Page 151 - 2018 Travel Guide to California

rough-and-tumble boomtowns, to somno-
lent 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.
SMITHING at Columbia State Historic
Park, opposite top; Folsom Hotel, above; fly-
casting for trout, left.
INSIDER’S
»
TIP
The signatures of everyone from
Mark Twain to Ulysses S. Grant to
Charles Bolles (better known as
Black Bart) are on display in the
register of the historic MURPHYS
HOTEL, one of the oldest
continually operating hotels in
California.
murphyshotel.com
2018 T R AV E L G U I D E TO C A L I F O R N I A 149