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Census designated place in California, United States
Photo: Chris Krylov, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Murphys is an old gold-mining town in Calaveras County within the Gold Country region of California. The town has been a tourist destination since the late 1800s due to its proximity to the giant sequoia trees in Calaveras Big Trees State Park. Today the walkable main street offers a number of wine-tasting rooms, restaurants, and tourist-friendly shops while providing an "old-timey" feel that hearkens back to the Gold Rush days.
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Mercer Caverns is a show cave located 1 mi north of Murphys. It is named after the gold prospector Walter J. Mercer who discovered the caves around 1885 and filed a claim. The caverns have a large number of speleothems, stalactites, and stalagmites. It is formed in a marble unit known as the Calaveras Formation. It also contains a large display of aragonite frostwork. Tours last about 45 minutes, covering a total distance of approximately 0.25 mi and descending to a depth of 161 ft below the surface. There are 208 steps while descending into the cavern and 232 steps while ascending, the equivalent of a 16-story building. The cave remains a constant temperature of 55 F; visitors should wear a light jacket and comfortable walking shoes. There is also a visitor center and store on site.
This small museum has exhibits on the local Gold Rush history and the native Miwok people who once lived in the area.
Held annually on the third Saturday in March, the Murphys Irish Day festival attracts thousands of visitors to celebrate the town's Irish heritage. Main Street fills with booths offering arts and crafts, a parade is held featuring bagpipes, horses, marching bands, and classic cars, and musicians, dancers and jugglers entertain throughout the day.
Pizza, tacos, burritos, hamburgers, ribs.
Casual fine dining.
Tasting Room for fine wines. One of the award winning wineries in the area
Ironstone Vineyards is one of the largest wineries in the country in terms of cases sold; in 2004 it ranked as America's 17th largest. The vineyards offer wine tasting, estate tours, gardens, weddings, concerts, corporate events, a gourmet deli, wine caves, and a jewelry shop.
Tasting Room and Wine Patio where wine & food pairing go hand in hand, often with live music. Active, very popular wine-centric events. Known for their estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon and Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Mourvedre, Barbera and a signature red blend Mélange de Mere. Discover a new white with their Vermentino Viognier blend.
Luxurious bed and breakfast in a historic 1880s home.
Pets allowed.
Opened in 1856, this hotel has hosted guests including President Ulysses S. Grant and Mark Twain. Today the historic hotel offers a saloon, restaurant, and nine hotel rooms with shared bathrooms including the Grant suite, which is available for non-guests to visit. There are also twenty modern rooms in separate buildings that include in-room bathrooms and most amenities that today's travelers expect. Guests in the historic hotel should be on the lookout for the establishment's friendly ghost "Eleanor". Parking is available on-site for guests.
An elegant inn that also has a restaurant, bar, and offers weekly rentals.
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