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!!

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 attended a Willie Nelson concert at the Ironstone amphitheater. The lawn seating was perfect and…read morea great price lots of food options and plenty of restrooms. The only downside was their Wi-Fi. I was unable to pull up my Ticketmaster tickets so after I went through security, I had to get out of line and go all the way over to will call to get printed tickets and go back through security again.

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.

Life without creative expression is stifling. Human beings have the need to be creative in…read morewhatever outlet that might be. While I am not artistic, I certainly appreciate artistic expression. I enjoy visiting museums, art galleries and art studios. I am in awe when I view many of the amazing works created by the artists. Thankfully, Murphys has its share of art galleries where one can go to appreciate a variety of creations. The newest one to open is Independent. The store is a working studio for the owner. It is also a retail location where customers can purchase paintings, woodwork, children's clothing, soy candles, ceramics and glass work. Most of the art is produced locally. Independent also carries art supplies so you can let your creativity flow. I feel it is so important to support our creative artists. They create beautiful pieces of art in so many forms for us to enjoy. So, if you ever have one of those days when you can't think of anything to do, go visit an art gallery and support the artists. Happy viewing!

This shop is so cute! They have a lot of locally made items and some other hand made items from…read morethis region. The lady who was working was really nice and conversational while we were browsing. They have a selection of some really dainty and pretty jewelry like this ring I bought and now love! Prices were great for the quality!

Unclean restrooms on land and no floating restrooms on the water like they usually would haveread more

On the recommendation of someone else, we checked this out today and, for such a small visitor's…read morecenter, they had very impressive displays and information. The visitor's center and museum chronicles the history of the general area as well as the building of the dam that created New Melones Lake. If you're in the area or driving by, it's definitely worth the stop. Admission is free.

The layout is really nice, but the rules are kind of ridiculous, can't bring your own snacks in?…read moreThe lines for food get so ridiculously long there's no time to get anything to eat, and if you have kids with you that are hungry, they are hungry immediately. The seating was kind of crap, they are plastic fold out chairs that are literally ziptied together. Not plus size, (or any size really) friendly. Why the hell would you want to sit that close to anybody? There are far better amphitheatres, but if you want to see a certain band, you put up with a crappy venue!

They have condescending, rude and disrespectful security staff who also seem to have training in…read morehow to behave and interact with the general public. I would have had a lovely time watching the Willie Nelson concert if not for being yelled at and insulted by two of these personnel. I understand they they're in charge of crowd control but it should still be courteous. Always courteous, is how the public shoukd dealt with. They were so completely uncouth in a particularly inate manner so I suspect that these younger male staff that they were basically untaught by their mothers as they are socially inept. Be sure to avoid them would be my advice.

The tasting room, while nothing fancy, is roomy and inviting, with their resident dog greeting…read moreeveryone who comes in. Personally I like their red more than their white. Unlike other tasting rooms they do not charge a flat rate tasting fee. In fact, they don't charge, trusting that you will want to buy a bottle or two instead, out of enjoyment or guilt (saying this in jest - their wine is perfectly nice and the guys there do know their wine).

On the Main Street in downtown Murphys, the tasting room has plenty of seating indoors, along the…read morebar and outside as well. Not sure how much tastings actually cost, but I believe it runs the gamut of most of the fees in the area which average about $15 per person. The owner didn't say how much the fee was but that we would "work something out." I tried about 6-7 different wines, my favorite being a rare Italian varietal (can't recall the name) but at $70 a bottle it was out of my price range.