Twain Harte Family Day Trips: Calveras Big Tree State Park and Mercer Caverns

While Yosemite is definitely the big Kahuna of attractions in this area of the Sierras, last weekend we were looking for a good day trip from Twain Harte and decided to head out to Calveras Big Tree State Park.

About an hour drive from Twain Harte, the park was created in 1931 to preserve the North Grove of giant sequoias and is considered the longest continuously operated tourist facility in California.

The main trail, North Grove Trail, is a very family friendly 1.5 mile loop, even supporting strollers. That said, the day we were there it was pretty crowded and we opted to head off onto a side trail which provides a slightly less crowded walk through the trees (but not for strollers). We didn't manage to do the South Grove Trail as well but I hear that is a nice hike as well and a bit longer at 3.5 miles.

On the way home stop at Murphys for a late lunch or early dinner. This Sierra town turned wine-tasting hotspot sports a variety of restaurants. Alchemy Market and Cafe had something for everyone with good food, local wines for the grown ups and coloring for the kids.

If you got an early start and have a some free time after your meal, check out Mercer Caverns--a mere 5 minutes from downtown Murphys. They provide a tour of the a pretty cool underground tavern and while definitely in the category of kitschy, this 45 minute tour was a hit with the kids. There are lots of steps but there were kids as young as three years old in our tour. The tour guide keeps it interesting and well-paced. Check the map or use your GPS to get there as it is down a well-hidden road.