Jamestown
The Hollywood film industry’s attraction to Railtown 1897 State Historic Park has helped keep its steam-hissing locomotives and railroad cars alive and chugging. Combining industrial heritage and railroad history, “The Movie Railroad” has long been a popular location for films (credits ranges from early talkies to modern films like Back to the Future Part III). Walking tours of the still-working railroad roundhouse are a big hit with kids and devoted train fans.
But this is more than a movie set and tourist attraction; it is a functional roundhouse where locomotives and cars are still inspected, repaired, and rebuilt—just as they have been for more than a century. Budget cuts almost put an end to the beloved site, but enthusiasts and local residents worked together to keep Railtown 1897 open indefinitely. There’s an operating turntable, a working blacksmithing area, and a belt-driven machine shop. And every Saturday and Sunday, April through October, hop aboard a vintage passenger coach pulled by an authentic steam locomotive for a six-mile/ten-kilometer, 40-minute cruise through the scenic Sierra foothills. With remarkable grace, the handsome old trains—underbellies glowing and black towers belching steam—roll across the landscape. Watch the calendar for special themed excursions, like Wildflower Trains in spring.
Central California
Discover Gold Country
Bumping up against the west side of the Sierra Nevada Range, on California’s eastern side, the Sierra foothills that make up the Gold Country are California Classics.
Discovery of gold in 1848 sparked the largest mass migration in U.S. history, with more than 300,000 pioneers heading west.
Here, the state’s past, present, and future merge into one unforgettable destination. Pan for gold like a 49er, bike through meadow-and-oak countryside, and raft a rapid-filled river, then explore historic towns with Old West architecture and a new generation of pioneers, opening up outstanding wineries, farm-to-table restaurants, inviting shops, and charming B&Bs.
Spotlight: Sacramento
Like many cities, California’s state capitol is undergoing an energetic renaissance. Young adults looking for an urban vibe are moving into this...
Juicy heirloom tomatoes and just-picked strawberries. Super-sweet peaches shaped like mini Ufos. Artisanal cheeses, emerald-green olive oils, local wildflower honey—California’s farmers’ markets...
Back in 1854, the first California State Fair was held in San Francisco, with the cows standing on display in ...
Nevada City
This forest-wrapped hamlet of handsome Victorian-era homes and tree-lined streets 60 miles/98 kilometers northeast of Sacramento is one of the...
Empire Mine State Historic Park
Get a one-two punch of experiences with a visit to this remarkable site in Grass Valley, roughly 60 miles/92 kilometers northeast of Sacramento....
Auburn
History and modern culture merge with outdoor adventure in this appealing town on the west side of the Sierra Nevada. While Auburn has long been...
Marshall Gold Discovery
Driving the sleepy stretch of winding Highway 49 between Auburn and Placerville, it’s hard to believe the region was the booming heart of one of...
Pluck a bit of gold from a riverbed scoured by the original ’49ers. Descend deep into the earth to check out unusual rock formations. Get your heart racing with a ride down whitewater rapids. For...
The American River
The most popular whitewater-rafting river in the West, the American tumbles through the Gold Country, an inviting jumble of churning rapids, deep...
Columbia State Historic Park
With throwback charm and a treaure trove of historic artifacts, this park presents the Gold Rush in living, breathing color. Costumed...
Elegant estates at the end of country roads lined with vineyards? Check. Low-key wineries housed in converted barns? Check again. Urban wine trails with hip in-town tasting rooms? Yup,...
Sip Wine in the Gold Country
The roots of old Zinfandel grapevines run deep in this northeastern region of California, with winemaking here dating back to the Gold Rush days...
Part frog-filled folklore, part classic country-fair fun, this annual event stands out as one of those wacky crowd-pleasers that everyone should see at least once in their lives. This competition...
Murphys
Like San Francisco in the mid-1800s, Murphys was one of California’s richest boom towns, but this appealing town in Calaveras County still feels...
“Mountains. Magic. Music.” The tagline of this lively, four-day event says it all. Families and fans are encouraged to turn the event into a giant camping party, and there’s tons of space for...
Apple Hill
Autumn in the Gold Country means clear blue skies, fiery red grapevines, and an invigorating snap in the air. It’s apple season too, with more...
The multistage, 575-mile Amgen Tour of California is the largest cycling event in North America, and every May the course brings...
Moaning Cavern
Discovered by miners in 1851, this vertical chamber near Angels Camp is so massive it is the largest public cavern in California—big enough to...
From almonds and olives up north to avocados, oranges, and dates in South, the Golden State has a crop (or 10) for nearly every stretch of terrain. After all, ...
Begin your trip in the center of the state, home to the capital city of Sacramento. Like many cities, California’s state capital is undergoing an energetic renaissance. Young adults looking for an urban vibe are moving into this low-key city, with microbreweries, gastropubs, and trendy boutiques...
With throwback charm and a treasure trove of historic artifacts, this park presents the Gold Rush in living, breathing color. Costumed docents do more than lead tours of this carefully preserved Mother Lode town—the state’s second largest city at the peak of the Gold Rush; they actually live and...
