Page 123 - 2023-2024 Travel Guide to California

through several distinct stages: from
rough-and-tumble boomtowns, to somno-
lent hamlets, to destinations for biker
rallies and, finally, to 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.
Outfitters offer half-day, full-day and
multi-day journeys through a choice of
several classes of whitewater. 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.
APPLE HILL, PLACERVILLE, above;
horsedrawn stagecoach, Columbia State
Historic Park, left; dining in the vineyard
at Vina Castellano, opposite.
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
2023-24 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA 121