Five destinations not far from Stanislaus that are great winter getaways

The words “home for the holidays” carry a warmth, but how about spending at least part of the holidays in a different home?

As couples search for romantic winter getaways and families look for the perfect lodgings amid winter break, here are five spots within about an hour and a half of Stanislaus County for your last trip of the year.

Whether you’re looking for a cozy winter cabin or a coastal respite, between Arnold, Murphys, the Pajaro Dunes, Pinecrest Lake, and Sonora, these places offer a winter haven close to home.

Head to a cabin in the city of Arnold

Near the Sierra Nevada, Arnold receives its fair share of snow for anyone searching for a white Christmas. The area is almost littered with intimate cabins and cottages that can be found on AirBnb and Vrbo. Arnold is also known for its snow sports, allowing experts and amateurs alike to explore skiing, snowboarding, tubing, snowmobiling and more.

If you’re looking for an excuse to break out your puffy jacket or a weekend in a woodsy cabin, Arnold is a quiet spot to enjoy a winter vacation. Depending on your reservation, it might even have a hot tub.

Holiday festivities run through December with the Spirit of Winter Festival from Dec. 5-7, the Dec. 14 kids crafting with Santa event and the Jack Knight Hall toasty fireplace for hot cocoa and cider from Dec. 20 to Jan. 4.

And if you’d like to visit some good restaurants in the area, Sarafina’s Italian Kitchen, Snowshoe Brewing Company, El Vaquero Authentic Mexican and Bristol’s Ranch House Cafe all come highly recommended.

Try any of the beautiful inns in Murphys

Also on the outskirts of the Stanislaus National Forest, Murphys is a quaint town with beautiful inns and locally owned businesses.

Home to the Victoria Inn, the Dunbar House Inn and the Courtwood Inn, Murphys has many lodgings for vacationers, plus wonderful places to thrift, antique or simply shop, including the Independent Mercantile, Murphys Treasures, Man Cave, Books on Main and Willow Antiques.

No trip to Murphys is complete without checking out the Gold Rush historical sites and museums, the Art on Main gallery, the Lavender Ridge Vineyard Tasting, or any wine tasting in the area, really.

For lovers of the stage, the Murphys Creek Theater is putting on a production of the 1998 off-Broadway play “Over the River and Through the Woods” through Dec. 14 and tickets are “pay what you can.” As for restaurant options, Alchemy Cafe, Murphys Irish Pub, Murphys Pourhouse and V Restaurant Bistro and Bar are well-rated restaurants in the area.

Take a trip to the Pajaro Dunes

The Pajaro Dunes Resort next to Watsonville is located right on the Monterey Bay beach. It’s a majestic site for anyone looking forward to hiking trails, board-game time with family and relaxation at the beach.

And if you’re willing to drive just 10 minutes, you can visit the Sierra Azul Nursery and Garden with a beautiful sculpture garden, or a cider tasting with the Martinelli’s Company Store. Also nearby are whale watching from Moss Landing or a visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Because the Pajaro Dunes are more isolated from restaurants and grocery stores, many trip advisers recommend visiting restaurants in Watsonville like Cowboy Corners Cafe, The Fish House Bar and Grill, La Perla Del Pacifico, Cadillac Cafe and the Rustic Table Bistro. They also recommended bringing groceries if you plan to cook for yourselves at the Dunes Resort.

Holiday events are abundant in the nearby cities. On Dec. 14, the Watsonville city plaza hosts Noche de Brillo, or Night of Sparkle, on Dec. 14, with areas to play with snow, train rides, holidays markets, a holiday parade and more. The Santa Cruz Fairgrounds also has a holiday lights display for people to visit on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings from Nov. 28 to Dec. 24. The holiday lights display will have a Krampus-themed twist on Dec. 4.

If you’re looking to sightsee or have adventures outside the holiday theme, within an hour drive of the Pajaro Dunes is the Año Nuevo State Park, which also offers a guided tour of seals in their natural habitat from Dec. 15 to March 31. Within a 30-minute drive is UC Santa Cruz’s arboretum.

Lodge by Pinecrest Lake

The Pinecrest Lake Resort is one option among many to stay at if you’re looking for a vacation near the Stanislaus National Forest.

With many opportunities for outdoor fun, like hiking one of the trails surrounding the lake or skiing and snowboarding at the Dodge Ridge Mountain Resort, Pinecrest Lake is a perfect outdoor, family-friendly option for a holiday vacation.

The Dodge Ridge Mountain Resort is hosting a Santa Sunday on Dec. 21 for the third year in a row. Santas show up to participate in the Santa Run by skiing and snowboarding their way down Gentle Ben.

For those looking for more low-key time in the snow, Leland Snowplay is nearby for snowman building and tubing. The Long Barn Lodge also has the only ice-skating rink in the county and it runs through mid-March.

Though there are fewer options for restaurants at Pinecrest Lake, the Strawberry Inn Restaurant and the Steam Donkey Restaurant and Bar are cute, delicious spots for a meal.

Stay in a historic Sonora inn

Between The Inn on Knowles Hill and the Royal Olive Manor, there are some beautiful inns to stay at if vacationing in Sonora.

The city is known for its Christmas Town celebrations, where visitors can enjoy a free carriage ride on the first three Fridays in December by stopping at either the St. James Episcopal Church or the Courthouse Square.

There’s also Country Christmas Line Dancing at the Armory on Dec. 18, and the Last Minute Holiday Shopping Market on Dec. 20 at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds.

Finally, at nearby Railtown 1897 State Historic Park, the Polar Express comes to life in the form of an hourlong train ride to the North Pole with a visit from Santa on Fridays and weekends from Nov. 28 to Dec. 21.

To learn more about the history of Tuolumne County, visitors can go to the Tuolumne County museum in Sonora. The Moaning Caverns Adventure Park is also less than a 30-minute ride for those interested in cave tours, gold panning or axe throwing.

As for restaurants, the Diamondback Grill, Mandy’s Breakfast House, Emberz and the Armory all offer fantastic menus for a dinner out on the town.