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 Mariposa County
lives life large. From the tiniest butterfly to Yosemite National Park with
famed Half Dome, unparalleled grandeur sets the stage for vacations that
live up to expectations--and surpass them!
Like gold prospectors who came to Mariposa County to strike it rich in towns
such as Coulterville (where you can stay in Hotel Jeffery that once served
miners their liquor, their ladies, and a place to sleep,) travelers today
are finding gold nuggets. One of the most stunning pieces of gold is on
display in the town of Mariposa, home to the California State Mining and
Mineral Museum.
Smithsonian Institute
called this the best state gem museum in the U.S., and it lives up to its
reputation. A huge, sparkling gold rock weighing 13.8 pounds is one of the
highlights of the collection artfully displayed in this California State
Parks showcase. Comprised of crystallized gold that shimmers in the
light, the rare Fricot Nugget is the largest remaining intact mass of
crystalline gold from 19th century California. Discovered in the American
River in 1864, its size and beauty draw the imagination to the miner,
William Russell Davis, who found this specimen and must have declared,
"Eureka!" Sitting in a safe deposit box in Calaveras, California for over 65
years, the nugget's rightful owner, Marie Berton, agreed to donate this
world class specimen to the museum in honor of her father, Jules Fricot. He
was a Grass Valley (Gold Country) resident who purchased it from the gold
miner, displayed it in Paris Exposition in 1878, and kept it in the safe
deposit box where it sat even after he passed away. How different life
may have been for earlier settlers, the Miwok Indians, who ignored gold in
the river beds, not having any use for something they couldn't feed the
family with!
Another fantastic museum in the town of Mariposa houses many artifacts, gold
rush collections, and documents key to the formation of Mariposa County. A
large wall map in a room that houses a Gutenberg press offers a visual
display that the "Mother of all Counties" once comprised one-fifth of the
land in the State of California. Docents provide guided tours and relive the
past through activities and special celebrations at the Mariposa Museum.
In ghost towns, forests, and mountains
that whisper the history of thousands of years, Mariposa County's famed
Yosemite National Park is a worthy moniker representing a county whose name
in Spanish means "butterfly". One of 58 California counties that vacationers might otherwise
overlook features the striking Half Dome, a natural rock formation
immortalized by Ansel Adams in black & white photos. The famous photographer who invented the zone system is remembered
for contributions to preservation and promotion of the region, including the annual Bracebridge
Dinner that Adams helped shape. With a love of culture and an eye toward
nature, he artfully captured the essence of striking
mountain formations carved by glaciers, and became one of the best promoters
of Yosemite, selling his photographs of the park to collectors around the
globe. While the Ansel Adams Gallery inside the park sells his prints at
affordable prices, his original collection has been valued at $250 million,
and a single photo sold in 2006 for over $600,000!
The beloved Yosemite that Adams so fiercely fought to
preserve is today focused on conservation. It takes a huge effort to protect
the fragile ecosystem, according to park rangers who meet and greet some of
the three million annual travelers who visit Yosemite Valley. Paved paths
designed to keep tourists from trampling the pristine meadows, and a policy
that prohibits removing anything from the park (including pine cones,) help
minimize and mitigate damage caused by millions of cars, campers, tour buses
and people. The park's green programs are extensive and reach even the
luxury hotels such as Ahwahnee, Wawona and Tenaya, where recycling is
mandatory and biodegradable products are cutting edge.
Who wouldn't want to
protect and preserve this paradise? Mariposa's butterflies gracefully
meander in meadows, part of a magical, surreal scene framed by cascading
waterfalls that come to life in the spring, spilling melted snowpack into
the Merced River. A fantastic place to stay along the river, Yosemite View
Lodge in El Portal, sits on the western edge of the national park less than
12 miles from the heart of it all. With some special rooms and suites
overlooking the Merced, travelers who discover that the mountain hotels in
and around the park are completely full, agree that this is one of the best
kept secrets. With several restaurants and a gift shop on site, amenities
include spacious rooms with conveniences such as microwave ovens, stovetops,
and a small refrigerator in most rooms.
Downstream a bit further from the hotel and the mountain, you
can suit up and climb into a guided whitewater raft excursion, enjoying the
river first-hand. Considered some of the best rafting in California, class
four and five rapids offer plenty of excitement and challenge, and the
perfect way to cool your jets on a hot summer day.
For mellow water
sports, rent a houseboat on McClure Lake, and enjoy views of the scenic
Sierra foothills, taking it all in from the center of cool. Houseboats
include sleeping quarters for up to 10 or 12 people, full kitchens,
bathrooms with showers, high definition television, and even a slide that
you can climb on and land in the lake for a refreshing swim.
Mariposa's
accommodations run the spectrum from the four diamond Ahwahnee Hotel, a
National Historic Landmark, to an equally inviting Tenaya Lodge offering
resort amenities such as indoor and outdoor swimming pools, full gym, on
site restaurants with world class cuisine, an espresso bar, and an
incredible calendar of events with themed weekends and holiday happenings.
Big surprises come in
unassuming places such as Coulterville, however, less than 90 minutes west
of Yosemite Valley. The ghost town is home to Hotel Jeffery, an authentic
gold rush hotel built in 1851. With no less than 17 friendly spirits
sharing the space, you can roll back the clock more than a century as you
soak up the vibe and commune with the likes of President Theodore Roosevelt,
one of the esteemed hotel guests. While he is not believed to be one of the
hotel's ghosts, the playful characters that are reported offer an exciting
element, and promise of an experience for those willing to open their minds
to the unexplained. Indisputably memorable are the mesquite smoked ribs or
prime rib served in the hotel restaurant. Slow cooked over flavorful wood,
the tender meats simply melts in your mouth!
Before you go: If you are planning a trip to Mariposa County, home to
Yosemite National Park, there are many museums, cultural attractions and
events throughout the year. A new guide published by Yosemite/Mariposa
County Tourism Bureau provides complete coverage of the events and
attractions you won't want to miss. Order the guide online at
homeofyosemite.com, or call and request your guide at (
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