When my family learned the Murphys was rated as one of the top ten coolest small towns to visit in California by Budget Travel Magazine, I knew we had to check it out. Just three hours east of the Bay Area, you’ll find Murphys nestled among a series of gold mining towns at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Murphys claims it is the “Queen of the Sierra,” and after visiting, I’d have to agree.
From hiking to wine tasting to playgrounds, Murphys has it all. We recommend you:
Murphys is located on the lands of the Central Sierra Miwok.
Before you go
- From the East Bay Area, drive Highway 4 east towards the mountains. The route takes about three hours depending on traffic.
- Leave the East Bay during naptime so your kiddos can sleep on the ride.
What we packed
- Standard diaper bag essentials
- Extra bags for shopping
- Stroller and/or baby carrier
- Cooler with snacks and water
- Scooter or bikes and helmets
- Hats, clothes for hiking, and a change of clothes just in case someone ends up in the creek
BASE COST
- Gas
- $8 for parking at the Natural Bridges Trailhead
- $10 for parking at Calaveras Big Trees State Park
ADD-ONS
- Shopping
- Additional activity and food costs
Top 3 Family-Friendly Activities in Murphys
1. Stroll Down the Historic Main Street
Great for seeing historic buildings and getting a feel for the town
~1+ hours, free (unless you go shopping :))
Murphys’ historic Main Street takes you along Gold Rush-era buildings, endless shops, inviting restaurants, and more than 25 wine tasting rooms. Here were our favorite things to do on Main Street:
Our favorite activities along this historic street are:
- Grab a book at the local bookstore, Books on Main
- Shop at Sierra Nevada Adventure Co. and say “hello” to the frog statue out front
- Bring home a toy or stuffy from Murphys Village Toy Store
- Peek into Murphys Pokey, the town’s historic jail cell
For more tips, check out our Top 7 Activities to do with your kids on Murphys Main Street on the blog.
2. Go Wine Tasting
Great for wine-lovers and picnicking
3+ hours; ~$20/adult
Although Murphys has over two dozen wine tasting rooms on Main Street alone, I couldn’t imagine trying to taste wine in a small room full of adults and wine glasses within reach of my toddler…so we opted for wine tasting opportunities with outdoor seating!
- Hovey Winery is located on Main Street in a tiny house surrounded by picnic benches and open space. Order a flight or a bottle from the front yard while your kiddos enjoy the outdoor space to play.
- Indian Rock Vineyards is located outside of downtown on a beautiful grassy knoll surrounded by vineyards and hills, overlooking a trout pond. We brought a picnic to enjoy with our wine flight, while the kids threw sticks into the pond.
Our kiddos loved both of these wineries almost as much as we did, but for different reasons of course. Check out our blog post for more of our tips for visiting Murphys’ wineries.
3. Check out the Playground at Murphys Community Park
Great for active little ones, scootering, and picnicking
1 hour; free
Located off Main Street just past the historic Murphys hotel, Murphys Community Park is a playground oasis in the middle of a bustling downtown.
The park has a separate structure for big and little kids, which was well-utilized by families on the weekend we visited.
The coolest part of the park was the river running through the west side, which had a small bridge connecting the park to a little tree-shaded trail. We saw kids tubing down the river, and dipped our toes in as well! Bring scooters or bikes to ride around and a picnic to enjoy on the picnic tables near the gazebo.
Check out the bathrooms if you get a chance, too. Our kiddo’s sudden urge to go potty was temporarily derailed by the beautiful mosaic along the bathroom building wall.
Care to venture further?
Here are other nearby activities that are a short drive away from Murphys
Go for a Hike on the Natural Bridges Trail
Great for enjoying nature and seeing a cave
3 hours; $8 to park
The Natural Bridges Trail is located in Vallecito, about 20 minutes south of Murphys, and understandably one of the most popular hikes in the area.
This two-mile out-and-back trail is relatively easy, short, and kid-friendly. The trail takes you downhill for about a mile to the mouth of an awesome cave you can enter and explore safely.
Parking is very limited, so come mid-week or early in the day. Also, bring cash. Parking costs $8 and is paid in an envelope upon entry.
Take a trip to Columbia State Historic Park
Great for a Gold Rush-era experience
6+ hours
Columbia State Historic Park is located 20 minutes south of Murphys and worth the drive.
Leave Murphys early to spend the entire day wandering this historic gold mining town, and feel like you’re stepping back in time to the Gold Rush era.
Our family loved Columbia State Historic Park so much that we might try to go again this year. Here are some of our favorite things to do there:
If you have an extra day to venture outside of Murphys, I recommend you take the short drive to Columbia with your family. Check out our blog post for more tips.
See the Redwoods at Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Great for hiking and camping amoung giant sequoias
6+ hours; $10 to park
The Calaveras Big Trees State Park is located in Arnold, CA. It’s just a 20-minute drive north of Murphys but feels like you’re entering another world.
This state park protects two groves of giant sequoia trees, which are the largest trees by volume in the world.
If you decide to take the side trip to Calaveras Big Trees State Park with your family, here is what you should do:
- Check out the Visitor’s Center
- Go for a hike along the North Grove Trail
- Join a Junior Ranger or Cubs program
- Bring a picnic
- Find the Discovery Tree
Although we made many meals inside our vacation rental, we ventured out to try a few local spots recommended by friends.
Here are a few kid-friendly dining options to check out with your family while visiting Murphys:
- Grounds has outdoor seating and delicious food
- V’s Restaurant Bistro & Bar is hidden down an alleyway next to Grounds Restaurant and has a beautiful outdoor patio
- The Watering Hole is located off of Main Street with 30 beers on draft, a kid-friendly atmosphere, and a creek next door to play in after dinner
Something Sweet
We love finding sweet treats when on vacation because, well, vacation for my family is a great excuse to have dessert every day.
On Main Street, you can’t miss:
- JoMas Artisan Ice Cream. It is the real deal: delicious handmade ice cream flavors in freshly made waffle cones.
- Aria bakery offers the most delicious pastries, breads, and coffee.
- Nelson’s Columbia Candy Kitchen has handmade chocolates, candies, and fruit jellies.
The Red Apple is the best spot to grab a freshly made pie and, you guessed it, apples!
Drive up Highway 4 towards Arnold for a few minutes to find the big barn full of fresh apples, honey, and pies.
You can call ahead to special order a pie too or reserve one.
Although we met quite a few families of color along our adventures in Murphys, I noticed that most business owners and staff were white.
As was the case with many old, historic mining towns of yesteryear, many miners of color were relegated to the outskirts of town. I love walking into historic buildings like those in Murphys, places where my ancestors were not allowed in or welcome, and take up space.
Here I am, a mixed-race Indigenous mama with my two mixed babies and their white dada, a union that would have been frowned upon at the least in the 1800s. I bet the founders of this city, the old “Murphys” themselves would be rolling in their graves.
Well, let them roll!
Do you ever think about what it would have been like for your ancestors to walk in the same spaces you’re adventuring to? Share in the comments below.
This post is part of a series of posts about visiting Murphys with kids. Continue the adventure with us here:
Puerto Rican & Indigenous mama of two. Bay Area native. Salsa dancer. Backpacker. Doula. Angel (she/her/hers) is a co-founding member of the Beautiful Brown Adventures team. She has traveled to over 30 countries and loves to explore the world with her two daughters & partner - one ice cream shop at a time.
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Such a thoughtfully engaging post you have shared. It brings up the history — and the backpages of the history — into light, in new and *felt* ways. It seemed like I was there, strolling along with you, as I read your article. We go there this week, and will see it through fresh eyes, ones that you opened.
Thank you so much for your response. It is honestly so great to hear when someone finds our posts useful and engaging. I hope you enjoy your trip and let me know if you have any additional suggestions of things to include here. Happy travels!
Thanks so much for these wonderful kid-friendly suggestions, and the important context — I so much appreciate your commentary on building critical racial consciousness among your kids. It’s a good reminder for us to have these conversations embedded in opportunities like local travel. Thank you!
Thank you for your kind words! The opportunities for these types of conversations are all around us, especially if you have a curious kid who asks a lot of questions. We want our kids to be thoughtful and curious, but sometimes I find I’m not prepared to respond…we are all learning!