Page 23 - 2019 Travel Guide to California

HISTORIC DOWNTOWN NEVADA CITY,
left; entrance to the Santa Cruz
Boardwalk, below; Marina del Rey, bottom.
TAHOE CITY: Recreational Capital
At an elevation of 6,250 feet, Tahoe City, on
the northwest shore of Lake Tahoe, Cali-
fornia and Nevada’s lovely freshwater
alpine lake, is all about the water and sur-
rounding mountains. The Placer County
community is a jumping-off point for
skiing and snowboarding in winter and
boating, swimming and fishing in summer.
Calling itself a city is a whimsical touch, as
the unincorporated town has just 2,000
residents. Situated near the headwaters of
the Truckee River, Tahoe City offers popular
recreational outfitters, hotels and retail, as
well as craft beers and hearty food. The
annual Oktoberfest features excellent beers
such as Lagunitas and the aptly named
Sierra Nevada. The Tahoe Art Haus and
Cinema has nine beers on tap, leather
rocking seats, movies, music and dance.
NEVADA CITY: Gold Rush Pedigree
In 2010, this postcard-pretty inland com-
munity in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada
counted 3,068 residents—1,000 fewer than
it had in 1880 in the afterglow of the 1849
California Gold Rush. These days, travelers
journey to Nevada City’s woodsy setting on
the western slopes to admire impeccably
restored 19th-century buildings, take in
scenic hillside views, ski the nearby moun-
tains, and head to High Country attractions
such as nearby Lake Tahoe. The Gold Rush
is memorialized at the Miners Foundry Cul-
tural Center and by historical mining
exhibits in City Hall. Eye-pleasing and
walkable, much of downtown Nevada City
is listed on the National Register of Historic
Places. The Nevada Theatre, a smartly
restored heritage building, hosts a variety
of live entertainment.
SANTA CRUZ: Beach, Boardwalk & More
This classic beach town is located 75 miles
south of San Francisco on the northern