Kelly’s Guidebook
Essentials and Quick Bites
local grocery store for all of your needs. great deli and premade food selection. also sells alcohol. Hours 9-8
49 locals recommend
Big Trees Market
25020 Shake Ridge Rdlocal grocery store for all of your needs. great deli and premade food selection. also sells alcohol. Hours 9-8
Local spot next to Big Trees Market. Hours 11-9. No Delivery
17 locals recommend
Arnold Chinese Restaurant
2182 CA-4Local spot next to Big Trees Market. Hours 11-9. No Delivery
Gas Station chicken, you ask? YES! Krispy Krunchy Chicken is an area favorite! Don't skip the buttery, honey, melt in your mouth biscuit to go along with it! Cruisers also has a good selection of wine/beer, and other convenience items.
Kwik Serv
18145 CA-108Gas Station chicken, you ask? YES! Krispy Krunchy Chicken is an area favorite! Don't skip the buttery, honey, melt in your mouth biscuit to go along with it! Cruisers also has a good selection of wine/beer, and other convenience items.
Heart and Soul Country Kitchen
good spot for a hearty breakfast!
Food
Great old school tavern with burgers, pool table, and outdoor patio. 10 min drive from cabin.
91 locals recommend
Lube Room Saloon
3431 CA-4Great old school tavern with burgers, pool table, and outdoor patio. 10 min drive from cabin.
Sarafina's Italian Kitchen
794 CA-4make a reservation, great local Arnold spot
Red Apple
4950 CA-4treat yourself. apple cider donuts, turnovers, fritters, and pies.
Grounds
402 Main StGood brunch spot
JoMa's Artisan Ice Cream
386 Main StGet ice cream or take & bake cookie dough
Firewood
420 Main StYummy pizza
The Watering Hole
223 Big Trees RdGood eats and brews
Great selection of distilled spirits. Stop in for a tasting, cocktail, or take a bottle home with you.
14 locals recommend
Hinterhaus Distilling LLC
Great selection of distilled spirits. Stop in for a tasting, cocktail, or take a bottle home with you.
Snowshoe Brewing Company
2050 CA-4Walkable from the cabin, has a full menu and beer list.
Places
great historic town with shopping, restaurants, and wine tasting. Visit their farmer's market on Sunday's June-October. Right by a playground for the kids.
211 locals recommend
Murphys
great historic town with shopping, restaurants, and wine tasting. Visit their farmer's market on Sunday's June-October. Right by a playground for the kids.
Sonora
Gold Rush-era town with cute cafes and shopping.
Sightseeing
Gold Rush-era landmark town, featuring hiking and fun activities for kids
217 locals recommend
Columbia State Historic Park
11259 Broadway StGold Rush-era landmark town, featuring hiking and fun activities for kids
Take a two mile round trip hike to Natural Bridges to check out the cave lake and float through the cavern to the other side. Bring a float to float to the other side (swimming not advised due to cold/deep waters in the cave. Creek is swimmable in the summer. Parking lot is busy on summer weekends. Bring water shoes.
64 locals recommend
Natural Bridges Trailhead
Parrotts Ferry RoadTake a two mile round trip hike to Natural Bridges to check out the cave lake and float through the cavern to the other side. Bring a float to float to the other side (swimming not advised due to cold/deep waters in the cave. Creek is swimmable in the summer. Parking lot is busy on summer weekends. Bring water shoes.
Sourgrass Day Use: A quiet spot to take a dip or wade in the Stanislaus River. There are also picnic tables in the shade, hiking and fishing. Enjoy the sandy beach close to the parking lot. There are paths that follow the river that start behind the parking lot and across the street.
18 locals recommend
Sourgrass Day Use
Sourgrass Day Use: A quiet spot to take a dip or wade in the Stanislaus River. There are also picnic tables in the shade, hiking and fishing. Enjoy the sandy beach close to the parking lot. There are paths that follow the river that start behind the parking lot and across the street.
Visit White Pines Lake for beach hangs, BBQ grills, swimming, kayaking, or SUP!
93 locals recommend
White Pines Park
Blagen RoadVisit White Pines Lake for beach hangs, BBQ grills, swimming, kayaking, or SUP!
Hike the Arnold Rim Trail (arnoldrimtrail.org). There are multiple entry points right in our neighborhood! 30+ miles of hiking. Top of the World, Cougar Rock, and San Antonio Falls are some faves.
47 locals recommend
Arnold Rim Trail Head
Hike the Arnold Rim Trail (arnoldrimtrail.org). There are multiple entry points right in our neighborhood! 30+ miles of hiking. Top of the World, Cougar Rock, and San Antonio Falls are some faves.
Bring a kayak to Lake Alpine or just hang out on the shore and finish your day with a Bloody Mary at the resort restaurant. (spring-summer-fall)
56 locals recommend
Lake Alpine
Bring a kayak to Lake Alpine or just hang out on the shore and finish your day with a Bloody Mary at the resort restaurant. (spring-summer-fall)
Mercer Caverns
1665 Sheep Ranch RdWitness the beauty of the giant sequoias at Calaveras Big Trees State Park (a 10 min drive from the cabin).
274 locals recommend
Calaveras Big Trees State Park
1170 CA-4Witness the beauty of the giant sequoias at Calaveras Big Trees State Park (a 10 min drive from the cabin).
One of 3 local sno parks located about 40 minutes away from the cabin.
13 locals recommend
Spicer Sno-Park
California 4One of 3 local sno parks located about 40 minutes away from the cabin.
Our local ski resort (40 min drive). Get cheaper rentals at Sierra Nevada Adventure Co (SNAC) or Ebbetts Pass Sporting Goods in Arnold. Downhill skiing not your thing? They also have snow tubing, cross country skiing, and snowmobile rentals!
72 locals recommend
Skyline Bear Valley Mountain Resort
2280 CA-207Our local ski resort (40 min drive). Get cheaper rentals at Sierra Nevada Adventure Co (SNAC) or Ebbetts Pass Sporting Goods in Arnold. Downhill skiing not your thing? They also have snow tubing, cross country skiing, and snowmobile rentals!
Wine
tasting room in downtown murphys with nice outdoor courtyard. you can bring your own food in.
14 locals recommend
Newsome Harlow Winery
403 Main Sttasting room in downtown murphys with nice outdoor courtyard. you can bring your own food in.
Pop The Bubbly
472 Main StChampagne, brews, and food.
Ironstone Vineyards
1894 6 Mile Rdbig winery with museum. they also host concerts in the summer
Local brews, great beer garden. Connected to Hovey Family Wines.
34 locals recommend
Murphys Pourhouse
350 Main StLocal brews, great beer garden. Connected to Hovey Family Wines.
Planning a wine tasting day? This company offers door to door service with a fully customized itinerary for you and your party of up to nine. Leave the driving up to them!
Gold Rush Tour Company
301 Demarest StreetPlanning a wine tasting day? This company offers door to door service with a fully customized itinerary for you and your party of up to nine. Leave the driving up to them!
Outdoor Stores
Arnold's local headquarters for outdoor gear, ski/snowboard rentals, kayak rentals, and clothing. https://snacattack.com/
29 locals recommend
Sierra Nevada Adventure Co
2293 CA-4Arnold's local headquarters for outdoor gear, ski/snowboard rentals, kayak rentals, and clothing. https://snacattack.com/
Traveler advice
What to pack
Bring slip on shoes
While we offer slippers in the winter, be sure to bring some easy slip on shoes to wear over to the hot tub, and on the roof deck in the summer. We are in the woods, so there are pine needles, dirt, pine cones, and rocks on the ground.
Traveling with kids
Pack 'n Play and Sound Machine
All 3 bedrooms can fit our provided pack 'n play, but if you need additional space, you could put it either in the large closet in the primary bedroom, or the laundry room downstairs, located across the hall from the downstairs bedroom. Keep in mind the large primary bedroom closet does not have any outlets, in case you're bringing a sound machine.