Murphy’s CA. Population 1,944, has a rich history as a gold rush era settlement established in 1848 by brothers Dan and John Murphy. It was soon a bustling tent town with its own court of law run out of the casino tent. Jurors reportedly got liquored up by both sides before giving their verdict!

With friends and family sending me links to all the cool events I’ll be missing in the Bay Area, and articles warning of heat bubbles and monstrous crowds at my destination, I embarked anyway!