Looking For Hopping Good Ideas For Weekend Fun?

May 13, 2009.

Might I suggest a whitewater rafting trip on the Stanislaus River followed by a trip to the 81st annual Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee in Angels Camp. Events are held literally around the corner from our world headquarters – honk as you pass by.

A trip on ‘The Stan’ means steep, stellar, technical Class IV whitewater, groves of Giant Sequoia trees, bountiful blooming dogwood trees and Monday morning bragging rights (the Stanislaus has some of the most technical Class IV whitewater rafting in the state). Don’t think too long or hard before booking – this river is near the end of its run for the 2009 season. (It might be do-able for one or two more weeks before the flows are too low for commercial boating and you’ll have to wait until next spring – you don’t want that, do you?)

The meeting time/place for an O.A.R.S. Stanislaus River rafting trip is 10:00 AM at Calaveras Big Trees State Park, and the take-out is typically between 3:30-4:00 pm. So if you raft on Sunday, you might miss the International Frog Jump Grand Finals (they begin at 2:30pm Sunday.) But, you could catch our favorite staff member, Tyra, at the Calaveras County Demolition Derby.

Sometime Sunday night (approximately 7 pm?), Tyra, our motorcycle-riding Utah/Wyoming Adventure Consultant and resident World Traveler, Tango Queen, Bartender Extraordinaire and Kentucky Derby Enthusiast, will be challenging for the title of the Calaveras County Demolition Derby Champ. She’s come in third and second in years past … we all know this is her year!! (Right Tyra?!)

There are some wonderful places to stay in Calaveras County and grab a bite to eat… oh, and please do get me started on the whole WINE TASTING biz around here… (Twisted Oak, Stevenot, Hatcher, Ironstone, etc.)

I’ll be the short, O.A.R.S. t-shirt clad, bespectacled chica wandering around with several cameras slung around my neck. Be sure to say hi!