Gold Country, California

Gold Country is a region that spans more thanwere referred to as 'placer miners' back in the
100 miles along the western slope of the Sierraday. Peruse the shops and historic buildings of
Nevada mountain range. In 1848, gold wasdowntown Placerville. Stay in the historic Carey
discovered at Sutter's sawmill along the AmericanHouse Hotel on Main Street and enjoy a gourmet
River. Word quickly spread to the east with talespot pie at Z-Pie. Step into an original Gold Country
of easy riches just waiting to be plucked off thegold mine at Gold Bug Historic Park and try your
ground. This prompted a massive and expedienthand at gold panning. Visit a local winery or head
migration to the west in what is now known asup Highway 50 to Apple Hill for some
the '1849 Gold Rush'. Very few gained the wealthcountry-fresh produce and homemade apple pie.
that was expected and instead found hardshipContinuing south on Highway 49, there are
and struggle in the many shanty towns thatseveral small towns worth stopping at to explore
popped up along the Sierra foothills. After most ofincluding Plymouth, Drytown and Sutter Creek. At
the gold was panned, sluiced, mined and strippedthe intersection of Highways 49 and 88 is Jackson
from the hills, many of these '49ers' eitherwhere there are multiple sites to visit. Visit the
returned back home or headed to San FranciscoKennedy Mine for a view of a large-scale mining
for city life and stable income. Today, Goldoperation. Several recreational lakes are just west
Country follows Highway 49 from Nevada City inof Jackson and offer opportunities for boating,
the north all the way down south of Yosemite.swimming, water skiing, fishing, camping and more.
Many of the original mining camps remain asHead up Highway 88 to Indian Grinding Rocks
historic towns like Grass Valley, Auburn, Placerville,State Historic Park to see the largest Indian
Jackson, Angels Camp, Jamestown and manymortar rock in all of North America. Join a tour
more. All of these towns feature original Victorianthat heads deep inside a gold mine at Sutter Gold
homes, historic hotels and a plethora of historicMine. Visit one of several local caverns including
sites. In addition, not only does Gold CountryBlack Chasm and Masonic Caves. Black Chasm
retain a rich gold-mining past, but it also offersfeatures an underground lake worth seeing. Every
many other attractions including recreational lakes,year beginning in March, Daffodil Hill opens to the
natural caverns, giant sequoias, Native-Americanpublic for one month and offers viewing of over
sites, wineries and much more.4 acres of blooming daffodils. Feeling lucky? - try
The northernmost towns include Grass Valley,your hand at the Jackson Rancheria Indian Casino.
Nevada City and Auburn. All three are accessibleFurther south on Highway 49 lands you at our
from Interstate 80 between Sacramento andfavorite Gold Country region. If you only plan to
Lake Tahoe. Visit what was once the largest andvisit Gold Country once in your life, the region
richest gold mine at Empire Mine State Historicencompassing Angels Camp, Murphys, Sonora and
Park. Visitors can join a tour and actually enterJamestown is where you should go. Angels Camp
the mine for an eye-opening glimpse into the lifelays claim to the only movie theatre in Gold
of an 1800's miner. Visit Cousin Jack's Pasties inCountry, which was once used to entertain
Grass Valley for a taste of traditional miner fare.miners with dancing girls and theatrical plays.
The Holbrooke Hotel is one of the oldest hotels inEvery year the Calaveras County Fair hosts their
the region and is a Registered Historic Landmark.frog jump contest at the fairgrounds just outside
Directly off Interstate 80 is the town of Auburnof Angels Camp. This contest was made famous
where you'll find a quaint, historic portion of townwhen Mark Twain wrote a short story about the
and the county courthouse that today serves asevent called, "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of
the County Museum. Just a short distant south onCalaveras County". Main Street has a 'Walk of
Highway 49 lands you at Auburn State RecreationFame' where winning frogs are forever
Area where there is a picturesque bridge alongmemorialized with brass plaques, similar to the
the American River and great opportunities forHollywood Walk of Fame. The nearby town of
hiking, swimming, whitewater rafting, gold panning,Murphys has a historic hotel and bar where bullet
fishing, camping and much more.holes can still be found in the walls and ceiling
Heading south on Highway 49 through Cool,dating back to the 49er days. Murphys is the hub
California you'll find Coloma, perhaps the mostfor Sierra Foothill wineries and has tasting rooms
historic point in all of California. Marshall's Goldalong Main Street for just about every local
Discovery State Historic Park is in Coloma where,winery. Nearby is Calaveras Big Trees State Park,
in 1848, James Marshall discovered gold atwhich features a protected grove of giant
Sutter's sawmill. There you'll find a museum ofsequoias and campgrounds. Several caverns await
historic artifacts, portions of the original town andadventurous explorers including California Cavern,
a reproduction of Sutter's mill situated in theMercer Caverns and Moaning Cavern. Moaning
original location along the American River. FurtherCavern offers a rope repel of 165 feet to the
south where Highway 49 intersects Highway 50 iscave floor. To the west of Angels Camp, New
Placerville. Originally known as 'Hangtown', it wasMelones Lake offers opportunities for boating,
renamed Placerville to honor the gold panners thatswimming, water skiing, fishing, camping and more.