Page 165 - 2017 Travel Guide to California

from rough-and-tumble boomtowns, to
somnolent hamlets, to destinations for
biker rallies, to, finally, genteel venues for
weekend getaways sporting comfortable
B&Bs, sophisticated restaurants, antique
stores and nearby wineries. Among the
most popular are Sutter Creek, Nevada
City and Murphys. The two largest towns
of the Sierra foothills—Sonora and
Placerville—offer all this, plus a large
selection of motels, restaurants and shops
in all price categories.
The Great Outdoors
From May to mid October, the American
River is California’s top venue for white-
water rafting. The river flow is controlled
by releases from upstream reservoirs, so
rafters are assured of good conditions. Out-
fitters offer both half-day and full-day trips
through Class III whitewater, ending up at
Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
or Folsom Lake. In the northern Sierra, the
town of Downieville has become a center
for mountain biking. Local bike shops offer
rentals and shuttles on old mining roads
and single tracks from the casual to the
technical, including a 15-mile ride with a
4,000-foot descent. Houseboaters flock to
vast, sprawling Gold Country reservoirs
such as New Melones Lake, Don Pedro Lake
and Lake McClure.
THE GOLD COUNTRY has many historic
buildings, including the Emporium in
Jamestown, opposite, and this red brick
gem in Nevada City, above; kayaking on the
American River, El Dorado County, left.
INSIDER’S
»
TIP
The HANGTOWN FRY, a curious
concoction of oysters, bacon and
eggs, was allegedly born in 1849
when a prospector tossed a satchel
full of gold dust onto the bar in
the EL DORADO HOTEL in
Placerville—then known as
“Hangtown”—and demanded the
most expensive meal in the house.
They still serve the dish in town
at the BUTTERCUP PANTRY.
2017 T R AV E L G U I D E TO C A L I F O R N I A 163