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Start off an old-timey day in the Gold Rush town of Mariposa at Über-kitschy Happy Burger Diner.
(Photo: Courtesy of Happy Burger Diner) |
You’re now well acquainted with Yosemite and its environs, so take a day trip to a very different place�the Gold Rush town of Mariposa (about 90 minutes away). Fuel up for the day at the Happy Burger Diner, a kitschy spot where locals chow down on dishes like the deceptively named Little Breakfast ($7.49), a plate piled high with three eggs, country-fried potatoes, and breakfast meats. Next, window-shop along Highway 140, which runs through town�the Mariposa Marketplace, housed in a 1896 building with its original tin ceilings and steel shutters, spans several shops selling ceramics, handmade jewelry, and antiques. Make your way to the Mariposa Museum & History Center (adult admission: $4), where you’ll learn about the hardscrabble lives of miners who flocked to the town, named by its original Spanish settlers for its large number of butterflies. Instead of a big lunch, claim a bar stool at the homey, retro Sugar Pine Café for a slice of blackberry or coconut cream pie ($4.25). Then it’s on to Yosemite Zipline, a seven-line course ($95) with spectacular views of the rolling Sierra foothills and friendly guides who provide an excellent overview of local history. They’ll point you to a post-excursion drink at the Hideout Saloon, a dark, stone-walled basement bar where bootleggers and miners gathered for beers after a long day’s work. For a taste of Mariposa’s modern brewing culture, take a five-minute walk to Prospectors Brewing Company, which offers four year-round beers, including Mariposa Midnight, an oaky ale ($4.50), plus a rotating selection of seasonal brews. End the day at 1850, which opened last year, where creative twists on classic comfort food, like fried chicken with wasabi buttermilk dipping sauce ($16), are best enjoyed in a cozy booth, under the dim light of Edison bulbs.