Murphys

Leaving the Calaveras Big Trees State Park, retrace your route down Hwy 4 and detour into Murphys, the most stylish of Gold Rush towns where boutiques and restaurants shelter under locust and elm trees and the Old Timers’ Museum reflect its Gold Rush heritage. Well signposted from the center of town is another cavern complex, Mercer Caverns, with rooms of stalactites, stalagmites, and other interesting limestone formations. You might also want to detour to a beautiful winery, Ironstone Vineyards, set on the hill outside Murphys. (Turn off Main Street up the road to the side of Murphy’s Hotel and follow signs.) A visit here is much more than wine tasting for there’s a mining museum (you can go gold panning), deli, jewelry store and theater with a grand organ used in the days of silent movies. Complimentary tours are offered daily at 11:30 am, 1:30 pm, and 3:30 pm (no 11:30 am tour during winter months). The winery is open daily between 10 am and 5 pm (closed at Christmas and Thanksgiving). Ironstone Vineyards is located at 1894 Six Mile Road, Murphys. (209-728-1251, www.ironstonevineyards.com)