These scenic small, twin reservoirs are located off the Spicer Reservoir Road. The setting is more rustic than Spicer Reservoir or Lake Alpine. No developed recreation facilities exist at either lake; however, the area is popular for day use, dispersed camping and paddle sports such as canoeing and “sea” kayaking. A primitive boat launch is available at Union Reservoir, where the maximum boat speed is 5 mph. Utica Reservoir is managed for non-motorized boating.
 
 
 
WHAT: Utica & Union Reservoirs
WHEN: Open June to October
WHERE: Off Highway 4 (3 miles east of Bear Valley) take West Lake Alpine Road (which becomes Forest Route 7N17) 4.5 miles to Utica Reservoir. For Union Reservoir, take Forest Route 7N17 past Utica Reservoir to Forest Route 7N75; this will take you directly to Union.

Possibly the longest-running event in the state’s history, The Calaveras County Fair & Jumping Frog Jubilee goes as far back as 1893 and now delights thousands of visitors each year as Calaveras shows off its best in entertainment, exhibits, livestock, arena events and food.

What’s with the name, you ask? Mark Twain’s first success was a short story — a funny little tale with a trained frog at its center and Angels Camp (Murphys’ neighbor) as its setting — titled “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County”. With a name like that, the fair has a lot to live up to, so how could it NOT include a frog jumping contest? Yes, indeed, as if all that incredible food, music, arts and exhibits weren’t enough, the Frog Jump is truly unmissable!

It’s FOUR DAYS of old-fashioned state fair fun, sensory-overload in the best possible way!

In addition to livestock shows, arts and crafts exhibits and wine tasting, events include:

• Frog Jump
• Miss Calaveras Scholarship Pageant
• Calaveras Idol
• Apple Pie Eating Contest
• The Kiddie Parade
• The Wild West Show
• Puppet’s & Players Children’s Theater
• Ranglin’ and Ropin’ Events
• The Paul Maurer Carnival
• Fire Engine Expo

With a little something for everyone (or, truly, a LOT of somethings for everyone), the Calaveras County Fair & Jumping Frog Jubilee is quintessential Calaveras and the perfect introduction for those who’ve yet to experience this beautiful piece of the Sierra Nevadas.

For more information:
The Calaveras County Fair & Jumping Frog Jubilee

WHAT: The Calaveras County Fair & Jumping Frog Jubilee
WHEN: Thursday, May 17 – Sunday May 20
WHERE: Angels Camp, CA

“If wine can have legs frogs can have teeth…” That’s what the owners of the down-home Murphys winery state with wry humor and a lovely sincerity. While the winery is young (its first crush was in 2005) its presence in the community of Murphys is already solid as a rock, and their wines are consistently well-crafted gems — from Torrontes, Pinot Grigio and Fume Blanc to sumptuous reds like Tempranillo, Grenache Barbera.

And they always aim to please with live music offerings from local musicians, mouthwatering pairings and excellent, always-with-a-smile service.

For more information:
Frog’s Tooth Vineyard

WHAT: Frog’s Tooth Vineyard
WHEN: Tasting room open Monday-Thursday: 11:00 AM-5:00ish PM; Friday: 1:00-6:00ish PM, Saturday & Sunday: 11:00 AM-6:00ish PM
WHERE: 380 Main Street, Suite 5, Murphys, California


What brought you to buy at Red Apple Ranch versus somewhere else in the area?
We drove by and looked at the area in 2006 when we were up for a Thanksgiving picnic at White Pines Lake and thought that maybe, just maybe, we might relocate up here someday.

What do you like most about living in Murphys and Red Apple Ranch?
We just love living right in between Murphys and Arnold. The location of our home is FABULOUS and we feel like we are on vacation every day. The neighbors are fantastic; the people are very welcoming and our social calendar is always full.

What would you like to tell a prospective buyer?
Come up and take a look, but be prepared, you might never want to go home!

It’s another gorgeous week in Murphys! So why not kick off the weekend early with something a little different? A classic car show, perhaps?

Murphys Classic Car Cruise Nights continues this Thursday night at Murphys Historic Hotel with fantastic music provided by local DJ “Decade Music”, some cash raffles and tasty treats! Proud owners of classic cars from all over Calaveras will be gathering in downtown Murphys to cruise Main Street and show off their fancy handywork. It’s a great way to get out, mingle with the neighbors and enjoy good company, good tunes, good food and good weather!

WHAT: Murphys “Classic Car Cruise Nights”
WHEN: Thursday, May 17, 6:00-9:00 PM
WHERE: Murphys Historic Hotel, 457 Main Street, Murphys, CA

Have you ever noticed the olive trees dotting the stretches of grapevines in Calaveras County’s wine country? What’s their story? Do they benefit the vineyard soil? Are they used in the winemaking process? …Are they just pretty? What’s with the olive trees?

As it turns out, olives and grapes grow in similar climate and soil conditions. California delivers the third largest output of olives in the world so why not throw some olive trees into the mix?

While the plants are quite similar in terms of conditions and timeline — harvest time is September/October and the first harvests tend to be in the third or fourth years — the economics of harvesting and processing the plants differs vastly when one looks at each individual piece while the sum total remains relatively the same. For example, it costs approximately $2,000 a year to maintain an acre of grapes, yet only $500 a year to maintain olive trees. Harvesting costs for grapes are approximately $100 per ton versus $200 per ton for olives. The biggest difference comes when we look at the price of production per gallon, especially when we consider the amount of oil that comes from a ton of olive fruit versus the amount of wine from a tone of grapes. While grape production may be twice the cost of olive production, price of production per gallon of olive oil is twice the price of production per gallon of wine. What does all of that mean? To put it incredibly simply and in very general terms, it pretty much balances out.

So the next time you’re taking your leisurely drive through the Foothills on your way to California Cavern or White Pines Lake or Calaveras Big Trees Park and you notice an olive tree nestled into a hillside vineyard, you can say: “Ya’ know what? Olives and grapes grow in the same conditions and, in the end, make about the same amount of profit for the grower. Didn’t know THAT, did ya’?”

Murphys is a proud town — proud of its diversity, its fine wines and dining, its beautiful location, its history, its support of local artistry of all kinds and its endurance as a community. Moreover, it could be said that the folks that make up the community of Murphys understand the importance of nurturing and educating the younger generation, as they are not only another key source of pride for the community, but the future and sustenance of Murphys continued endurance as a community.

With this in mind, the Calaveras Youth Mentoring Program was created. Administered by the Calaveras County Office of Education and funded by grants, individual community members, and local businesses and service organizations, the organization offers young people in 1st through 12th grades the opportunity to build a relationship and learn from adults outside of their families and peer groups. In an age dominated by electronic media, children run the risk of becoming more disconnected socially. Volunteers with the Calaveras Youth Mentoring Program become positive adult role models and provide support, advice and guidance to young people.

They’ve also created an incredible mentoring program, “Friday Night Live”, pairing high school students with junior high students, combining mentorship with youth leadership. The program was implemented in California as a pilot program in 1988 and, in 2007, Calaveras County joined the program after receiving a grant.

Calaveras Youth Mentoring Program is a truly wonderful program for all participants, young and old. Support the community, nurture relationships, educate the younger generation and enrich your own life in the process. It’s a beautiful thing.

For more information:
Calaveras Youth Mentoring Program

The folks behind Moaning Cavern Adventure Park weren’t lightly tossing out the word “adventure” when creating the park’s title. This park truly offers some unique activities for all levels of the self-proclaimed adventurous.

First, let’s talk a bit about the Moaning Cavern itself. The main chamber is so massive, it could actually enclose the Statue of Liberty entirely. In fact, it is actually the largest chamber available to experience in a public cavern in California. Impressive.

There are three ways to experience the cavern, and the first is a 45-minute guided walk-tour. Visitors descend 165 feet into the caverns as guides explain the history and geology of the cavern, and discuss the explorations that have traced the cavern to its current depth of 410 feet. A fascinating end to the tour is the site at which excavators discovered the bones of prehistoric humans who stumbled into the mouth of the cavern, falling to their death centuries ago.

While the walking tour is an exciting yet calmly paced adventure, the park also offers a rappelling experience for those seeking something with a bit more punch, allowing thrill-seekers to descend 165 feet into the cavern on a 45-minute excursion. All the high-quality equipment — including hard-hats, ropes and gloves — are provided.

As if that wasn’t enough, they also offer a three-hour spelunking tour with the option of beginning the tour with the rappelling adventure. Most areas of the cavern are undeveloped (meaning no lights, stairs, or walkways), so visitors are offered an exhilarating opportunity to explore by climbing and belly crawling with lighted helmets to show the way. This trip is conducted by experienced, highly trained guides, so no experience is necessary.

Not all the excitement happens hundreds of feet below the foothills, however. Above ground, Moaning Cavern Adventure Park also offers a brand new 32-foot custom designed climbing tower, offering routes for beginners and experts. The tower comes equipped with a belay system, allowing visitors to be harnessed and clipped to the route of their choice. When finished with the route, climbers simply jump back for a smooth, automatic descent.

The last attraction, but certainly not the least adventurous by any stretch, is the zip lining. Moaning Cavern now offers three above ground, no experience necessary zip lining adventures. The Regular Zip sends adventurers zooming over the gorgeous grounds at speeds exceeding 40 miles an hour, while the Tandem Zip allows the experience to be shared by two. For those who’ve secretly longed to fly like Superman (or Supergirl, for that matter), the Super Style Zip has a harness which offers visitors the chance to experience the zip line in true superhero fashion, soaring like a bird over the park. You’ll need to provide your own cape, however.

Moaning Cavern Adventure Park is truly a park for those with the desire to experience something a bit different. With so many options at your fingertips, you could easily bring the family or a group of friends and know that there will be something for everyone. AND it’s just a ten-minute drive from Murphys.

For more information:
Cave and Mine Adventures: Moaning Cavern Adventure Park

WHAT: Moaning Cavern Adventure Park
WHEN: Open daily, hours change seasonally
WHERE: 5350 Moaning Cave Road, Vallecito, CA

We’ve discussed the walking tour of historic Murphys, and we’ve truly chatted at length about the amazing culinary offerings the town has to offer… but what if we told you there was a way to combine the two? On Fridays and Saturdays, you can do just that as Murphys Food and Wine Tour takes hungry historians on a 1.5 mile walk through Murphys, stopping at (at least) eight different restaurants, bakeries and food shops along the way. Learn a little something about Murphys fascinating history while tasting your way through historic downtown. It’s enough food for a meal yet you’re walking the whole time. Incredible food, wonderful stories, a little wine AND a bit of exercise. The perfect afternoon!

For more information:
Murphys Food and Wine Tours
Or call 800-407-8918 directly

WHAT: Murphys Food and Wine Tours
WHEN: Every Friday and Saturday, 11:30 AM-3:00 PM

Okay, so perhaps the typical day to celebrate Mexican heritage is Cindo de Mayo, but Chef Melanie Klann decided to extend the holiday a few days. With all the fantastic food to be enjoyed, why not? Melly’s Kitchen will, for one day, be called Mellicita’s as she and her fine crew whip up a non-traditional Latin menu — a fusion of tastes from Spain, Cuba and the Caribbean.

It’s TOMORROW, however, so be sure to call 209-728-9817 right away for reservations! It will TRULY be a night not to be missed!

For more information:
Newsome Harlow Themed Dinners Page

WHAT: Diez de Mayo: A Tropi-Latin Evening and Cigar Bar at Newsome Harlow
WHEN: Thursday, May 10th at 6:00 PM
WHERE: The Kitchen at Newsome Harlow Wines, 403 Main Street, Murphys, CA