Location: Angels Camp
Top Things to do in Angels Camp
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10 Things to Do in Angels Camp That You Shouldn't Miss
Angels Camp, also known as City of Angels and formerly Angel's Camp, Angels, Angels City, Carson's Creek and Clearlake, is the only incorporated city in Calaveras County, California, United States. The population was 3,835 at the 2010 census, up from 3,004 at the 2000 census. It lies at an elevation of 1378 feet (420 m).
Restaurants in Angels Camp
1. OARS California Rafting
Overall Ratings
5 based on 106 reviews
Recognized by National Geographic Adventure as “The Best River & Sea Outfitter on Earth” and Outside magazine’s runner up for “Best Outfitter,” O.A.R.S. is among the most trusted names in the travel industry. Since 1969 the company has set the standard in first-class rafting & sea kayaking adventures with unparalleled experiences in the most iconic national parks and wilderness areas in Western North America and abroad.O.A.R.S. caters to active travelers of all ages and abilities with experienced, professional guides and top-notch equipment and today offers more than 75 unique itineraries worldwide, including one-day and weekend escapes. Over the last four decades the California-based company has positively affected the lives of more than 500,000 travelers, due to their ability to meet the diverse needs of their broad spectrum of clientele—more than 60% of passengers return for additional trips or are referred by past guests each year.
Reviewed By tnanna - TN
We had enjoyed many other rafting trips in other locations around the U.S. and had high expectations for OARS based on our previous experiences and comparisons with other outfitters. We found our guide, Tanner, to be skilled, personable, and a very pleasant host. The trip was a bit wilder than we expected due to an unexpected longer season of high water. We had a great time over all. Pluses: OARS is a reputable company, guides are skilled, equipment is in good condition, meals are superb, location of Tuolumne is excellent white water. Negatives: there was no "limited wine with dinner" as expected and advertised, we were placed with another large group of friends/singles that brought copious amounts of alcohol and generally made our trip not-so-family-friendly and frankly changed the solitude of the remote and scenic overnight camping location. We know that OARS does not select the clients that book but this was part of the experience did not meet our expectations. I am not sure what advice I have for others with families/teens but everyone should make note of their options and speciality tours (adults only, wine/beer specialties, "family friendly" etc. and perhaps ask about the booking for your individual situation. Perhaps they can tell you the composition of the bookings for the trips you might be considering and you can be flexible with your selection and pick one that meets your needs.
2. Ironstone Vineyards
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 261 reviews
"Where history and wine meet." Ironstone Vineyards is a premier destination winery located in Murphys, California. Amenities include our Tasting Room & Gold Leaf Deli, Heritage Museum (home to our 44-pound crystalline gold piece) & Jewelry Shoppe, Amphitheater, plush gardens featuring a lakeside park, and complimentary tours of our facilities. Our wines reflect the diversity of offerings from the Lodi and Sierra Foothills Appellations of Northern California. Through emphasizing the practice of Sustainable Viticulture, Ironstone Vineyards conserves water use, builds healthy soil, and maintains our surrounding wildlife habitat. Please Note: We are closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.
Reviewed By Jim K - Indio, California
This Winery is a MUST stop in Murphys. Do not follow the GPS. You will get there but the road is terrible. Go to Murphys and follow the signs off main street. Much shorter. Great wines and the museum is fantastic with lots of mining equipment to look at. Great gift shop. Great place for the kids and they have entertainment so look for the schedule. Tasting room is huge and open daily with a fee and is refundable with purchase next to the Great fireplace.
3. Moaning Cavern
Overall Ratings
4 based on 163 reviews
Gold miners first explored Moaning Cavern in 1851, but Native Americans had revered the site for centuries because of the haunting, moaning sounds coming from the entrance. Today, visitors enter by descending a metal spiral staircase. Or make reservations for an exciting two-hour Adventure Trip. Above ground activities: gemstone mining, gold panning, free nature trail. School program available. Open every day, year round. We try to maintain our operational hours at Trip Advisor.
Reviewed By LouiseNE - Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
The cavern is beautiful. If you have time & are more adventurous than me, book ahead and do the adventure visit. The guides were exceptionally knowledgeable & engaged, so I imagine the more hands on experience would have been amazing. Thoroughly loved or visit, loved the way they made you reconsider depth perception, the explanation of the different formations & how they came about. Thought turning off all of the lights was really clever & gave a different perspective on exploration. Would visit again.
Outside, there's a climbing wall, zip wire & places to pan for 'gold ' - loads of families having a great time.
4. Columbia State Historic Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 429 reviews
This historic Gold Rush town was made a state park in 1945. Between the 1850s and 1870s over one-half billion dollars in gold (at today's value) was mined in the area.
Reviewed By ChicagoTravelingNow - Chicago
A friend and I visited Columbia State Historic Park without much background on the area or the park, and we thoroughly enjoyed our visit. Several of the buildings provide educational information that was really illuminating. But I think what we enjoyed most was the overall atmosphere. You really feel transported back to a different time with the buildings, folks in costume, and activities. I would highly recommend a visit. I also think this is a great activity for multi-generational groups because the park has something to offer for everyone.
5. Angels Camp Museum and Carriage House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 85 reviews
Reviewed By jameshuang - Taipei, Taiwan
Angels Camp is located in Calaveras County, California, USA. It is a small town with total area of 9.3 km2 (3.6 mi2) and was founded by George Angel in 1849, who established a mining camp and trading store. This small town was popular when the town produced more than $20 million worth of gold in decades. The town was incorporated under the name of "Angels" in 1912. Today, it is popular because of the “Jumping Frog Jubilee” event held each May, which is based on Mark Twain’s story "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County," of which he heard at the Angles Hotel in 1865. Angles Camp was registered in 1938 as a California Historical Landmark. The Angels Camp museum was founded in 1951.
It is an amazing small town that we originally did not plan to visit. Because we stayed at nearby WorldMark Angels Camp and needed some groceries, we went to see if we can get some food and fruits. We were surprised to learn that Angels Camp Museum was closed on Tuesday & Wednesday from March to November. We came back again on Thursday and visited this museum. The museum opened starting from 10:00 am, which let us have time to see those large machineries in front of the entrance before it opened. The museum has a hall display of information about Mark Twain and his story. We also noticed a “wooden tower” that was used to transfer frogs from my country - Republic of China (Taiwan) - to participate the Jumping Frog Jubilee. It was transferred by China Civil Transporter. There are also many old housewares on display which were used during the California Gold Rush era. We went outside to the outdoor exhibits where we saw the 1904 all-steel thresher, 1917 horse-drawn road scrapper, 1916 Fitch four-drive tractor, and many other amazing old equipment. After the outdoor exhibits, we went a building that displays all the mining equipment from hand tools to explosives to machines. You can learn how tough it was to get the gold from the field. Last but not least, we went to the Carriage House - home to one of the largest collection of carriages and wagons in USA. There are 29 restored horse-drawn vehicles and many others that need funding to restore.
The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County is held each May at the Calaveras County Fairgrounds. Historic Angels Camp retains its gold rush architecture, making it a pleasant shopping experience. The sad thing about this wonderful preserved small town is many historical buildings such as the famous 1865 Angels Hotel and others were for lease when we visited.
6. Twisted Oak Winery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 26 reviews
We're a small family owned winery that specializes in wines made from Rhone and Spanish varieties. If you are looking for wines called The Spaniard, River of Skulls, and "Pottymouth", you have found the right place! And if you are looking for the Rubber Chicken National Forest, we've got it! While in Murphys, please visit our tasting room at 363 Main Street. Wine tasting, gift shopping, and a sweet rubber chicken nugget!
Reviewed By lew w - Reno, Nevada
Take the first driveway on the gravel. Don't go up the road to the paved entrance. This place is a lot of fun! Great gift shop area in the tasting room. Good wines, good staff. They also know a lot about the area and give good advise on restaurants, etc.
7. Zephyr Whitewater Expeditions
Overall Ratings
5 based on 75 reviews
Zephyr Whitewater is one of the most popular and experienced outfitters in California. We offer river rafting trips near Yosemite on the Merced, Kings, and Tuolumne rivers. Family and group rates, and internet special discounts are available. Our trips range in length from 1/2 to 3-days. On the Merced river, the closest river to Yosemite, we offer both morning and afternoon 11 mile 1/2 day trips, plus full day trips every day. Many guests have said their rafting trip on the Merced river near Yosemite was the highlight of their Yosemite Vacation. Join us and see why!
Reviewed By markpardon32
We were extremely impressed by the friendly, relaxed but competent manner all the Zephyr team demonstrated throughout our half day trip. Maggie our raft skipper was first class, filling us with confidence regarding what was ahead and what we needed to do. Maggie also shared...MoreHi Mark, thanks for taking the time to give us such a nice review! Your positive feedback will be shared with Maggie. We're so pleased to have played a memorable role in your Yosemite experience.
8. Ebbetts Pass Scenic By-way
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 41 reviews
Reviewed By Angie Y - Morgan Hill, California
My husband and I came from the Markleeville side of the mountain. I was doing research of the area including Ebbet's Pass for my book project. Traveling toward it on Highway 4 was fine until we were going up on switchbacks in the snow. Then the closed Iron Gate at one juncture killed any plans to reach the summit. Imagine navigating the narrow, twisty thing in an SUV and trying to squeeze to one side to let another vehicle pass by. The fall down from the edge is a long one! So we parked our Tahoe and hiked past the gate and up the windy road. It was fantastic. I took gobs of photos and we had so much fun! Even though we didn't get to drive to the top, we loved the exercise and peaceful surroundings in the stillness of winter.
9. Twin Zip Lines at Moaning Cavern
Overall Ratings
4 based on 28 reviews
Reviewed By kfield9 - Baltimore, Maryland
My fiancé and I had an incredible time at the Moaning Cavern Adventure Park! We booked in advance, so we didn't have to wait on any lines, but even if you had to it would be worth it. The staff was extremely friendly and made us feel safe at all times. Our guide, Ray, from the caves even decided to join us on the zip line after his shift! The view was great while zip lining, and we got to race and see who would finish first. =)
10. California Caverns
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 43 reviews
Reviewed By hawaiidan - Palm Springs, California
I have been working in caves for fun and as a professional national park naturalist and cave geologist... California Caverns is a gem. Located 32 miles from Angles camp 9 miles off 49 it is in the rural epicenter of the real mother lode.
The cave is operated very professionally by the same folks who operate Moaning cave and Black Chasm. which you really should see. as they are each different and offer excellent and different experiences.... see at least 2 if you visit as the are all within 50 miles .
The tours are run hourly and are kept small to 10 persons by well informed guides and last 60 to 90 min.. No colored lights or cheesy development. If you havent been in a real limestone cave...and want to experience a developed yet very natural experience then come here The jungle room in the cave is an exceptional gem of beauty filled with pure white growing formations undamaged by anyone. There is some stooping and small pasages , lakes, large rooms, beautiful banded marble and so much more.
If you get into the intrigue of wanting more of real cave exploration yet do it safe and sane in one of the most beautiful sections of cave they call "mddle earth " a 4 hour tour de force with crawling climbing boating and viewing fantastic displaye of formations of all sorts ,
This it the finest place to discover your first "wild" cave experience that I know of in the west, outside of Carlsbad Caverns or Wind or e Jewell caves in South Dakota or New Mexico. The wild cave tour includes all your gear and a guide...just flat our a wonderful experience, so much more than just an adventure. It is something quite memorable and something to experience .
If you seek a thrill ride go to an amusement park...if you want to discover yourself and the mysteries of the earth then come here. You will NOT be let down !!!
Od course thats my opinion after 55 years in caves and cave science in over 2500 caves from the mountains of Poland to the jungles of Borneo. California caverns is one of the best places I know of to discover caves..., But what do I know!
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