Eating & Sleeping
Murphys 1
5 Fire Wood Californian $$
(%209-728-3248; http://www.firewoodeats.com;
420 Main St; mains $6-14; h11am-9pm; c)
When the weather’s sunny, this lofty minimalist
kitchen has a casual alfresco atmosphere, with
wines by the glass, pub grub and toasty wood-
fired pizzas.
5 Mineral Modern American $$$
(%209-728-9743; http://www.mineralrestaurant.
com; 419 Main St; mains $10-30; noon-3pm &
5-8:30pm Thu, noon-8:30pm Fri & Sat, 10am-
3pm Sun) Creative lunches and brunches, with
chef-made dishes like avocado-agave pudding
or shiitake pâté, make this mod restaurant
stand out from the pack. Reservations advised.
4 Murphys Historic
Hotel & Lodge B&B, Lodge $$
(%209-728-3444, 800-532-7684; http://www.
murphyshotel.com; 457 Main St; d $89-179) This
1850s hostelry where Mark Twain once slept
anchors Main St. The original structure is rough
around the edges, with shared baths, a bar
and an old-school dining room. The adjoining
building has bland but contemporary rooms
with private baths.
4 Victoria Inn B&B $$
(%209-728-8933; http://www.victoriainn-murphys.
com; 402 Main St; r $125-350; aiW) This
downtown B&B is free of dusty antique clutter,
but thankfully still has claw-foot tubs, sleigh
beds and balconies. Enjoy tapas and Calaveras
County wines on the verandah of the next-door
bar and restaurant.
Calaveras Big Trees State Park 2
4 Calaveras Big Trees
State Park Campgrounds Campground $
(reservations %800-444-7275; http://www.
reserveamerica.com; off Hwy 4; campsites
$20-35; husually mid-May–mid-Sep; c#)
At the park entrance is busy North Grove
Campground. Less crowded, hillside Oak Hollow
Campground is about 4 miles further along the
park’s main road.Lake Alpine 4
4 Lake Alpine Resort Lodge $$
(%209-753-6350; http://www.lakealpineresort.com;
4000 Hwy 4, Bear Valley; tent cabins $60-65,
cabins with kitchenette $130-275;husually
May-Oct; c#) If you’re not ready to rough it at
rustic lakeshore campgrounds, this lodge with
a general store, bar and lake-view restaurant
has a handful of wooden and canvas-tent cabins
for families.Markleeville 6
5 Stone Fly Californian $$
(%530-694-9999; http://www.stoneflyrestaurant.
com; 14821 Hwy 89; mains $15-24; husually
5-9pm Fri & Sat) Seasonal meaty mains like pork
loin with cranberry chutney take a back seat
to wood-fired pizzas and stomach-warming
antipasto, all delivered to an open-air patio in
summer. Reservations helpful.4 Creekside Lodge Inn $
(%866-802-7335; http://www.markleevilleusa.com;
14820 Hwy 89; r $85-115) Beside busy Wolf
Creek restaurant, this quaint white-shingled
inn has a dozen tidy little rooms with pedestal
sinks, high-end mattresses and country quilts
covering the beds.Hope Valley 7
4 Sorenson’s Cottages, Cabins $$
(%530-694-2203, 800-423-9949; http://www.
sorensonsresort.com; 14255 Hwy 88; r $135-325;
c#) A year-round outdoor-adventure base
camp with a country cafe, Sorenson’s rents
charming cabins with kitchenettes and cottages
in the woods, not far from the Carson River.CENTRAL.CALIFORNIA.22
.EBBETTS PASS SCENIC BYWAY