Family-friendly holiday rentals in New Melones Lake

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.

Escape to Sierras -Ideal for long-term travelers.

Come stay at this adorable apartment in the mountains of historic Jamestown, located just 71 miles west of Yosemite National Park. This is a GREAT place to stop between Yosemite and the San Francisco Bay area! We have also hosted several traveling professionals LONG TERM and our guests find it perfect for their temporary jobs. Rent our kayaks to enjoy the beautiful lakes nearby ($20/day plus $200 refundable deposit). Please notify us in advance and have your own vehicle to transport.

Lodge at the Lake: near Pinecrest/Dodge Ridge

Tucked away in the Sierra National Forest, the Lodge at the Lake provides the perfect getaway to relax and unwind. From the moment you step foot into this beautifully furnished cabin, your cares will slip away and be replaced with the peace and tranquility that only mother nature can provide. Located in the exclusive Sierra Park gated community, there is an endless list of nearby attractions that are sure to provide lasting memories for you and your family!