10 Ways to Get the Most out of Christmas Vacation in Calaveras

Put the “vacation” back into “Christmas vacation” by dodging the dishes and enjoying dinner or brunch on us. No need to slave away in the kitchen; when you step out on the town you’ll be treated like family in one of our charming downtown restaurants, in a warm, festive atmosphere. Imbued with holiday cheer, the atmosphere is half the fun! With dozens of restaurants to choose from, you are sure to find something to meet everyone’s tastes.

Explore restaurants by town here: Restaurants in Angels Camp I Restaurants in Arnold I Restaurants in Copperopolis I Restaurants in Mokelumne Hill I Restaurants in Murphys I Restaurants in San Andreas I Restaurants in Valley Springs

Staying in Angels Camp with picky eater’s in tow? Check out our guide for Kid-Friendly Eats throughout Angels Camp here.

Traveling while vegan? Murphys restaurant scene has many great vegan options that will satisfy vegans, carnivores, and omnivores alike including Rob’s Place, Murphys Grille, Doke Sushi, Aria Bakery, Joma’s Artisan Ice Cream, Lila and Sage Cupcakes and more!

No holiday would be complete without a trip to the movies! Angels 6 Theatres is the perfect place to top off your Calaveras holiday experience with the latest releases as well as a weekly retro-movie night in this beautiful historic art-deco style building with its 6 state of the art auditoriums.

Built during the silent film era, this historic theater comes with all the modern perks–including comfy high back reclinable loveseats with flip-up armrests, and the latest blockbuster releases. Angels 6 Theatres is a special treat.

Small town friendliness, delicious GMO-free popcorn, (more affordable prices for tickets and concessions than the average California cinema), and quaint downtown atmosphere all contribute to make this a fun place to make new memories with loved ones. Check current Angels Camp showtimes here.

Before you head out, remember to save room for locally made ice cream before or after the show right across the road at Yummy Ha! Ha! Ice Cream.

Did you know lots of shops and wineries offer special discounts through New Years? It’s true. The last weeks of December are a great time to explore and save. Enjoy a leisurely stroll for those last minute flashes of inspiration in one of our small family owned shops and boutiques; or play secret Santa, by dropping the kids off at a movie, local park, or Cub Club at Bear Valley Resort. Even if you’ve been worrying about that last minute holiday shopping or stocking stuffers, you can breathe a sigh of relief and pretend you had this planned all along.

Nothing says Christmas vacation like holiday sweets. From Calaveras bakeries, to artisan ice cream, a 100 year old candy shop, historic grocery stores, Calaveras coffee shops, tasting rooms and more; no matter where you are in Calaveras County, surprise your loved ones with an early morning treat or bring a little something special to the holiday table or pre-dinner party from one of Calaveras’ local bakeries or coffeeshops this Christmas Vacation. With this many options, there’s almost always someplace nearby to grab something sweet. Whether looking for holiday pies, tarts, turnovers, cinnamon rolls, or scones, explore Calaveras bakeries here.

6. Christmas Vacation in Calaveras – Get Cozy Indoors

It’s not everyday we get to cozy in with our loved ones indoors. Make sure to pack your cosiest clothes (including warm socks), snuggle in with some of those delicious bakes we mentioned earlier, and some nice warm beverages to boot. Ready to add some playful memories to the mix? Whether you’re crazy for puzzles, or looking for something a little more silly, games are a great way to get cozy and bond with loved ones. Want to learn more? Read up on why Calaveras is the perfect place for next level cozy holiday hygge here.

There’s something about Christmas that puts us in the mood to travel through time. If you’re a fellow time-traveler, you’re in luck, Calaveras is not only rich in Gold Rush history, but festive museums with hours worth of indigenous American and Gold Rush history artifacts to explore. Traveling with kids? They’ll love the 3 acre Angels Camp Museum where they can burn off some energy running through one of the largest covered wagon exhibits West of the Mississippi. Not to mention seeing the largest gold leaf nugget ever found at Ironstone Vineyard’s Heritage Museum. Learn what sets each museum apart by clicking the links below:

• Angels Camp Museum & Carriage House – Angels Camp, CA
• Calaveras Big Trees State Park Museum – Arnold, CA
• Calaveras County Museum Complex – San Andreas, CA
• Columbia State Park – Columbia, CA in nearby Tuolumne County
• Ironstone Heritage Museum – Murphys, CA
• Murphys Old Timers Museum – Murphys, CA
• Red Barn Museum – San Andreas, CA
• Sierra Nevada Logging Museum – Arnold, CA
• Stories in Stones – Angels Camp, CA

There’s a reason Calaveras County was ranked as being in the top 1% most beautiful counties in the mainland United States. From caves to hikes, to golf, to fishing, and snow sports, Calaveras in December is the perfect time to explore the great outdoors. Explore all of the great outdoor activities available by town below.
Outdoor fun near Angels Camp I Outdoor fun near Arnold I Outdoor near Bear Valley I Outdoor fun near Copperopolis I Outdoor fun near Mokelumne Hill I Outdoor fun near Murphys I Outdoor fun near San Andreas I Outdoor fun near Valley Springs

From the moment wine lovers enter Calaveras County, they can sense the difference in attitude. It’s a laid-back, easy-going, meet-the-winemaker kind of vibe with endless recreational opportunities to round out a memory-making trip. The wine country here, with its Mediterranean climate and rolling foothills is perfectly suited to growing Rhone, Spanish and Italian varietals with big, bold flavor. But don’t let our laid-back attitude fool you. Calaveras wineries also win big, prestigious awards.

Oh, and don’t forget this unique fact about wine tasting in Calaveras: Not only can you visit gorgeous individual vineyards throughout the county, many wineries also have their own tasting rooms in historic downtown Murphys. In fact, there are upwards of 23 wine tasting rooms within walking distance of each other in this charming Gold Rush town of Murphys, CA.

About 50 minutes East of Angels Camp on Highway 4, Bear Valley is not only one of the closest ski resorts from the Bay Area and Sacramento region, it is often described as the most warm and welcoming resort in the Sierra.

This friendly and relaxing High Sierra escape located in the beautiful Central Sierra Mountains. Nestled off Scenic Highway 4, in the spectacular Stanislaus Forest, this year-round destination offers activities from relaxation to extreme adventure in every season, and that includes loads of ways to enjoy snow play throughout Calaveras County’s High Sierra and Ebbetts Pass corridor.

Skiing and Snowboarding
Bear Valley Resort is the place to be for some epic skiing or snowboarding. Bear Valley Resort offers a total of ten lifts and 75+ trails across 1680 ski-able acres and a 1900′ vertical drop. 25% of Bear Valley’s trails are beginner difficulty, 40% are intermediate and 35% are advanced or higher. While you’re there, don’t miss out on lessons for adults and kids as well as the special deals for first time visitors. Check current Bear Valley weather and snow conditions here.

Looking for additional snow play? From Bear Valley Adventure Company to Bear Valley Snowmobile and three Sno-Parks in the Ebbetts Pass corridor, during Christmas vacation 2019 you can enjoy other winter activities such as sledding, tubing, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, cross country skiing and more. Learn more about Calaveras Snow Play – 7 Different Ways here.

Whether you’re looking to get your heart racing or to just slow down and savor the Sierra, Bear Valley is the perfect destination to enjoy the outdoors as Mother Nature intended.