Page 123 - 2022-2023 Travel Guide to California

SPECIAL EVENTS 2022
PASSPORT TO THE GREAT OUT THERE 2022 Nearly three dozen El Dorado County
wineries participate, with a blend of wine tasting, live music, food and literary-themed
events. April 22-24, El Dorado County passporteldorado.com
CALAVERAS COUNTY FAIR & JUMPING FROG JUBILEE Wager on a jumping frog as
Mark Twain’s most beloved story is commemorated each year. May 19-22, Angels Camp
frogtown.org
BIG CRUSH HARVEST WINE FESTIVAL Sutter Creek celebrates the grape harvest.
See the harvest in action and enjoy wine samples and food pairings at many of the 45+
Amador Vintners’ wineries. Oct. 7-9 suttercreek.org
MARK TWAIN WILD WEST FEST Angels Camp returns to the days of Samuel
Clemons with period costumes, blacksmithing and saloon dancing girls. Oct. 15
gocalaveras.com/business/festivals-events/mark-twain-wild-west-fest
AERIAL VIEW FROM THE CAPITOL BUILDING, Sacramento, opposite; panning for gold, Town of
Columbia, below; gold mine in Amador County, bottom right.
MUST
SEE,
DO
• COVERED BRIDGE The longest covered
bridge west of the Mississippi stands at Knight’s
Ferry, an old-time Mother Lode town so
picturesque that scenes for Bonanza and Little
House on the Prairie were filmed there.
• knightsferry.com
• HAVE A SARSAPARILLA Step back to the
1800s at Columbia State Historic Park, with its
wood-planked sidewalks, historically costumed
shopkeepers and strict “horse-drawn vehicles
only” policy.
• visitcolumbiacalifornia.com
• APPELLATION TRAIL Leave the tippling
crowds behind as you taste rich, jammy Zinfandels
and other wines at dozens of wineries in
California’s up-and-coming wine region—Amador,
El Dorado and Calaveras counties.
• discovercaliforniawines.com
• APPLE WATCH Allow the aroma of freshly
baked apple pies, fritters, turnovers and strudel to
lure you off Highway 50 east of Placerville to a
place called Apple Hill. More than 50 growers
participate in a celebration of the apple harvest—
and of autumn itself—with cider, hayrides,
pumpkin patches, hay mazes and other family fun.
It runs from Labor Day to Christmas.
• applehill.com
• CALIFORNIA UNDERGROUND Rappel
into the darkness and explore a chamber large
enough to hold the Statue of Liberty in Moaning
Cavern near the town of Vallecito.
• moaningcaverns.com
2022-23 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA 121