was parked. I would love to return here again, but not during an event or parade!

Not just another quaint old Amador mining town…read more Sutter Creek can be an easy weekend getaway from Reno or Sacramento. This spot feels like a combination of the old west and Napa. A main street with a mix of wooden sidewalks and wine tasting rooms. Small restaurants and cute boutiques. There is a Days Inn at the north end of town, though it's not my favorite and have used it only once. The Handford House Inn, Nancy V says is devine. Several cafes that have you covered from breakfast to dinner. Buffalo Chips is my favorite breakfast spot. Their burger is looking pretty fabulous too. For snacking there's an ice cream parlor, chocolate shop and cheese monger. But what could be better than parking the car, or strolling in from a hotel, and sampling wine from a few of the almost two dozen local tasting rooms. Elegant store fronts, quaint small houses and modern shops, will pour you some of the areas finest reds, a few whites, surprising bubbles and hard to find port styles. If you need a break from sipping, seriously?? Wander off the main street and discover the Knight Foundry, Monteverde General Store Museum, or stroll the Sutter Creek.