Caverns & Arnold, California

This week I wanted to write about a trip I took in summer to Arnold. I’ve been posting a lot of flowers and gardens on my blog so I thought Arnold would be a good place to write about to separate all those posts. That way it doesn’t feel like I’m writing the same thing every week.

Arnold

Before making a reservation, I had never heard of Arnold. I am guessing that almost all of you haven’t either. It’s a small town right at the edge of the Stanislaus National Forest (next to Yosemite). The only reason we ended up going here is because of our timeshare. With the specific timeshare that we have, we can go on week long last minute trips for an extremely affordable price. A whole week in Arnold cost us only $400. And since we live two hours away, we didn’t have to fly either. The drive to Arnold was also very easy. It was manly empty roads and driving through farmlands. 

Accommodations

Mountain Retreat Resort

Address: 936 Cypress Point Drive, Arnold, CA, 95223

Resort: (209) 795-4447
Reservations: (866) 469-8222

My favorite part about Arnold would have to be our resort. Even though it wasn’t some new fancy resort, it was very homey. The whole time we were there I was thinking about how incredible it would be to come here in winter with a large group of friends. For one, it would be dirt cheap with my timeshare and if everyone split the cost. The condo slept 8 people, so one week would be the same as a single night in a hotel. Going in winter would be fun because there’s skiing and snowboarding in the area.

The condo was two floors plus a loft. The down stairs floor had two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The floor we entered on was where the kitchen, living room with pullout couch, and another bathroom were located. There was a loft above the kitchen that sleeps two more people. It would be the perfect place for a getaway with friends or for large families. The lobby of the resort had a nice indoor swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna, gym, theatre, and game room.

I didn’t take any pictures of the resort, but their website has photos that accurately depict what the resort looked like when I went.

Things to Do in Arnold

Golfing

Swimming

Fishing

Camping

Hiking/Biking

Horseback Riding

Exploring Caverns

Snowmobiling

Skiing/Snowboarding

Places To Eat 

Giant Burger – 846 Highway 4, Arnold. We went here twice during our stay because I really wanted to try more milk shake flavors. They had so many unique flavors and they tasted delicious. The menu was extensive for a family-owned burger place!

Sarafina’s Italian Restaurant – 794 Highway 4, Arnold. If you’re craving Italian food in Arnold, this is the place to go! Sarafina’s is popular and was crazy busy almost every night. Make sure to check if they have availability before you go or you may have to wait to be seated. 

El Vaquero – 925 Highway 4, Arnold. The second highest rated restaurant in Arnold right after Sarafina’s. They have authentic Mexican entrees that taste and look great! It’s definitely the local favorite for Mexican food.

Mercer Caverns

Since the Caverns were on our way home, we decided to head there right after packing up and leaving Arnold. I’ve never had an interest in visiting caverns before but I’m so glad I got to experience it!

The Mercer Caverns were discovered in 1885 by Walter Mercer. I don’t remember all the history of how it was discovered, but I do remember feeling like I was taken back in time.

The Caverns mining company did a wonderful job displaying their panning and fossil recovery activities. The gift shop and tours inside the caverns were also out of this world. I loved looking through the piles of cool rocks, stones, gems, and geology nicknacks in the gift shop. Their selection was impressive for a place that feels so secluded. 

It felt a bit surreal being 165 feet below ground. It can be a little frighting for some people because you’re basically in a dark, weird looking hole in the ground. But even though I get claustrophobia, I felt okay. It was a little scary when the guide was pointing out all the tiny tunnels men would have to crawl through. It sounded exactly like my worst nightmares.

If a trip back to the wild, wild west sounds fun to you, I think you’d really enjoy all that Calaveras County has to offer.

Overall, our time in Arnold was a nice little retreat away from home. It’s definitely a place for those who enjoy the great outdoors and camping more so than the hustling and bustling of a large city. 

-Ayla♥