This resort is a magical place. The cabins are so clean and stocked with everything you need…read more Bathrooms with plenty of towels, soap, and tp. Showers well stocked with shampoo, conditioner, body wash and perfect water pressure. Kitchens have all you need to make your meals and to brew your morning cup of coffee. The creek is steps away from your cabin with several sweet spots to sit by it to listen to the rushing water while you sip your coffee. Fishing, hiking, biking, boating, or simply sitting back with friends and family surrounded by a beautiful forest. One is gently forced to relax. We can't wait until next time!

Bonanza King Resort is not accessible to anyone with physical disabilities. If you are…read moreplanning a wedding or family getaway and you want to include someone with physical limitations, this may not be the place for you. There are zero rails or ramps to enter the cabins. The entire facility lacks accessible toilets, bars to help you get up from or lower yourself onto the commode. I literally got stuck the first time I used the toilet, not being able to grab onto anything to help get up off of it. If you plan on bathing there you are out of luck. The shower in my cabin was literally 2 1/2' - 3' wide by 20" deep. No way a shower chair could fit in there, it was way too small. With only the shower head terminating from the wall, sans a hand held shower wand, it proved quite a difficult task to get clean. With zero bars to hold onto to get in, out of, or to steady oneself while within the shower. It was a quite scary ordeal worrying about slipping and falling. The doorways to the bedrooms and bathroom are not wide enough to get through with a walker or wheelchair. Within the bedrooms, there is very little clearance from the bed to the wall. Since I cannot climb stairs, the only place I could sleep was in the downstairs bedroom, or in the living room on a futon. I was left with the futon due to there being two of us with physical limitations. I needed two people to get the futon flat, suitable for sleeping. I looked in the pantry and the bedroom closet in vain, as there were not any sheets, pillows, or blankets available for the futon. The pathways around the resort are not paved so you will have to contend with gravel, compacted dirt, inclines, and grass that are not conducive and quite difficult to traverse with wheelchair, walker, etc.. The resort is quite beautiful and stunning. Other than the difficulties we had with the lack of amenities, we had a fabulous visit. It is too bad that the deficiencies limited what we could experience around the entire grounds.

A local secret out of a mini market at a gas station in dunsamuir that has some incredibile bbq…read more This opens around 9 am Fridays and they run out fairly quickly. I was lucky to get there and find some good available around 3 ... But judging from how popular this is locally you better hurry. Incredibile hidden gem

Tony and Eileen are veterans of the catering business. First off, they are so sweet and true givers…read moreto the community. Not only do they have arguably the best Friday BBQ (Local Secret Roadside) on Planet Earth, but they are also professionals at special events (weddings, private events, small -large group catering ). I own a major event firm in The Bay Area and I can attest to the fact that Tony and Eileen's BBQ is just better than any caterer I have hired for BBQ! That list I have hired is inclusive of the top caterers on the West Coast/SF Bay Area the past 30 years. Want to do price comparisons? Don't bother as the price points for Tony and Eileens BBQ is super affordable. ENJOY (If there is any left!

Pro tip- call for reservations if you can't get through the online option (530) 905-1268…read more Super nice place, my kids went in and relaxed immediately. Quote, "this feels like we're home!" Translation: Super clean and cozy rooms. Also safe and open outdoor parking. Derek is a wonderful and attentive host. Owner Brandon is a local. Most room neighbors were PCT hikers or travelers. We had forgotten wall chargers and Derek loaned us two for the kids tablets. Check out the employee owned Rays market or the cool gas/convenience station down the road. The local bakery has amazing house made bagels and breads, get there earlier than I did for the best pastry selections, or order a sandwich later. I wish I had taken some more pictures but the property is so nice and the Etna community is lovely and friendly. I hear there is a community pool across the street, but we arrived just after 7pm and weren't able to check it out. This is the second time we've been here and we'll be back!

I made a reservation to stay at this place 3 months prior to my arrival. I was so disappointed in…read morethe manner in which the owner treated me. He has no customer management experience and is easy to anger and raise his voice. When I arrived he never even gave us a welcome to Etna motel. While we had a different view of the security of my cc, he showed little respect to me as a customer and lacked curtesy. If you are willing to be treated poorly and give your business to this establishment you are the right customer for this business.

This was closed so sad but I am sure it's going to look good when it's done repaving and looking…read moregood

The closest city to this rest area along I-5 is actually Firebaugh. The full name of this place is…read morethe "John Erreca Safety Roadside Rest Area", named after a former Director of Public Works who also served without pay as mayor of the city of Los Banos for 17 years. What? A hard-working public official not in it for the money? You won't find many of those today! There are two separate rest areas here on opposite sides of the highway - it was probably cheaper to do that than build an overpass! This review is for the one on the southbound side; the one on the northbound side is probably identical. The brick and wood buildings are showing their age, but the restrooms are still relatively clean, and there are double restrooms (two for men, two for women)! You'll also find covered picnic tables, a pet area, water fountains, payphones (there are probably only a handful left in California, three of which are here), and vending machines including two that have gourmet coffee. Classy! There are separate parking lots for cars and for bigrigs, and they both accommodate a lot of vehicles, so this place should be able to handle even holiday traffic decently. Which is necessary, since I-5 gets bad during the holidays, and all those people stuck on the road need somewhere to use the bathroom! Double restrooms: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/safety-roadside-rest-area-merced-county?select=6jk1HhL73Zy8XVnpdnnd5w#HYrVaK6i9HttZ0PiWgeICg Covered picnic table: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/safety-roadside-rest-area-merced-county?select=6jk1HhL73Zy8XVnpdnnd5w#y0TcV9kaoyEmPLTXL0cYYA Pet area: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/safety-roadside-rest-area-merced-county?select=6jk1HhL73Zy8XVnpdnnd5w#brM9JunNuYIkdL9RHoOBug Ice cream vending machine: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/safety-roadside-rest-area-merced-county?select=6jk1HhL73Zy8XVnpdnnd5w#Y-emz0HiWNzwEf0y6c4OHg One of the coffee vending machines: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/safety-roadside-rest-area-merced-county?select=6jk1HhL73Zy8XVnpdnnd5w#Z4X4STZqQrNyPmI36PcxjA

Just had a lovely lunch. My husband had a French dip that was overflowing with beef and a very…read moregenerous shrimp cocktail. I had fish and chips and was equally delighted. Our server Tess was attentive and delightful. These are new owners at the restaurant and I can't say enough good things about them.

Oh my goodness, where to start! This place is amazing! Incredible setting, at the foot of the…read moreTrinity Alps - like something out of a magazine! And the food - go Friday nights for the biggest, juiciest ribeye steak you've ever had, along with amazing, delicious side dishes! But prepare yourself for a one-hour drive up a long, bumpy dirt road to get there - but it's well worth it!

All the other reviews (thus far every one 5 stars) are true and on point. There is no hyperbole and…read morethere is no way I can describe Mountain Meadow adequately. So let me take another tack and make sure that this is the place for you. First off, Mountain Meadow Resort isn't for everyone. If you can't be unplugged and off the grid, this place isn't for you. Seriously, there is no wi-fi, your smartphones are only useful as cameras because there is no cell signal, and the generator that provides electricity only runs from 6:30am to 11pm. Bookings typically go from Saturday to Saturday so if the prospect of not being able to check your texts, voicemail, e-mail and social media for a week gives you the heebee jeebees, then this place is not for you. Second, this place is remote. The resort is most definitely in the WILDerness. In the four years that I've gone I've come across black bears and been within spitting distance of a rattle snake, rattle going off, coiling and ready to strike. The nearest medical facility is 2 hours away by car. And that's not counting the fact that you could be half a dozen miles into a hike away from the resort and your parked car when you get injured. If that seems a bit too off the beaten track for you, then this place is not for you. ...Still reading? Then you must be adequately intrigued as to why people go and keep coming back to this wonderful place. And if the you're not scared off then you will likely fall in love with this place as I have. Read on if you want my attempt to add information you might be hoping to gleam from reading these reviews. This is a family run camp. Decades ago a group of families bought the place and ran it together. Their children now run the resort and while you're there you'll likely see the next generation starting to help out as well. Staff all have a direct connection to the resort via family, being visitors in years past themselves when they were younger, or being recruited by one of the first two categories. What that means is that your initial visit feels like you're an interloper at a family reunion, but on repeated trips you begin to feel that you too are part of the family, because you truly are. That sentiment permeates through and is felt not just by my wife and me but by my kids as well. I would love it if my kids worked here when they're older and if I could spend extended time helping out after I retire, whenever that is. Days can be spent on hikes, strenuous or relaxing. Obviously the former will reward you with amazing views. Unlike, say Yosemite, you could do your whole hike and never come across another group. If you do, it certainly will only be a handful. There are lakes to swim in and vistas to take in. The resort is positioned so that you can make a day hike where others will often have to backpack in and out. Sometimes you'll be tempted to backpack yourself and maybe stay over a night or two but what always draws me back is the food - homemade and delicious. Dinners are amazing. Lastly, the kids love it because of the independence and being outdoors. The "kids dinner" before the "adult one" is as much a highlight for the parents as it is the kids. More importantly my tech savvy kids being raised in the heart of Silicon Valley have no qualms with Mountain Meadow being a "screen free" place. And that alone makes our annual trip worth it.

This place is a gem. The owners are amazing people who really want to make you feel like you're one…read moreof the family. I'll never forget my time I spent here. One of those memories that you will cherish until you perish from the Earth. I highly recommend staying here, enjoying the area, take a quick hike somewhere in the Trinity Alps, and maybe do some swimming. I hope someday I'll stay there again and visit old friends.

Livin' It Up at the Old Lewiston Inn…read more The Old Lewiston Inn is located in a tiny town that was once bustling with miners. Situated just 17 miles east of Weaverville, the inn provides the perfect spot for vacationers wanting to escape to serenity. With four rooms overlooking the Trinity River, tranquility soon encompasses guests. The rooms are spacious with all of the comforts of home. Each room has a refrigerator and coffeemaker. For guests who don't want to make coffee, fresh coffee is served in the dining room each morning starting at 7:30. A hot breakfast is served each morning at 8:00. After breakfast lodgers can watch TV, relax on the deck, or walk down to the river--just steps from the inn. There are many outdoor activities visitors can take part in. Many interesting sites are within walking distance of the Old Lewiston Inn. On the corner is an antique store. Just around the bend is the Schoolhouse Museum. The school opened in 1958 when the Trinity Dam was being built. With a short, five-minute drive, you can see the fish hatchery. There are many opportunities for hiking, boating, and fishing on the lake. Visitors can also head to the dam and have a picnic. The local store even has a book exchange for those who love to read. Active guests will enjoy hiking and biking in Lewiston as they search for varied forms of wildlife. Geese, otters, egrets and dozens of other species of birds are abundant in the area. The birds are often seen competing for fish in the local waters. Flying squirrels even inhabit the area. Hundreds of plants dot the landscape including Tiger Lilies, Bleeding Hearts, and Buttercups. Many great daytrip adventures are available as well. The Trinity Alps, Whiskeytown, and Weaverville are all only about a half-hour away. These are all great excursions. Take a day to explore one and make some amazing memories. Take advantage of the inn's week-long special and explore a couple of them. When you go to the Old Lewiston Inn, you arrive as strangers and leave as friends. Some who have stayed at the inn return frequently to relax and hang out with Dave and Jessica. Bring your fishing pole and Dave might even take you to his secret fishing hole.

Been going to TAR for 37 years so have seen many changes, some good, some not so good. Not crazy…read moreabout the new managers this year but I'm sure it's not an easy job. I will say it's relaxing and nice to hear the Stuart Fork River running through the resort in the morning and you can't beat the watching the stars on a clear night. I do miss the trail rides they had. It's great to catch up with the same people every year and see the additions to their families and meet new people that were lucky enough to get a cabin. Great place to unplug.

My family has been going on the same vacation for 30 years, and in no way is that depressing…read more Give me the option to go anywhere in the world during the second week of July and you'll find me on the Stuart Fork.