I was staying in the town of Mariposa while visiting Yosemite National Park in June and right next…read moreto where I was staying was this adorable art park. Location is right off of the CA-140 and parking is located on the side streets. Not big at all, but has so much to offer. The Mariposa creek runs through the park and there are large trees to offer plenty of shade. During the summer, they offer live music concerts on the weekends that are free to all. For kids, there are spring break and summer day camps here. The park features beautiful sculpture made of four I - beams from the World Trade Center. The sculpture is not randomly created. It is intended to pay homage to all that perished in the towers and the Pentagon on 9/11. While standing there and viewing this sculpture and the description, I found myself getting a little emotional. I was very impressed and touched by this wonderful tribute. There are benches to sit on along side the creek and you can just listen to the water. There is also a lawn area to lay a blanket on and read or sleep. This little park is so relaxing. Definitely a hidden gem and I am glad I had the pleasure to visit.

Solid local history museum. The main floor and part of the second story containing the courtroom…read morewas open while the basement level is closed. The high-ceilinged courtroom was the highlight of the visit along an exhibit where I learned how to read stenography. A temporary exhibit about regional tractor sales filled three rooms which was geared to longtime locals and not tourists like me. Our 30-minute visit was budget-friendly with free street parking on the road that circles the courthouse and free admission.

This was a really good museum. The workers were extremely passionate. They had a really good…read moreconnection. I would recommend visiting here.

What a lovely gem! On a long weekend vacation staying in Mariposa, the sign and cute store just…read moresteps from the city center center drew us in and we ended up having a nice little chat with Erica (the proprietor) as she told us a few stories and highlighted a couple landmarks we might want to check out for the weekend. It looks like the business is relatively new, and the store is lovely - exhibiting great artwork and a few select photographs of the surrounding area. In fact the very next day we went on a little driving tour along the nearby river at her recommendaton and caught a view from one of the photos. In a town full of nice people, Erica might have been the easiest person to talk to...we definitely lost track of time. The best part, however, was that we walked by on a Friday afternoon just before Erica hosted a paint nite - which I am so glad we ended up attending. As you can tell from the attached photo, I haven't touched acrylics since maybe middle school but still had a wonderful time learning a few techniques, sharing a ton of laughs (and not a little bit of gossip) in a small group that featured a mix of locals and weekenders such as myself. The snacks and drinks were delightful as well, but truth be told was nervous about the art thing to partake too much. Worth a visit to pop in if you are already in town, and I *highly* recommend taking 2 hours out of your early evening for a paint nite if offered because it was a great way to enjoy and relax for an afternoon following a buggy and strenuous day in Yosemite, at an extremely reasonable price point (and you don't need to have cash). Not to mention we got great recommendations for dinner after and walked right over to an excellent meal in town after @ Charles Street Dinner House. If we ever stay in the area again, will be sure to stop in once more.

I had a great time at a paint night! Erica is an excellent teacher, and on top of that we met some…read morenice people that live in the area and got great recommendations for local activities and food. Check out Erica's mural at the charcuterie place in town, too. She's super talented!

Fresno Flats is a must‑see stop in Oakhurst for anyone wanting to understand the roots of the…read morecommunity. Donations are welcomed and help the dedicated docents continue sharing their knowledge and personal stories. We found it fascinating to learn how a logging community grew, lived, and thrived here for generations -- and how Native Americans and Chinese residents played essential roles in shaping the area's development.

Fresno Flats, Oakhurst: 2025 Dec 20 (5 of 5) Community…read moreHoliday Fair & Market In the little town of Oakhurst, where people are few but hearts are big, I noticed the folks here try and support each other in the little things they do. Today, a community holiday fair was held at Fresno Flats. I joined the lucky folks and did a walk-about. Holiday music fills the air on this gorgeous morning, while animals made their debut. I made friends with a couple of goats - actually, it was mama and her kid. As her kid nuzzled up to visitors and chewed on some treats, mama stood guard. I even managed to pet the kid and persuade it to eat out of my hand. Present were two food trucks. Chef Yuji and his lovely wife, Veronique are known to everyone in this little town. Their food truck emblazoned with Matsumoto Samurai's Kitchen parked in its usual spot, offering several Japanese delights to choose from. Their sushi is always fresh and delicious. The chefs take pride in what they serve. Of course, I couldn't walk away without getting my favourite. Poki Bowl: fresh tuna and salmon over sushi rice and two sides. I stopped by a stall manned by Stacy (she gave me permission to take her photo and post it on social media). Stacy said she makes all the natural products herself: soaps, candles, lip gloss, etc. The items looked clean and well packaged. I think they're perfect as stocking stuffers, or just a sweet gift to someone special. It looks like everyone there was having a lovely time: children dressed up and playing in the park, while adults chatted under the tent. There were folks in period costumes handing out candy canes, even Santa was on hand to 'ho-ho-ho' his way. Overall, this is a lovely place to spend a few hours.

Mariposa has been my home for 10+ years and I wouldn't live anywhere else. I love driving through…read moretown and seeing happy tourists from around the world. I don't blame anyone in particular for the housing crisis. We are all just trying to scrape a living out here in the sticks. Anyway, downtown Mariposa is a heartfelt spot, and a time capsule of California's history, with nary a street light. Most of the town is easily walkable. We do have parades at certain holidays. Then there's the county fair at the end of summer, and the car show in October. The shops themselves offer a great variety of gifts, whether they be Route 66 or Yosemite paraphernalia, toys aplenty, Coast Hardware, a fair trade clothing store (Anahata), art gallery, wine tasting, craft beer bars, and more. Food options are plenty. The Pizza Factory has an all-you-can-eat lunch special. There's a BBQ joint that recently opened too. Boba tea, ramen, burgers, and fancy dinners at Savory's or Charles Street Dinner House. Down the way a bit, across from the cozy Mariposa History Museum are two local titans of burger joints, which happily co-exist Happy Burger Diner boasts a massive selection, offers senior (55+) discounts, and features an outdoor section with a couple of simple kids' rides and air hockey. 1850 next door sells savory burgers and a vast menu of excellent local craft beers. Check local schedules at the welcome center, or the bulletin board at the High Country Health Food Store. This lovely little store has a wide selection of healthy foods, supplements, and cafe and restaurant, fresh produce, and just about everything you need. Rite Aid is across the street, and beyond, PDQ, which has the self-powered car wash and the laundromat. Forgive me if this sounds like a rushed tour. The historic courthouse and library are also must-sees. Friendly locals will be glad to point you in the right direction, should you need anything. One last thing, the tire shop by the post office provides excellent and prompt service. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.

Everything you could ask for, but not too much of any one thing-- cute and walkable with nearby…read morenature and lots of options. I observed a handful of reasonable thrift and antique stores, lame tourist traps that sell rocks and minerals, a few manly steakhouses, a little diner, dive bars and upscale bars, a few mediocre Mexican joints, a couple little art parks and a significant public park up the hill. I walked around and popped into a whole bunch of shops and spent about an hour on the half-mile strip. You could probably spend more time if you're one of those people that's in the shopping. I really wanted to check out the bar, the Alley, but they I closed on Mondays and on other days they don't open until 4:00. Caught a cool wildlife talk at The Local Grape, a cozy wine bar. I did a little research and found an amazing hike, with a trailhead that is just half a mile from downtown. Check out the Stockton Creek Preserve. Amazing wildlife mural by Ink Dwell next to Grizzly Gas, can't miss!

Brought my sister here while she was visiting from the bay! Nancy was so incredibly sweet, she…read morechatted with us the whole time about climbing and Yosemite and Mariposa, and informed us that parts of the famous plane that crashed were on the back of the building ! She even let my cat walk around inside :)) overall great experience, Nancy was the best

Small but delightful! I really enjoyed the photographs of amazing athletes in an amazing…read morelandscape, many of the photos taken by professional photographers. I'm not a climber: the docent patiently explained the different pieces of equipment on display and interactive displays allowed you to see how they really worked. Ropes too. Nice layout, well lit, well maintained. Quality t-shirts, hats, etc. for sale. I'll be back!

Pretty small and half-filled with farm animals, but all very cute and admission is very cheap. You…read moreprobably wouldn't need more than an hour here as it's a brief circuit. Free street parking and when we went it was cash only.

DO NOT SUPPORT! Animals were clearly stressed pacing back and forth due to the loud music and water…read morepark theme they are too busy running for the children. This is no longer a zoo and it's clear the animals aren't being taken cared for and are on sedatives to keep them drowsed until the water party is over. ABSOLUTELY INHUMANE AND THIS PLACE NEEDS TO BE REEVALUATED IF IT REALLY WANTS TO BE A ZOO OR A WATER PARK FOR KIDS.

If you're interested in the history of mineral's & mining then this is the place!…read more Boasting California's official mineral collection containing over 13,000 objects from California and around the world. While taking a tour you will find many gems, mineral specimens, crystalline gold, mining artifacts and a mine tunnel you may walk through. This collection has been in Mariposa since 1983. Prior to that, San Francisco was its home for over 100 years. We spent most of the morning & afternoon exploring this spectacular place. Very informative about each specimen and the history surrounding it. The two rangers hosting this site are full of information and colorful stories. A must see! My only caveat is they don't allow anyone to take photographs inside for security reasons. I sure would have loved a close up picture or two... No worries, I still had fun. https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=588

Thought it was a ghost town at first because the lot was empty but a couple of cars pulled in so we…read moredecided to check it out! The kids loved it and were so excited that they incorporated Minecraft into it. They got their first junior ranger badges ever!