| Enjoy
Year-Round Activities the Gold Country!
At the Floyd House,
you’ll find pamphlets, directions and maps to all the local and surrounding
adventures. Below are some of the experiences you’ll enjoy nearby.
Walk
or Bicycle Historic Murphys
View Historic buildings
and learn of local fame, lore and notoriety in the midst of Horse-drawn
carriages, impromptu music and seasonal events. Experience fine and
casual dining, world-class wine tasting, Art Galleries, Antiques and friendly
merchants with one-of-a-kind stores all within walking distance of the
Floyd House. Also see, Walking Tour
Bear
Valley--Summer & Winter Outdoor Activities
“Offering exhilarating outdoor
activities for all seasons, Bear Valley is the ideal destination for thrill
seekers and families alike.”, “home to clear mountain air, rivers, lakes
& streams, towering pine trees and dramatic vistas in all directions.”
bearvalley.com
Summer:
Enjoy Mountain Biking, Rafting,
Kayaking, Backpacking, Camping, Hiking, Fishing, Walking, Swimming, Equestrian
Trails, Rock Climbing and more.
Winter:
Snowboarders and Downhill
skiers will experience 11 lifts and 1900 vertical feet of trails to challenge
all levels of experience. Cross-Country and Telemark enthusiasts
will experience extensive trails from the recreational to the advanced.
Average natural snow fall
of 359” (30 feet)
Advanced snow making system
Wine
Tasting
Enjoy the many award-winning
wineries where tasting rooms are within walking distance from the Floyd
House. Or tour wineries and vineyards that are just a short scenic
drive from the Floyd House where you can pack a picnic lunch, enjoy pastoral
views, live music and seasonal events. calaveraswines.org
Caves
& Caverns
Enjoy the largest cave systems
in Northern California from 5 to 35 minutes drive.
| Mercer Caverns |
209.728.2101
|
|
Just 5 minutes from the Floyd
House.
Close-up visuals of beautiful,
unique crystalline formations; stalactites, stalagmites, soda straw, curtains,
angels, wings and more.
| Moaning Cavern |
209.736.2708
|
|
Repel 165 feet into darkness
if you like, or walk down a spiral staircase for the less adventurous,
but no less fascinating path into a cavernous room. Oldest human
remains in North America found here.
| California
Cavern |
209.736.2708
|
|
An impressive series of large
rooms, miles of winding passages, deep black lakes and unique formations.
This State Historic Landmark has been open to the public since 1850.
Natural Bridges.
This site is only marked by a small sign on the side of Parrotts Ferry
Road on the way to Columbia and Sonora. It is a somewhat demanding
¾ mile hike off the road in a little known area where you can enjoy
swimming inside a unique geological formation shaped into a cavernous bridge
over a creek that is complete with stalagmites, stalactites and internal
waterfalls. Just down stream is this area’s smaller twin
Parks
Murphys Community Park
On Algiers Street behind
the Murphys Hotel, mature trees shade grassy picnic areas along the meandering
Murphys creek with facilities that include BBQ, playground, gazebo and
Public restrooms. Periodic live music events are also held here.
| Calaveras
Big Trees State Park |
Arnold
|
209.795.2334
|
| bigtrees.org |
|
|
Enjoy the wonder of these 250
foot tall, 2-4000 year-old giant sequoia trees as they tower overhead in
their awe-inspiring size.
“It seems that the most
common reaction to first seeing a Sierra redwood tree is to be momentarily
struck silent. In those first moments after the initial encounter thoughts
tend be of a spiritual, emotional or philosophic nature.”
Ride the stage coach, pan for
gold, sip sarsaparilla and watch a wild-west shoot-out in this beautifully
restored gold-rush town that has been used in the movies.
Golf
Courses
*Private. Reciprocal
golf if you are a member of another club.
Water
Sports, Resorts & Marina's from Mild to Wild
Here you can rent or bring
water toys, wake boards, boats and skis. You’ll find marine supplies,
stores, fishing supplies, etc.
Natural
Lakes & Rivers
Stanislaus River
This river runs parallel
to the east side of Highway 4. Local access to the river is best
achieved by taking Boards Crossing Road off highway 4 in Dorrington.
| White Pines Lake |
Arnold |
|
|
| Lake Alpine |
Bear Valley |
|
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| Mosquito Lake |
Bear Valley |
Museums
| Murphys
Old Timers Museum |
Murphys
|
209.728.1160 |
On Main Street. Dedicated
to the preservation and history of Murphys and its generations since the
gold rush, you’ll find some very interesting artifacts that are complete
with stories at this museum.
A destination for many events
and occasions, Ironstone Vineyards is also home to their museum containing
the world’s largest crystalline gold nugget weighing in at 44 lbs.
Don’t miss this, or the other interesting artifacts displayed at this site.
| Angels Camp
Museum |
Angels Camp
|
209.736.2963 |
Repository of gold rush memorabilia,
gold excavating equipment, a blacksmith shop and carriage barn filled with
horse-drawn artifacts.
| Calaveras
County Museum & Archives |
San Andreas
|
209.754.4658 |
The historic Jail that once
held “Black Bart” Gold-rush era Artifacts and archives relevant to the
history and people of Calaveras County.
Concerts
Enjoy headliner performances
in a majestic outdoor setting featuring gourmet cuisine and award winning
wines.
The Bear Valley Music Festival
brings live classical, jazz and popular music to the picturesque alpine
village of Bear Valley.
Check the schedule for seasonal
events.
Gold
Panning
Ironstone Vineyard,
gold panning on the weekends
Columbia State Park
daily gold panning
Our
Favorite Spots to Picnic
A Picnic Basket and blanket
are provided for your use during your stay at the Floyd House.
| • |
Ironstone Vineyards… Spend
a lazy afternoon by the lake where you’ll find peace & quiet. |
| • |
Stevenot Vineyards… Find
a spot by the vines near the old barn, explore the grounds and taste the
featured wines. |
| • |
Twisted Oak Tasting Grounds...Enjoy
the historic property right in town and picnic under the trees, or on the
lawn. Tables are provided. |
| • |
Murphys Community Park…A
place where friends, family and visitors are welcome to gather by the river
to enjoy the day. You’ll also find a place to Bar-b-que, tables and
room for wading (or fishing) in the river. |
Historic
Walking Tour of Murphys, California
When: Saturday Mornings
10:00 AM (Subject to availability of guide) Tour times posted at the Olde
Timers Museum, 470 Main Street.
What: Step back into
the era of gold-laden creek beds and rowdy saloons. Return to the time
of bustling trading posts and quiet, shady porches. The Mother Lode legend
comes alive as your guide takes you on a free, one-hour tour of Murphys,
featuring:
| • |
An up-close look at one
of the Gold Country's most charming, best-preserved mining towns. |
| • |
A history of the area and
its people, from the MiWok Indians to the pioneers. |
| • |
Gold Rush landmarks, including
hotels, saloons, storefronts, even the Murphys "pokey". |
| • |
19th Century homes of the
Gold Country pioneers. |
Where: Meet your guide
at the Olde Timers Museum to begin your tour. Arrive a few minutes early,
as tours are limited to the first 15 people. Then enjoy an hour of Gold
Rush history as you walk in the footsteps of the legends that made Murphys
the "Queen of the Sierra."
Courtesy
of Murphys Business Association
Note: We are proud to say
that the Floyd House is number 23 on the Historic Walking Tour.
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