A Kayaking
Kayaking
Gold Country Ambience
Walking the streets of any of the historic mining towns elicits a unique feeling. You're in the past and the present simultaneously.
In Sonora, what was once an Indian trail is now a downtown street lined with shops and restaurants in historic brick buildings that have been there for a century and a half. You'll hear hourly the bell from the courthouse, built in 1898 with pressed Roman yellow brick and still in use today.
In Columbia, you'll see a town that looks very much as it did in 1858--the stone and brick buildings having iron shutters to guard against the fires that ravaged the town in Gold Rush times.
In Jamestown, the look is Victorian--a few landmark Gold Rush buildings remain, but the wooden buildings and wooden sidewalks reflect Jamestown at its peak at the turn into the 20th century, fueled by the boom in underground quartz rock gold mining and its status as the headquarters of the Sierra Railway.
In Murphys, the look is different still--many stone buildings from Gold Rush days, carefully preserved. A creek running through town that in the 1850s was the source of the richest placer gold in the region that runs into what today is the downtown Murphys Park.
Walking the streets of any of the historic mining towns elicits a unique feeling. You're in the past and the present simultaneously.
In Sonora, what was once an Indian trail is now a downtown street lined with shops and restaurants in historic brick buildings that have been there for a century and a half. You'll hear hourly the bell from the courthouse, built in 1898 with pressed Roman yellow brick and still in use today.
In Columbia, you'll see a town that looks very much as it did in 1858--the stone and brick buildings having iron shutters to guard against the fires that ravaged the town in Gold Rush times.
In Jamestown, the look is Victorian--a few landmark Gold Rush buildings remain, but the wooden buildings and wooden sidewalks reflect Jamestown at its peak at the turn into the 20th century, fueled by the boom in underground quartz rock gold mining and its status as the headquarters of the Sierra Railway.
In Murphys, the look is different still--many stone buildings from Gold Rush days, carefully preserved. A creek running through town that in the 1850s was the source of the richest placer gold in the region that runs into what today is the downtown Murphys Park.
Activities in Gold Country South
History. You can get a deeper sense of Gold Rush history by visiting the many Museums. And there's Railtown 1897, where you can visit the roundhouse of the historic Sierra Railway, and, in season, ride a steam train. And stagecoach rides in Columbia and gold panning in Jamestown and Columbia.
The Arts. There's Live Theatre in Sonora, Columbia, and Murphys. Art Galleries in Sonora, Murphys, and Angels Camp.
Shopping. The major towns have many unique shops. There are antique stores in Jamestown, Sonora, Murphys, and Angels.
Wine Tasting. Murphys and the vineyards and wineries surrounding it is mecca for wine, but there is recent new activity in Tuolumne County, particularly Jamestown.
Casino. Slots and table games in Tuolumne, run by the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians.
Outdoor Sports. There's cave exploring and ziplines and Vallecito, horseback riding in Vallecito and Tuolumne, golf in Sonora and Angels, llama hikes in Sonora, and hiking everywhere.
Water Sports. There's fishing, boating, houseboating, and water skiing at New Melones Reservoir, and river rafting at Knights Ferry.
History. You can get a deeper sense of Gold Rush history by visiting the many Museums. And there's Railtown 1897, where you can visit the roundhouse of the historic Sierra Railway, and, in season, ride a steam train. And stagecoach rides in Columbia and gold panning in Jamestown and Columbia.
The Arts. There's Live Theatre in Sonora, Columbia, and Murphys. Art Galleries in Sonora, Murphys, and Angels Camp.
Shopping. The major towns have many unique shops. There are antique stores in Jamestown, Sonora, Murphys, and Angels.
Wine Tasting. Murphys and the vineyards and wineries surrounding it is mecca for wine, but there is recent new activity in Tuolumne County, particularly Jamestown.
Casino. Slots and table games in Tuolumne, run by the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians.
Outdoor Sports. There's cave exploring and ziplines and Vallecito, horseback riding in Vallecito and Tuolumne, golf in Sonora and Angels, llama hikes in Sonora, and hiking everywhere.
Water Sports. There's fishing, boating, houseboating, and water skiing at New Melones Reservoir, and river rafting at Knights Ferry.
Town Guides
Hover on the buttons below for a description of each of the towns; Click to go to the visitor guide for the town.
Hover on the buttons below for a description of each of the towns; Click to go to the visitor guide for the town.