Property
A bed and breakfast with a separate bunkhouse that is just right for families. It has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a private deck overlooking the horse pastures (more on that in a minute). Breakfast is more like brunch with fresh bakery items, egg dishes, sausages, and produce grown on the property. The hosts are happy to tailor the menu to your tastes (or more likely your kids’ tastes) with advance notice. There is a small play structure for kids.

Location
Between Apple Hill and Placerville, 40 miles from both Sacramento and Lake Tahoe. About 2 1/2 hours from the San Francisco Bay Area.

Sleeps
2-5.

Highlights
The owners raise miniature horses at Robin’s Nest Ranch (on the property)–your kids are going to flip when they see horses the size of dogs. They’ve got regular-sized horses and donkeys too. Face it: you’re going to be taking lots and lots of walks over to the pasture, and fielding why-can’t-we-have-a-pony questions all weekend.

Good to know
This is a pet-friendly property, and dogs are allowed in the bunkhouse suite.

Contact
www.robinsnestranch.com

Written by Jamie Pearson

Property
11 cottages and 8 log camping cabins surrounded by 14 acres of beautiful riverfront property in the heart of the Tahoe National Forest. The cottages are fully equipped; the cabins are not (think of them as a replacement for your tent). For the cabins, there are central bathrooms with flush toilets and hot showers. All accommodations have access to barbecues.

Location
On the north fork of the Yuba river off of Highway 49 in Downieville. About a four-hour drive from the SF Bay Area.

Sleeps
2-6.

Highlights
Playing in the river (safe and shallow in the summer). Panning for gold (bring a shovel and purchase a gold pan at the hardware store in town). Attending summer concerts at the Kentucky Mine Museum, and plays at the Yuba Theatre. Mountain biking. Horseback riding.

Good to know
In the unlikely event that your kids tire of the river, there is a playground a mile away in town at the Downieville K-12 School. The Lure Resort has no phones or TV’s (by design), and cell phone service is unreliable.

Contact
www.lureresort.com

Written by Jamie Pearson