Just a short drive from beautiful alpine lakes, towering Giant Sequoias, and a low-key ski resort with a family-friendly vibe, Arnold feels undiscovered in all the best ways. For those in the know, Arnold has been a secret vacation spot for over a hundred years. It didn’t take our family long to understand why Arnold has such a loyal—almost cult—following. Home to Calaveras Big Trees State Park and just a stone’s throw from wine tasting, snowboarding, and the historic charm of California’s Gold Country, this small town with a big heart won us over by not trying too hard. With around 2,000 full-time residents, Arnold is the kind of place where people know each other and catch up in the grocery line. For families like ours who are pressed for time and on a budget, Arnold is a welcome alternative to its glossier, pricier, more crowded neighbor over Ebbetts Pass, where Tahoe awaits. We love Tahoe. But sometimes we want a throwback to a simpler time, without traffic, crowds, and fanfare. Arnold is easy breezy.

Happy Lake Chalet is our family cabin in Arnold. We love to spend long weekends here, snowboarding, hiking, and living the lake life. We also enjoy sharing this secret with friends who are looking for a happy, all-season retreat. Happy Lake Chalet’s location, just outside of town in the family-focused Blue Lake Springs community, makes it ideally situated for family vacations. Take a short stroll to a private lake and pool or a short drive to Bear Valley Ski Resort, the Stanislaus River, the Calaveras wine trail, Calaveras Big Trees State Park, Murphys, or Columbia State Park.

Happy Lake Chalet is family-friendly, with 3 good-sized bedrooms on the ground floor (2 kings and a queen), a living room nook with an extra twin, a loft bunk room that sleeps 5+ children, an open kitchen with wrap-around bar that seats a crowd for families that like to cook together, a deck and grill for dining under the stars, and a prime location, nestled in the trees, yet just a short walk or drive from Blue Lake Springs’ amenities, including a pool, 2 private lakes, tennis, basketball, pickleball, lawn games, and summer activities like outdoor movies, pool parties, and a talent show. Well-behaved dogs are welcome.