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.

What a cool experience. Got there for the 10:00 am tour, and I was the only guest. The walk to…read morethe cave is only about five minutes, but there's no shade so the earlier the better as the temps heat up. Inside the cave is about 50°. I have no issues with claustrophobia, but if you do there is one tight squeeze that might be a problem. Cash, my tour guide, turned off the lights (after asking my permission) and we experienced total darkness for maybe thirty seconds. It felt like two hours, and I hated it , but still neat and recommend trying if offered. Use the hand rails. They are there for your safety.

The drive here is much more involved than Mercer Caverns with more windy and narrow roads. Once you…read moreget closer the space opens up to a large parking lot and shop you meet at. We were the only ones that signed up for the earliest tour that day and were lucky to have a private tour. The tour has informative history about the caverns with landmarks along the way. The most interesting thing we didn't know about is they have caving adventure tours where you shimny through holes and narrow spaces with a guide but our kids aren't old enough to partake. This was the first show cave in California and townspeople lived in them during harsh winters in the 1800s. There was a bar inside and a church and nails were even given to people to carve on the walls. Because of this there are signs of harm everywhere with soot, broken formations, and dirty coloration from human hand oils and even champagne poured on a rock formation. The caverns are huge and beautiful with some jaw-dropoing rooms. The walking tour is very safe though we loved the slight danger and claustrophobic feel of the Mercer Caverns. When you leave the shop has some cool historical items pulled from the caves on display like glass bottles, etc .. that are worth checking out.

We visited Mercer Caverns in Murphys for my daughter's 24th birthday and it turned out to be a…read morereally unique experience. We arrived around 10:30 AM and were able to join the 11:00 tour with no problem. The tour lasted about 50 minutes, which felt like the perfect amount of time. Our guide had a bit of a dry sense of humor, but was knowledgeable and kept the group moving at a good pace. The caverns themselves were impressive -- it's amazing to see such a beautiful natural space that has been left mostly undisturbed for thousands of years. The formations are stunning and unlike anything you see above ground. A couple things to be aware of: some of the stairs are steep and can be wet, so you definitely need to watch your footing. There are also a few spots where you have to duck your head. It's not difficult, but you do need to be mindful as you go. The temperature inside stays cool year-round (around the mid-50s), which is nice on a warm day but you may want a light jacket. The entire tour is guided, and you descend about 160 feet underground via metal stairways. It feels adventurous without being overwhelming. Overall, it was a neat, memorable stop and a fun way to celebrate a birthday. If you're in the Murphys area and looking for something different to do, this is definitely worth checking out.

Wonderful experience for our family with smaller kids. The tour guide was really great with the…read morekids (ages 5 and 7) and made it entertaining for them. The caverns were pretty amazing to see but the tour guide really made it extra special.

My husband and I just got married and decided we wanted to do something big and awesome on our last…read moreday of our honeymoon. I did a bunch of googling of different options we could do and decided Yosemite Flight Tours was the way to go because of what they toured and the price was the best!! I emailed them, hoping we could get a last minute flight. Mark emailed me back promptly and said we could fit in a flight early morning a few days later after a storm, which was perfect for us so we did it! The process for payment with Randy at the office and everything was so so easy and simple!! And quick! No stupid gimmicks to get more money it of us, no hidden fees, no crazy paperwork or anything. I would give them a 5-star rating just on that alone but if I could give them more than 5, I would for the tour itself!! Mark was SO nice and SO knowledgeable about everything there could possible know about Yosemite and the surrounding areas... the glaciers, the fires, the landscapes, hiking, climbing, etc... he knows it all. You could tell he was passionate about what he did. It made me smile listening to him just talk nonstop about everything knowing it wasn't just a "job", it is what he loves and wants to do. He was just so awesome. Not only was Mark awesome at the tour aspect of things but also flying the plane itself. He was such a great pilot. Such a smooth takeoff, turns, landing everything. It was just all sooo perfect. Thank you Mark for everything you do. You all were amazing and I will always and forever tell everything I possibly can about you guys! Thank you!

It was my first time to Murphy's and this tour showcased the highlights. Tour guide Laura was very…read moreknowledgeable, personable and fun. Every place we visited gave us a feel for the variety and uniqueness of the town. The company (Local Roots) also does tours in Sacramento so we'll be trying these other tours as well.

The Best of Murphys, CA in one fulfilling three hour tour!…read moreOK, everyone is hearing about how wonderful the little town of Murphys is, but how in the heck can you get the whole experience? Well, with these people. I went on this tour today and I got a wine tour, a food tour and a history tour all in one. Every place we went to (9 total) was very informative about their foods, wines, and/or wares. Though the menus will change I fill I should say something about each and every place they were all THAT good. but instead I'll lastly mention the gal that operates the tour. Her name is Shelby, and wow, what a guide she is. I know this tour just started up, but she must have done this in another life because she knew so much about the town, it's history, the people living there, the businesses and the wine. Delicious food, great wine and awesome history of the town. Oh a few steps here and there but really easy no hills to climb.

For all you history buffs and especially military buffs out there, this museum is great. While the…read moreexhibit space is small and confined, the historical artifacts they have in there are a treasure (behind glass). They have old guns, old uniforms, historical records, everything military is there. There's even a large Anti-Aircraft gun outside of the building. My tour guide there was Ltc. Sanderson. A very nice guy who told me about his experiences in the military, which I am always interested in. I know there are other folks who work there. There's some great stuff in there, and even if you aren't a fan of the military, just come in, check out some of the stuff and enjoy. Sonora doesn't have a lot of these kinds of places, at least not from what I've seen that haven't been turned into total tourist spots, so this place is definitely a find, at least for me.

I was disappointed to find a "Closed for Renovations" note on the door of the Veterans Memorial…read moreHall & Military Museum, though the website said "Open Today." This is a meaningful tribute to the men & women who served our country during the wars. Opened in 1933, the museum preserved historical records, antique guns, uniforms, portraits, etc. Plaques listing the names of locals who gave their lives in the wars, statues such as a large anti-aircraft gun, & memorials outside were interesting. Wish I could have seen the military artifacts inside & heard the stories from the docent.