Family-friendly holiday rentals in Calaveras County

The Shed in Vallecito

This charming little studio cottage was originally built sometime between 1910 and 1925 to house a bakery in conjunction with the butcher shop next door (main house). In the early 1930’s the bakery was closed and the shed was converted into a studio apartment for a young man who lived there for over a decade. In later years it has served as a polling place for Vallecito elections and as a storage facility for various owners. In 2010, after years of neglect, we began a major renovation project in the hopes of returning it to its former glory as a livable cottage. The renovation included new foundation and flooring, new exterior siding, energy efficient windows and doors, and the reframing of the interior walls in order to accommodate the 10” thick insulation. A new bathroom was installed along with the promise of a complete kitchenette to be added in the winter of 2014. The result is a refurbished cottage that is extremely quiet and very comfortable due to the extra thick walls, new insulation, and dual pane windows and doors. It is now completely handicapped accessible. The queen sized Murphy bed has a comfortable memory foam mattress, plenty of pillows and a down comforter and can be folded up for more space during the day. There is a private patio out side the sliding glass door for relaxing. The cottage sits back from the street and is surrounded by a beautiful garden area that offers visitors a quietly, serene setting in which to sip a morning cup of coffee or unwind with a nice glass of locally made wine. A visit to the Vallecito area offers a wide assortment of historical, cultural and outdoor activities. The small town of approximately 300 people is both quiet and welcoming. A short walk, can allow a visitor a peaceful journey into the surrounding countryside where cattle and horses graze in the pastures and birds sing in the trees. Within a 5 minute drive, visitors can wander the shops and sample the wines of the area along Murphy’s trendy Main Street; go spelunking in Moaning Cavern, hike the trail and swim the creek through Natural Bridges or hit the historic district of Angels Camp and a movie at the 75 year old Angels Theater. A 15 minute drive will take you to Columbia State Historical Park and it’s well known Fallon House Theater, New Melones Lake for fishing, boating and waterskiing and Calaveras County Fairgrounds, site of the historic Jumping Frog Jubilee. A 30 minute drive will take you to Calaveras Big Trees State Park, the shopping district of Sonora, Mercer Caverns and Cave City or the Stanislaus River at Camp 9. Summer hikes, kayaking and fishing abound within a 1 hour drive from ‘The Shed’ in the Stanislaus National Forest. Winter activities include skiing or snowshoeing at Bear Valley or Dodge Ridge 1 hour away, even Kirkwood Resort is a 2 hour drive. For those with a passion for driving, we are situated about a 2 hour drive from Yosemite National Park, The San Francisco Bay Area, and Sacramento. When the pass is open in summer a 2-3 hour drive over the Hwy 4 National Scenic Byway takes you through the majestic scenery of the Sierra Nevada, past cold rushing streams, meadows of wildflowers and blue alpine lakes to Markleeville, Grover Hot Springs State Park, and the Lake Tahoe region. A drive along Historic Hwy 49 will take you through the heart of California’s Gold Country where the many small towns offer a bounty of antique stores, unique boutiques, small independent restaurants and interesting museums and mining sites.

Cabin Getaway Near Yosemite!

Escape to The Knotty Hideaway, ranked a Top 6 Best Airbnb near Yosemite by MSN Travel! ✨ This listing is for the main level only — a 1 bed/1 bath retreat designed for couples or small groups. Cozy up by the fireplace, stargaze through the skylight from your king bed, or sip coffee on the deck overlooking forest views. 🌲 A stylish, intimate basecamp for your Yosemite adventure. Bringing more family or friends? Book the full 2 bed/2 bath cabin experience! airbnb.com/h/theknottyhideaway-yosemite

Country Studio Charm - Yosemite Gateway

This sweet, studio apartment features a large kitchen, with all the essentials. One bathroom and one comfy queen bed. This little gem is tucked away on a three acre parcel, in a quiet country setting, nestled on a tree studded hill. Nearby destinations include Yosemite National Park, Big Trees, Dodge Ridge, Columbia Historic State Park, Historic Downtown Sonora, Ironstone Vineyards, New Melones Lake, Pinecrest Lake, Moaning Cavern, Natural Bridges and other popular Gold Country destinations.

Bixel Bungalow-in Historic Columbia Gold Rush Town

Pets Welcome, no extra fee. Relaxing base for adventure in the Sierra Foothills. Detached house & garden. We put a lot of care into ensuring this is a comfortable, aesthetic and functional place to stay. 1 mile from Columbia State Historic Park, 5 miles to Sonora or Jamestown and Railtown 1897 State Historic Park. 14 miles to Murphys , 37 miles to Dodge Ridge Ski Resort, 50 miles to Bear Valley Ski Resort. 53 miles to Yosemite. Guests always say "the best Air BNB we have ever stayed at!"

Wimberly Cottage @ Red Rooster Ranch

GET AWAY TO THE COUNTRY CHARM OF MURPHYS CALIFORNIA. Wimberly Cottage @ Red Rooster Ranch. An exceptionally cute, clean, classy, chic, comfortable, cozy cottage awaits. A 5 minute walk to the Town’s shops, restaurants, fairytale park, wine-tasting, concerts - relaxation and entertainment. Queen bed, soaking tub and shower, outfitted kitchenette with microwave/convection oven, patios with barbecue, washer/dryer, TV, WiFi, in a beautiful garden setting. THE FINEST MURPHYS HAS TO OFFER.

Whispering Pines Apartment

The fall colors are spectacular for a hike up scenic Highway 88! Our apartment is located under our main house, with its own keyless private entrance. You'll enjoy a quiet and peaceful setting among tall pines, with wildlife abound. Amador County is rich in gold mining history, and has many charming gold rush towns for you to visit. If your travel journeys include both Yosemite and Lake Tahoe, we are conveniently located between the two ( 2 1/2 hours from Yosemite, and 1 1/2 from Tahoe)

Cottage at the Broken Branch

Experience the historic Gold Country and Yosemite national park staying in this newly renovated 1800s mining cabin. Originally built in the late 1800s for the miners of the Crystal Rock mine, the cottage now has heat, air conditioning, highspeed wifi, a kitchen, and bathroom. The Broken Branch is a small working ranch, so the beautiful sunrise views include several horses, donkeys, and goats. It's about an hour and a half to Yosemite and only minutes from downtown Columbia and Sonora.

Stylish Treetop Cabin with Sauna & Jacuzzi

The smell of redwoods, burning woods, hot chocolate. Chirping birds, rustling of deer in the forest. And cozy blankets make a weekend in the woods the best place to be. The Stylish Treetop Cabin in the woods is a design gem among the treetops with rustic décor, fab art, soft cozy linens, relaxing hot tub, sauna & plunge pool. The cozy cabin is well equipped and is perched up in the treetops, close to hiking, dining, skiing/snowboarding, wine tasting, golf, pools and nearby lakes.

The Hideaway

The Hideaway is an enchanting one room casita situated on the outer crest of the property, The Confluence. Wake up to the sunrise with a lush *View* of the natural countryside from your private deck. The Hideaway is accessed by a foot path (200ft) from the Main House. The Private Bathroom is off of the Main House (200ft walk from the room). From the parking area to the room, it is roughly 400ft. There is no kitchen or cooking appliances other than a hot water kettle and a mini-frig.

Homestead Barn Loft: Tesla Chargers

Newly built detached barn with a cozy loft apartment upstairs on our 6 acre homestead. We offer 2 Tesla electric car chargers, high speed Comcast WiFi (89.6 Mbps download 35.9 Mbps upload), brand new mattresses and a cozy place to relax. Just a short drive to Yosemite National Park Entrance (just over an hour-56 miles away), Pinecrest Lake, Historic Downtown Sonora and Columbia, Dodge Ridge Ski Resort, Black Oak Casino and countless hiking trails in the Stanislaus National Forest!

Private Guest Suite Near Downtown Murphys

Our guest suite is located one mile from downtown Murphys. You are a 3 min drive or short walk from 30+ wineries, good eats, and beautiful walks! For those looking for adventure drive 8 min to explore Mercer Caverns, 25 min to Big Trees State Park for beautiful hikes, or ski/snowboard 45 min away at Bear Valley Mountain Resort. Enjoy a comfortable, clean, and convenient stay with a modern bathroom, open style space, and all the creature comforts to make your stay a relaxing one!

Arnold cozy cabin

Only one block off of Hwy 4, walking distance to stores and eateries. One bedroom with one double size bed and a large loft, (up the spiral staircase) with one double size bed. Sheets and Towels are provided. Nice deck for outside dining. Dog friendly! (The yard is not fenced). Note: A small air conditioner is in the living room. It is a cabin in the mountains so it will not be as toasty as home. NOTE: Verizon works, AT&T has little or no reception in this area.