California Aureate Rush Towns: Mariposa

The Fishing Pond at the Restful Nest

It was the summertime of 1999 when nosotros outset navigated these roads. According to the directions the innkeeper gave me, if I got to town on highway 140, I’ve gone likewise far but I constitute the Yaqui Gulch turnoff. When I got to the quondam highway, expect for the brick H2O good house, Buckeye Road would start correct side yesteryear side to it…don’t plough right, don’t plough left. Just form of become cockeyed direct onto it. Past the 3 mailboxes on the left, wearisome downward as well as expect for Buckeye Creek Road as well as plough left…if yous larn to Ben Hur Road, you’ve gone agency likewise far…

It is a challenge the outset fourth dimension yous endeavour to respect the Restful Nest but ane time yous do, you’ve constitute bed as well as breakfast paradise.  We’ve come upward hither several times over the years to recharge, see the area’s many sights as well as attractions, and…most of all…to see amongst the owners, Jon as well as Lois Moroni, who direct hold turned into friends.

Watch the Video!

It’s been likewise long betwixt visits, however, every bit nosotros haven’t been hither since Tim went to college. Their lab mix, Casey…who’d fetch sticks long afterwards the stars came out…has since died. Jon has gone through a bout of cancer, successfully thankfully, as well as Lois no longer smokes.

Still, it’s the same bed as well as breakfast nosotros came to know as well as love.

With alone 3 rooms (there’s genuinely 4 but Lois alone rents 3 at the most) assault xi acres, it’s a fleck of sky sitting 5 miles away from town amongst hiking trails, line-fishing pond, cracking stargazing, wild animals sightings, as well as a puddle as well as spa.

It’s non technically accessible. The lav is inwards a narrow infinite as well as the pocket-size shower is also likewise cramped for a chair to exercise but at that topographic point is a shine path to the room and, since nosotros notified them ahead of fourth dimension virtually the chair, Jon build a ramp therefore Tim’s wheelchair could ascend to the upper balcony as well as dining room.  (If yous quest a fully accessible room, yous powerfulness endeavour the Best Western or Comfort Inn inwards town)

We pass or therefore fourth dimension catching upward amongst the Moroni’s afterwards dinner as well as therefore caput downward to our room to residue up. There is a TV inwards the room but you’ll alone larn 3 channels hither inwards these rural hills.

In town, nosotros respect a identify to common uphill from the primary street therefore it volition hold out slowly to coil down. We create a trivial window shopping  as well as souvenir hunting on the quondam sidewalks. Mariposa is an quondam Gold Rush town therefore access tin hold out spotty. One halt of the block is ramped but the other halt is stairs therefore you’ll quest to double dorsum to larn to the other side of the street.  Some of the shops inwards these quondam buildings create non direct hold access but many do.

Mariposa was known for pulling a lot of golden out of the ground. Today, it’s non every bit touristy every bit other Gold Rush towns further upward highway 49 inwards the Motherlode but to a greater extent than of a existent town. People hither run regular jobs as well as there’s a sense of community here.  Kids belong to 4H or the FFA as well as the fairgrounds are busy amongst local celebrations as well as festivals…we similar to exhibit upward on Labor Day weekend for the county fair.

John C. Fremont, the soldier as well as explorer, called Mariposa home. At the halt of the sidewalk, Bett’s Silver Coin eating seat sits inwards the adobe edifice he constructed…the alone 3 flush adobe edifice inwards the Motherlode.

At the due north halt of town, side yesteryear side to the Burger King, is the Mariposa Museum as well as History Center with its mining postage mills as well as historical dioramas of local history.

At the southward halt of town, inwards the parking lot of the fairgrounds, is the California Mining as well as Mineral Museum.  With a recreated mine tunnel as well as hundreds of examples of gems, it’s a existent treasure to see. The star of the exhibit hither is the largest intact golden nugget e'er constitute inwards the state, a existent whopper at 13.8 pounds.

Both museums accuse $4 for admission.

Jon as well as Lois serve a huge breakfast to guests everyday as well as nosotros don’t locomote out to consume likewise much inwards Mariposa but at that topographic point are a set out of adept places to consume when the hunger does eventually strike. Our favorites are the Nachos at Castillo’s as well as the pizza simply a few doors downward at the Pizza Factory.

Mariposa is exercise of the Sierra Foothills AVA as well as has a few upward as well as coming wineries inwards the area.  While Silver Fox is opened upward yesteryear appointment alone as well as Chappel Winery has a storefront downtown, yous tin see the other 2 wineries…Casto as well as Butterfly Creek…for tastings.  If yous similar friendly dogs, hold out certain to see Butterfly Creek, located on Triangle Road on the agency to Yosemite, simply eastward of town.

All Outdoors California Whitewater Rafting tin direct hold yous on 1 or 2 24-hour interval trips downward the Merced River, which is simply a few miles due north of town.  Yosemite is 35 miles to the eastward as well as ane of the best 24-hour interval trips yous volition e'er do.

Old golden towns abound inwards the expanse as well as are fun to explore. For a to a greater extent than hands-on experience, yous tin pan for golden at the mining museum or at Paystreak on highway 140 simply due west of town.  Many shops inwards the expanse also sell pieces of golden mined inwards the area…one mine is soundless operating commercially.

Not every bit good known every bit the other Gold Rush towns further upward highway 49, Mariposa volition give yous that Gold Rush feeling without beingness overwhelmed yesteryear tourists. Give it a endeavour side yesteryear side fourth dimension you’re headed towards Yosemite…we mean value you’ll halt upward inwards dearest amongst it similar nosotros are.

Darryl

Copyright 2012 – Darryl Musick

All Rights Reserved