For this trip, we visited some of the gold country and stayed in my favorite small mountain town of Arnold, CA. Arnold is one of those classic mountain towns. Population a little over 3,000, very friendly and laid back. There are tons of rental homes/cabins in this area and we were able to find a cabin that comfortably slept my family and would have slept up to 10 for only about $120 a night, cheaper than most hotel rooms we stay in that are much smaller. It was the first time we had rented through VRBO and I was very happy with the process.
We visited the old mining town of Columbia, which is like stepping into a bit of living history. The state historic park has a working blacksmith, a stagecoach, and even panning for gold (for a price of course). I was a little sad to see it since 25 years ago there was a lot more there like horseback riding and a trip into one of the last functioning mines in the area. But, times change, businesses close, and I have to say, my kids didn't seem to mind since they had no idea what it used to be like. They were just happy to have some ice cream in the 109 degree weather, pan for gold, and try some real sarsaparilla.
Another highlight of our trip was Jamestown. We specifically visited to see Railtown 1897, a state park dedicated to the railroad system built over 100 years ago. We rode in a train that was built for the Korean War, learned why steam engines were eventually replaced with diesel, and saw props from old hits like Petticoat Junction as well as more modern movies such as Back to the Future III. After our visit, we stopped at a little Mexican restaurant called Morelia located on Main Street. The street is the perfect example of a classic small town main street from a simpler time. It's sort of like looking at the type of street Walt Disney wanted to portray on Main St. at Disney parks, but instead of facades and modern materials, this is all real. Similarly, as we drove through some of the other local mining towns like Sonora and Jackson, which have some really adorable downtown areas and some great opportunities for antiquing.
One of the surprises of our trip was a visit to White Pines Lake in Arnold (though technically, White Pines tries to maintain that they are NOT Arnold. It's a long story.). White Pines Lake is home to a small logging museum. An older man was maintaining the museum and, like so many of the wonderful people who live in this area, was absolutely one of the most helpful and friendliest people you'd ever meet. He answered all my son's questions about logging and deforestation practices. White Pines Lake is an absolutely beautiful if slightly smaller lake frequented, at least when we were there, mostly by locals or people who had been vacationing to these parts for generations. There's a little beach perfect for lake swimming (though the water was frigid as the snow had only just finished melting a few weeks ago) and plenty of opportunities for trout fishing and kayaking. We didn't have time to kayak, but we did try our hands at fishing. Unfortunately, we didn't catch anything, but the people on either side of us caught several. There is also a playground for children and access to the Arnold Rim Trail. It's a volunteer operated lake and the people who take care of it clearly take pride in their little piece of heaven.
One other highlight was Mercer Caverns. For a small fee, a tour guide takes you 164 feet underground through a series of stairs equaling the amount in a 16-story building. This is not the easiest excursion. If you have a physical disability, you won't be able to access it. But, if you're in good health and can handle stairs and very small spaces, not to mention the idea of being underground in a cave with visible areas of collapse, it's an amazing experience to see the limestone formations underground and imagine how things would have been 12 million years ago when many of the formations began growing. This is one of only 6 sites in the world where you can easily view large growths of anthodite. The tour guides are very knowledgeable and polite. My almost 9-year-old enjoyed the journey underground, but we left his 5-year-old siblings with their grandmother. It's important to be able to follow directions and be quiet as needed. The caverns are located off a narrow old road, so be prepared with an adventure just to get there if you are from the city and unfamiliar with country/mountain roads.
My favorite part of our trip, and perhaps the most awe-inspiring, was our visit to Calaveras Big Trees State Park, which was the first place to ever document the giant sequoias' existence in the 1850s. Prior to that, there had been stories about the trees in Yosemite, but everyone just assumed they were tall tales. For several years, Calaveras Big Trees was the only known place to see giant sequoias in their natural habitat without having them chopped down for traveling shows. We spent two days here and only began to touch on the many trail systems, visiting the most popular North Grove Trail, the Senses Trail, which is just a short offshoot meant for kids, the South Grove Trail (only partially completed), and the Beaver Creek Trail. In addition to many more hiking trails, in the summer, though unfortunately not until after we had to leave, they offer many programming options including guided hikes, educational opportunities for kids, and nighttime shows. This is a great place to tent camp, too, and when I was a kid we did several times.
Overall, this was an amazing trip for the whole family. Three generations were present and each generation found something to truly love about this experience. Part of me would love to buy a vacation home up there...if only. In the meantime, we'll continue to enjoy sporadic trips to the area through life.
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