First stop, Morro Bay, for some art galleries and boutique shops. The little seaside town also has a wonderful Shell Shop, in operation since the 1950′s,  full of findings from all over the world. Cross the street and visit the wee little Morro Bay Aquarium… not a whole lot to look at, but they have seals you can feed.  Or you can head out to “the rock” tidepools to explore and  scout out some shells and sea stars of your own.

If you like Mexican food, you may want to stop at Taco Temple. Right of the highway, it’s a local favorite, a kind of “hole” in the wall” that specializes in a fresh, California-Mexican fusion taste. Just one taco at about $4.50 fills me up.  (But you can easily spend a lot more money on a variety of other dishes, too.)   Their carrot cake is pretty famous with the locals, too.  There’s usually a line… breath in some positive ions while you wait.

Keep heading north. Stop in Cayucos for some antiquing or Cambria for more art galleries and boutiques. Lynn’s Pies, in Cambria, has delicious pot pies and fruit pies, among many other “home-cooked” meals.  You can even buy frozen pies to take and heat up for an easy dinner later. (They’ll wrap them in newspaper to keep them cold, if you tell them you are traveling.) These used to be my favorite, but now I can’t eat gluten.  Curses.  Please eat one for me.

Robin’s, also in Cambria, is also a popular place to eat. They have an ethnic cuisine, using a lot of fresh, sustainable produce,  and sometimes local artists play live music during the summer.  The restaurant itself has a bit of a rustic feel, but the menu can be a bit on the pricier side, depending on what you order.  I hear their Salmon Bisque is amazing.  They also have great bread which I can no longer eat… again, I am depending on you to fulfill my culinary desires.

And, finally, an hour’s drive from Pismo (if you weren’t tempted by all the stops) you’ll find yourself in the small town of San Simeon, famous for William Randolph Hearst’s modern day castle.  Casa Grande, otherwise know as Hearst Castle, sits on a beautiful hillside overlooking the sparkling Pacific Ocean.  W.R. Hearst, a media mogul, built this home near the site of an area he camped at during his childhood.  In later years, he partnered with extraordinary master architect, Julia Morgan, to create this masterpiece, which took 28 years to complete (well, almost complete).  There are several different tours to choose from, depending on what you would like to see. (I would suggest buying tickets ahead of time, so your tour isn’t sold out.)

(Someday, I would enjoy accidentally falling into this pool.  I would even enjoy being pushed.)

Docents only show you a glimpse on each tour, so it can be a pricey endeavor to see the whole house.  After the docent led part, however, you are free to roam the grounds, viewing the pools, tennis courts and gardens at your leisure.  There are buses which come every few minutes or so for your 6 mile trek back down the hill.  We spotted zebras and some wild boar on the way down.

There is a wonderful 40 minute movie presentation included with your ticket.  (The theater is adjacent to the Visitors Center at the base of the hill.)  It is a fascinating telling of Hearst’s story on a 5 story screen.  It’s really quite breathtaking and epic in nature.  It reminded me of Disney California’s “Soarin’ Over California” ride, minus the hydrolics.

Tips:  The visitors’ center at the base of the hill is open to the public (without ticket purchase).  There is a large gift shop, restrooms and a snack/espresso bar.   You can even buy an expensive cut of natural grass fed beef from the Hearst Ranch if you are so inclined. Maybe you should bring a cooler… remember you will have the pies from Lynn’s, too.

If you choose to take a tour, there are usually a number of steps you have to climb.  It is also wise to layer your clothes.  The coast can be warm one day and brisk and enveloped in fog the next.  It is not always 75 degrees in California.  Trust me on this, or you will freeze, and I will have to say I told you so!

Oh, and if you have the time, head up a couple exits (about 4 miles north) to the elephant seal look-out at Piedras Blancas.   There are always seals there, although it’s sparser in August and September.  They are massive animals, and it’s interesting to listen to their crazy noises and watch them nurse their pups, fight over territory, and sometimes even mate.  If you are lucky, you might even witness a birth… an 80 pounder!!  Can you imagine?  In addition, there are often docents there to answer your questions.  It’s really a pretty amazing sight, which even has the power to transfix my active kids!

As always, enjoy.

On a recent inventory-special “man trip,”  hubby, his brother and friend gave true meaning to the word outing.  They were not about to go to any casinos, planetariums, or to see a show at Konocti Harbor… no, they were headed into the great outdoors.

First they needed to acquire a permit for ol’ Tin-Tin.  They pulled up to a store in Nice (pronounced Neece, like in France), and to them, it felt straight out of a scene from “Joe Dirt.”  I’m not sure what this means, but they assured me this description makes sense.  I’m just going to go with it. Oh, my hubby now says they drove from Nice to Lucerne which is the neighboring town.  Hopefully I have this all straight now.

The burly shopkeeper asked them to bring the boat around.  They pointed to the top of the SUV. 

“You don’t need a permit for that,” he gruffly responded. “That’s just a car topper!”

Apparently, there are different rules for boating in Clear Lake than there were in Big Bear.  The boys didn’t mind not having to shell out permit money this time.  Soon they were off for some fishing adventures, hoping for some large mouth bass in their immediate future.

The men spent a lot of time on the lake hoping for a big catch or two.  They got a couple of tugs on their line, but they ended up with some relaxation time and some irritating, elusive fish instead.

The next time out, they decided to get up really early… early for them, anyway.  I think they ended up getting on the lake by about 7:30am, but even that wasn’t early enough for those bewitching bass.  This time, they ventured into a slough (pronounced “slew,” you’re welcome) to explore and hunt down some fishy goodness.  Hubby said it was a surreal experience, right out of Jurassic Park, except they were greeted by birds instead of raptors.  Good thing… I hear those raptor claws are pretty sharp.

Since the fish refused to cooperate, the men aborted Plan A and set Plan B into motion.  They found a friendly forest ranger and asked if there was a local shooting range or a place they could do a little target practice.  Don’t git your knickers in a knot, now… Bambi and other woodland creatures were totally unharmed in this expedition.  There was a far greater foe in the forest.

The men drove on Bartlett Spring Road, next to Tulip Hill Winery.  The drive was a beautiful, scenic one along a ridge above the lake.   There was also a bit of trepidation, as this was a very narrow dirt road.  Courageous men that they are, however, the journey was of no concern.  About 20 minutes later they pulled off the road and found a clearing a couple hundred yards away.  It was then time to raid the arsenal and prepare to meet the enemy.

Be stealthy, now, men.  The enemy is it hand.  Ready… aim… FIRE!!!!

I am happy to report that everyone returned from this great battle unscathed.  Oh, sweet victory! 

And that, dear readers, is all I have to report. 

Enjoy!

Hubby is turning the big 4-0 this December, and in honor of this momentous occasion, he wanted to plan a “man trip.”  This trip would include essential masculine activities including fishing and more fishing, target practice, getting into the great outdoors, driving around rugged terrain in an SUV, and pretending to be J.R.R. Tolkein and/or C.S. Lewis while smoking a pipe and drinking a glass of wine on an ambient porch.  Don’t worry, though, dear reader… he doesn’t plan to make a habit out of  tobacco usage, as he wants to live well past 40.

Now, hubby would simply have to determine which Worldmark would fit the bill for this age-of-distinction extravaganza.  The location would have to be rustic and natural with an abundance of water.  It would have to be close enough to drive to with a rented, monstrosity of a car known as a  Tahoe.  No question about it, the 3 amigos (hubby, his brother, and a friend) were going to depart for a Clear Lake man-adventure.

As per the instructions of some other Worldmark owners, I warned hubby not to drive the windy, heinous Highway 175.  I suggested the 20, but he took the 58, 37 and other such highways instead.  Unfortunately, one of those roads was a little hairy as well, but they did get to see some beautiful countryside in Napa and stop at a vineyard along the way.

“How is the lake?”  I asked on the evening on their arrival.  (I had to make sure they got there safely… I’m a doting wife and a mother, aren’t I?)

“It’s HUGE!”  he replied. 

Apparently, Clear Lake is the largest natural lake which resides completely in California.  (I guess we can’t count the lovely Lake Tahoe, because it is partly in Nevada, right?”)  It is also thought to be one of the oldest lakes in North America.  Once the home to thousands of Native Americans, primarily the Pomo and Yuki-Wappo,  today it is home to many boats and casinos, but it still maintains a rustic appeal and is full of wildlife.  Clear Lake is also home to some less welcome critters… the Clear Lake gnat, otherwise known as the “phantom gnat.”  One Worldmark owner at the pool described them as “friendly.”  Well, at least they don’t bite! 

From what I understand, the Worldmark lodge is oozing with architectural appeal, reminiscent of the Mission Period.  I don’t think hubby was too concerned about Spanish architecture, but he did bring back some photos of the one bedroom they hunkered down in.  There was indeed some wildlife in the suite as well, but it didn’t seem to bother my fearless men.  They just brushed away said wildlife with their big, manly-man hands.

The 3 amigos “bachelorized” the kitchen pretty quickly with sausage, BBQ, and other things known to clog the arteries.  But from what I understand, there was some salad and fruit in their midst. (Shocking!)  Hopefully, there would be fish to add to the mix as well, but that’s the subject of another post.

Last, but not least, here is the porch alcove with the pretty arch and the view from their sliding glass door.  This, no doubt, was the site for many philosophical ponderings.  If only we could somehow have recorded the sage mutterings for posterity.

To wrap things up (and since there is no more photography) here is a little interview from the macho traveler himself.

What was your overall impression of the Clear Lake resort?

It’s a rustic resort… not completely luxurious, but much better than camping.  It was clean, not pristine.  Historic, but updated.  The staff was super cool.  And there were a lot of flies… everywhere.  You sure can’t beat the location, though.  It was about 200 feet from the water, and it had its own dock and launch ramp.

Do you think this resort would appeal to all travelers?

At the time of year we went (September), I think it would be a great vacation for men and boys who want to fish or explore the lake.  Anyone who loves the “back-woods” country feel would really enjoy it.

What did you think of the grounds?

Everything was clean and well-maintained.  The grass was very green and the buildings were in good shape.  The pool was really nice (rectangular and large) and a good temperature.  There was a jacuzzi, too.  The dock and launch were up for repairs in October.

Anything fun to do at the resort itself?

There was a playground for the kids and you would be able to watch them from your porch.  I saw a horseshoe pit, basketball court and tennis court (I think).  There was a pool table in the main building.

Would you go back?

Yes.

And there you have it.  Straight from my stout-hearted man.

I took lots of photos to share, since I consistently get a lot interest in my other Indio post.

We stayed in a 1 bedroom in Building 12 (there are about 18, 3 and 4 story buildings).  Our room was on the ground floor ajacent to one of the 2 play structures and the beginning of the pond system that runs through the resort.  A large family of ducks came to greet us and ask for bread each morning, and we were happy to oblige.  Waddle a way to start the day… sorry, I couldn’t resist. Quack.

The location was beautiful and shaded in the morning.  If you have small children, however, you may want to ask for a room on a higher floor so that they don’t accidently wander into open water.  It made me a little nervous, and my youngest is 5.

When it got too hot in the afternoon, we hung out a bit in the rec room.  There are arcade games, foosball, air hockey, and 3 ping pong tables.  They also had various crafting activities each day for about $3 each.   In another effort to beat the heat, we catch a matinee at the Regal Cinemas every time we visit.  It’s about a 10 minute drive through Indio, and I can’t say there is anything pretty to look at along the way.  Indio isn’t Palm Springs, which is why we tend to stick to the resort and little else.

And now to the main attractions… water, water, everywhere!  The back pool, which was closest to us, tends to be a little less busy.  There is a hot tub that is usually empty, a large kiddie pool, and a “splash pad.”  The splash pad is a ring of fountains which successfully entertains my children for hours.  Sometimes they’re on and sometimes they’re not, so watch out.  Poolside, there are 3 shaded areas and several tables which have umbrellas, but they tend to fill up pretty quickly.  I brought my own umbrella just in case, but didn’t end up using it.

The next pictures were taken on our daily walk over to the main pool.  There are many green, Bose speakers on the paths around the resorts, which play upbeat music throughout the day.  Oh, and by the way, we always stay for 4 days/3 nights.  That seems to be just about right, and no one seems to get completely waterlogged in that amount of time.  The main pool is a similar set up to the rear pool, without the fountain.

Next to the main pool, you’ll find the lazy river… or as my adorable niece calls it, the wazy wibber.  There is no longer a charge for the usage of inner tubes.  You can also bring your own swim noodle or noodle chair, which I prefer.  Noodles would also work well for younger kids who don’t fit in the tubes.  My favorite time to ride is at dusk, followed by a quick dip in the hot tub on the adjacent island.  From what I understand, you can also “walk” the river at 8am… adults only.

I also love to walk around the resort in the evening when everything has cooled off a bit and the crickets and toads are doing their thing.  There’s nothing like feeling a warm breeze and watching the lights reflect off the ponds on a desert night. 

Hopefully we will someday have the opportunity to visit Indio in another season.  Here’s my list of things I’d like to check out when it’s not so hot:

The Living Desert http://www.livingdesert.org/ (This looks like a great combination of a zoo and botanical gardens.)

Joshua Tree National Park http://www.nps.gov/jotr/ (A bit farther down the 10.  There are some great hikes, nature walks, and rock climbing in this beautiful and unique area.  From what I understand, lots of water is essential.)

Shields Date Garden http://shieldsdategarden.com/ (We have already visited this landmark.  If you like dates and nuts, you’ll enjoy this quirky shop.  They also make date shakes… they are very sweet, and not my favorite, but a lot of people love ‘em.)

Palm Springs Village Fest http://www.palmspringsvillagefest.com/ (This would require a little drive, but it looks like a fun street fair every Thursday night on Palm Canyon Dr.)

Cabazon Outlets http://www.cabazonoutlets.com/index.cfm (Every time we pass this massive set of outlet stores, I tell myself I’m going to stop someday.  Mostly because they have a Le Creuset store… and I have a thing for French cookingware.)

Enjoy and keep cool!  And tell me what you think of the blog… is it helpful?

One afternoon, we took a short drive to Big Bear’s Village.  Welcomed by a charming little street, we took a leisurely stroll, browsed in boutiques and souvenir shops, and enjoyed ice cream cones.  As welcoming as the atmosphere was, most of the shop owners seemed to be having a bad day.  Did we do something wrong?   My kids were behaving… except one time when one of them accidently walked into a mirror.  But it didn’t break.   Maybe it’s the economy… yes, I’m sure that must be it.  Go spend some money in the Village… make the owners smile!

We ate some lunch at Village Pizza, which is around the corner from one of the ends of  The Village.  We shared a large pizza and a pitcher of root beer, and it was a pretty tasty meal.  The pizzeria is cute and rustic inside, but we enjoyed the patio seating on a pine picnic table, under a green canvas umbrella.

And then the souvenir purchases went down at a children’s clothing store that had a toy section in the back.  Carved, wooden slingshots with 3-dimensional buffalo and black bear head sculptures.  Before you start getting worried and asking how old my children are, I assure you, strong precautions were taken.  Hubby adminstered the solemn slingshot oath.  “NO POINTING AT PEOPLE”  “NO SHOOTING YOUR BROTHER” “NO KILLING ANY ANIMALS”  “NO SHOOTING YOUR BROTHER”  “NO DESTRUCTION OF PERSONAL OR PUBLIC PROPERTY” ”DON’T EVEN THING ABOUT SHOOTING YOUR BROTHER”  “BE SAFE” “HAVE FUN”

We found an isolated area near the lake and let the pebbles fly.  And fly they did… up to about 100 feet.  The kids perfected their techniques for about an hour.

And no one shot their eye out.

Once again… enjoy!  We did!

Whenever you are in the great outdoors, you can expect to find some great trails… and we did.  There are trails of many lengths and difficulties.  Check out this site for detailed descriptions of the trails:

http://bigbear.us/big-bear-hiking.html  You can also obtain maps at the front desk.

Woodland Trail

We went for easy!  This trail is only about a mile from the resort and is only about a mile and a half long.  It is an interpretive trail that loops around, and you can pick up a pamphlet if you’d like to read about the plant life as you go.  An Adventure Pass may be required to park at this one, but there is free parking (Carol Morrison Public Boat Launch lot) across the street.

You can’t get much more natural than this.  And you can catch a great view of the slopes on the way.  A great little hike.

Alpine Pedal Path

From the WM resort…  go back out onto Starvation Flats, through the signal, and over the bridge (Stanfield Cutoff), and you’ll see a little sign posted on the left.  The beginning (or ending) of the Alpine Pedal Path.  This is a paved path that takes you over the meadow and through the woods, with a wonderful view of the lake along the way.  The trail is about 3.5 miles each way with inclines every now and then.  We saw many walkers as well as bikers.

You can also park in the Carol Morrison Public Boat Launch lot off North Shore Dr., as the pedal path goes through this lot.  There is a small beach and picnic area next to this lot, as well as a nice fishing dock.  We were able to launch Tin Tin (our vintage canoe) here as well.   Here’s a partial shot of the dock.

Next time we visit, we’d like to try the Scenic Sky Chair and check out the views and trails on the mountain.  http://www.bigbearmountainresorts.com/activities.php  Imagine the view from the there!

Oh… and have you ever gone geocaching?  When I told my friend I wanted to give it a try, she gave me a bewildered glance and said, “Isn’t that a nerdy thing to do?”  Apparently, she has yet to realize I’m a nerd.  We busted out our GPS and hunted 3 caches we found here:  http://www.geocaching.com/.  Unfortunately, we were only able to locate the one pictured above, but the kids had a great time treasure hunting.  It’s a great way to discover places you wouldn’t have otherwise known about.

Enjoy!  And happy trails to you… until we meet again.

The late June day was picture perfect,  and we couldn’t wait to get out on the lake.  My husband and his friend were a bit more anxious than I.  They got up at the crack of dawn and headed out with Tin Tin (our vintage canoe) and all of the fishing paraphernalia. 

Grout Bay

Just down the street, around the corner and a few zig zags away, hubby and his friend launched Tin Tin in Grout Bay.  A $5 day use pass was required to park and picnic in this area.  A $25 boat permit is also required for the day (or you can buy specials such as 2 days for $40 to save a  little cash).

My husband described the area as peaceful and serene.  When I met up with him later that morning, I would concur.  It is a calm, marshy inlet with very little activity…  the hidden gem of the northshore.  Keep it secret, keep it safe, ok?

No, they didn’t catch anything*.  Thanks for asking.  Apparently the fish in this particular lake enjoy jumping out of the water and taunting said fishermen. 

(*My hubby corrected me on this point.  He actually did obtain 2 very small catfish.  He doesn’t want to talk about it though.)

Pleasure Point Marina

Next, we loaded up Tin Tin and headed further down the road to Pleasure Point Marina, where our friends rented a sweet pontoon boat.  These generally cost about $60/hr, but look out for coupons that can reduce the rate substantially.  We found one in a local paper publication.

The pontoon boats have very comfortable seating, an awning, and powerful motors that will really get you moving on the lake.  They aren’t quite as exciting as speedboats, but a great choice if you have a small group and you’d like to stop and fish for a bit.  Our family climbed aboard our friends’ rental for a relaxing little lunch cruise.  We managed to tether Tin Tin and amazingly enough, no one managed to fall overboard in the process.  A+ for us!

Back at the docks after a couple hours of boating.  I’m sorry I didn’t take any boating photos.  I was afraid to take the camera out… I’ve heard too many canoe tipping stories.  Haven’t you?  But in my mind’s eye, I remember a breathtaking blue expanse, tread on by happy boaters, skiers, and water crafts, and a lake’s edge bordered by houses and estates of various architectural styles.

The ducks were happy to greet us upon our return.  We repayed them with some bits of bread we’d saved from our lunch.

Here are a couple links, if you’d like to have a boating and/or fishing excursion of your own.

http://www.bigbeartodaymag.com/Backpack_GroutBay.html (Grout Bay would make a great hike, too.)

http://www.sbnfa.org/bigbeardiscoverycenter.php (Info on Adventure Passes)

http://www.pleasurepointmarina.net/  (They also rent kayaks.  We were told by some kayakers that we were cheating with our trolling motor.  We passed those guys. hehe)

Enjoy!

We took the back route on the 18 through Victorville.  It’s hot and desert-like in its landscape, but we wanted to avoid LA traffic, and the front route, which has far more windy roads and hair pin turns.  We stopped at Costco in Victorville to fill up on gas and grab some tasty meat to BBQ.

After about a 20-30 minute drive up the mountain, we beheld the beautiful lake and inhaled the fresh air and scent of pine trees.  It was about 80 degrees out… perfect.

Here’s a little foot bridge we saw people strolling on and fishing from.

We were ready for some serious outdoor fun!  Does this look a scene out of  “Vacation” or what?  Chevy Chase where are you?  We found a vintage Gruman canoe and a Minn Kota trolling motor on good ‘ole Craigslist, paired them with some life jackets from eBay, and we were ready for some great boating and fishing experiences.  We tried out “Tin Tin” (the canoe.. yes, we name our stuff) on Lopez Lake, near Pismo, and are hoping to stay at Windsor again so we can take her out on the Russian River some day, too.  But now, she’s itching to get out on Big Bear Lake.

The Worldmark at Big Bear is a among the pines and has a very open feeling to it, which is quite typical of Big Bear.  I like the way the units are set up a bit like cabins dotted throughout the property.  There are 2 upstairs and 2 downstairs units within each “cabin.”  It felt quieter and roomier than some of the other properties that have many attached units.

There is a rec room with ping pong, pool, air hockey, video games and tables to play board games.  They had root beer floats for $1 every afternoon.  A room off to the side has a big screen tv and cozy fireplace.  Outside, there’s a little play structure, a tennis court and horse shoes as well.  I didn’t manage to get a photo of the pool, but it’s a good size with a kiddie pool and large spa.  As others have mentioned, the water is a bit murky, but Big Bear is a dusty place… it’s not a big deal if you just remember you’re in the “great outdoors.”

I played pool with my hubby on the front table.  I beat him… twice.  I wasn’t going to say anything, but I just can’t let that fact go.  My father taught me well.   And now I will move on…

We stayed in a 2 bedroom twin once again.  Although there are several grassy areas on the property, much of the landscaping around the units consists of dry river beds, which I assume is to help with run-off from the snow.  Our unit was near a large covered spa.  I think there were at least 2 of these on the property.  Oh, they would feel great after a day on the slopes!

The property is fairly close to Bear Mountain and Sierra Summit… just a few minutes drive.  A grocery store and shopping center are a short walk from the back of the property.   In other posts, I’ll show you some trails, the village and some outing ideas.  Enjoy!

Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park

If you are up for a drive and enjoy Gold Rush history, you might want to take a day trip up to Coloma.  The drive is about 1.75  hours through some beautiful scenery.  You’ll pass a few towns with antique shops on the way.

On the way to Coloma, we stopped at the Gold Bug Park (http://www.goldbugpark.org/) in Placerville.  We enjoyed touring the mines there.  You can rent a hand held audio guide that will tell you about the Gold Bug Mine and Priest Mine.

In Coloma, we enjoyed learning about James Marshall’s gold discovery and Sutter’s Mill (http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=484).  There is also a museum filled with 49ers artifacts.  We happened upon a wonderful story teller who regaled us with the story of Black Bart, the infamous stagecoach robber.  Expect a lot of walking as you explore the various areas of the park, including James Marshall’s humble cabin, the Sutter’s Mill reconstruction, and the lovely American River.

Enjoy!

Over the river and throught the woods…  A beautiful half hour drive (from Angels Camp) up the mountain will take you to the charming town of Columbia.  (http://www.columbiacalifornia.com/)  If you’d like to go back in time, this is a great place to do it.  The town has been preserved as it was in the 1800′s.  Visit the site to discover the programs and activities you can enjoy while visiting.

We participated in a “1800′s school program” that can be reserved for school groups.  You can, however, watch these programs from a plexi-glass encased area near the front door of the schoolhouse.

There is a museum as well as many store fronts that have been converted into scenes from the era.  One can even use the little wooden bowling alley they have set up in on of the areas.  You may also want to visit the Livery and Blacksmith’s shop.  Or call the candle shop to find out when you can dip your own candle in a little courtyard between a couple shops.

Or visit this candy shop that looked like it came straight out of the 1970′s version of Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory!  They make most of the candy from scratch.

There are also opportunities to pan for gold and take rides on a stagecoach.  (Be sure to check ahead of time for schedules… they only run during some months of the year.)

Mercer Caverns

Murphys (http://www.visitmurphys.com/ )  is another nostalgic little town about 20 minutes from Angels Camp.  They have a museum and lots of little shops and restaurants to enjoy.  It’s a gem really… charming, small town living at its finest.

We explored Mercer Caverns (http://www.mercercaverns.com/) while we were there.  The locals in Calaveras County seem to think these are the best caves to explore.  You’ll descend 16 stories below ground level, led by a knowledgable tour guide who’ll tell you stories and inform you about the various formations.  Be warned:  there are a lot of steep stairs and you’ll need to duck in several areas.  Children under 5 may be a little scared of the experience.

After your tour, you can enjoy their wonderful gift shop, crack open a geode, or do some gem mining.  They’ve really got a great set up. 

If you would like to enjoy other caverns near Angels Camp, you can also explore others like the California Caverns and Moaning Caverns.  Here is a site that has all kinds of cave and zipline fun in the area:  http://www.caverntours.com/  Enjoy!