California Gold Country Explorer

Book excerpt: Step back into history to the vibrant era during the 1849 Gold Rush! A single Eureka! event changed history forever, early in January, 1848, at Sutter's Mill on the American River, the first gold discovery site. On a journey of circuitous backroads and museum-quality mining towns covering one-fifth of the Golden State's scenic geography, tour California Gold Country from the easily accessible points via Sacramento, Lake Tahoe, and Yosemite National Park. California's State green highway signs depict the silhouetted miner's shovel and handle firmly staked in the ground, recalling the pioneer paths of the 1849 Gold Rush. Whether exploring James Marshall's first gold strike on the American River South Fork or visiting a bounty of vintage mining towns along Highway 49's Golden Chain, explore the Golden State's regional charm on a 300-mile adventure to the once legendary tent camps, and surrounding lakes, rivers and streams. A path of history and frantic lust for gold drove miners and tradesmen into the goldfields seeking the precious mineral, generating the single largest migration recorded. Today's Gold Country offers a range of legendary lodging, handcrafted goods, delicious farm to fork foods, craft beer, wine and spirits, and unlimited choices for recreational opportunities. Begin the tour from Sacramento, Lake Tahoe, or Yosemite National Park and travel meandering highways leading to quaint village mining towns, museums, parks and trails, with the unforgettable landscapes, throughout California's Sierra Nevada mountains and foothills.