| Only in the Central Sierra–
Summer Fun from A to Z
by Amy Nilson
Summer fun comes in every style in the Central Sierra. From wild whitewater and underground exploring to live theater and leisurely antiquing, there’s something and some way for everyone to relax and rejuvenate.
Just to give you a sampling, Seasons has come up with our own A-Z list of “Only in the Central Sierra” attractions and activities – a choice list of hidden treasures and great summer fun!
Amador Flower Farm
A great little find for garden lovers, nestled in the Shenandoah Valley, near Plymouth. The farm offers 12 acres of gardens showcasing 800 varieties of day lilies in growing grounds and demonstration gardens.
www.amadorflowerfarm.com
Big Trees
Truly the biggest! Experience the awesome beauty of Giant Sequoias at Calaveras Big Trees State Park, just east of Arnold. Wander through spectacular groves, enjoy camping and picnic grounds, guided tours and the on-site visitor’s center.
www.bigtrees.org, www.stateparks.com/calaveras_bigtree.html
Columbia State Historic Park
A living Gold Rush town, beautifully preserved with a vibrant business district, excellent Gold Rush museum and exhibits, and lots to do and see every day all year long. Experience a stage coach ride, see live theater, make a candle or try your hand at gold panning.
www.columbiacalifornia.com, www.friendsofcolumbiashp.org
Dardanelles
Ancient lava flows left behind this distinctive stretch of Sierra peaks, now a highlight of any visit to the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness Area. Enjoy the view from the rustic Dardanelle Resort on Highway 108, a charming high country stopover with country store, restaurant, bar and cabins.
www.fs.fed.us/r5/stanislaus/subbit/.../dardanelle.shtml
Ebbetts Pass National Scenic Byway
“Slow down and savor the Sierra.” That’s the apt tagline for this stunning 61-mile stretch of Highway 4 and Highway 89, stretching from Arnold to Markleeville. Enjoy many incredible vistas and alpine beauty as you wind up and over one of the most breathtaking Sierra summits, including the north side of the Dardanelles.
www.scenic4.org
Fishing
Whether you love casting into a clear mountain stream or alpine lake, or boating around for bass on foothill reservoirs, the Central Sierra has plenty for anglers of all stripes.
www.lakealpineresort.com, www.kennedymeadows.com, www.houseboats.com
Gold
Gold panning is offered for visitors at Columbia State Park, Sutter Gold Mine, Jamestown and several other sites.
www.columbiacalifornia.com, www.caverntours.com, goldprospecting.com
Historic Hotels
dot the highways and byways of the Central Sierra. Beautifully restored landmarks offer you modern comforts, exquisite cuisine, and the flavors of days gone by.
www.briggshospitalityllc.com, www.murphyshotel.com, www.jamestownhotel.com, www.victoriainn-murphys.com, www.barrettagardens.com, www.evergreenlodge.com, www.gunnhousehotel.com
Indian Gaming
Local Sierra tribes have added full service casinos that have quickly become major foothill attractions for Mother Lode visitors and locals alike. Check out the action and entertainment at Tuolumne’s Black Oak Casino, the Jackson Rancheria and Jamestown’s Chicken Ranch Bingo.
www.blackoakcasino.com, www.chickenranch.casinocity.com, www.jacksoncasino.com
Jumping Frog Jubiliee
Another great Calaveras County tradition, this central event at the Calaveras County Fair dates back to the 1860s. The celebrated jumping frog contest – which helped launch Mark Twain’s illustrious writing career – still takes place the third weekend of May in Angels Camp and remains the county’s biggest and most popular annual celebration.
www.frogtown.org
Kennedy Meadows Resort and Pack Station
This rustic resort has been a High Sierra gateway into the Emigrant Wilderness for more than 90 years. Family-owned and friendly, it offers spectacular hiking and great fishing, hunting and trail rides. Amenities include cabins, general store, family-style restaurant and an authentic cowboy saloon. Open mid-April through October.
www.kennedymeadows.com
Logging
remains an important part of Sierra Nevada heritage, and it’s interpreted with care at the five-year-old Sierra Nevada Logging
Museum in White Pines, near Arnold. The nonprofit museum’s building and grounds are on the shores of White Pines Lake. The museum features indoor and outdoor displays which include working models of sawmills and logging camps, historic logging photos, dioramas illustrating the evolution of logging from the 1850s to the present day, and a large collection of logging tools and equipment.
www.sierraloggingmuseum.org
Mokelumne Coast-Crest Trail
Dedicated volunteers are making steady progress in their efforts to establish a multi-use trail across central California that will extend from the Pacific coast to the crest of the Sierra Nevada – specifically from the San Francisco Bay, across the Central Valley and up the Mokelumne River to the Pacific Crest Trail at Ebbetts Pass.
www.mc2ct.org
Natural Bridges
Look for the well-marked trail off Parrotts Ferry Road south of Vallecito for an easy hike to a memorable site. This remarkable cave on Coyote Creek cuts clear through a limestone ridge, and you can swim or wade all they way through the hillside.
www.usbr.gov
Olive Oil
has become a new staple produced from foothill farmlands. Look for low-elevation orchards along several scenic routes, and keep an eye out for local products like gourmet oils and fine soaps.
www.farmsoftuolumnecounty.org, www.copperopolisoliveoilcompany.com
Pinecrest
A true Sierra resort gem, Pinecrest Lake offers everything summer visitors could want, from great fishing, a full-service marina and sandy swimming beaches to pleasant family camping, inspiring day hikes and trailheads that will take you deep into the most pristine parts of the Emigrant Wilderness.
www.pinecrestlakeresort.com
Quilt Fairs
Sierra quilting guilds abound, and wherever you go in the foothills, you can find other enthusiasts of this traditional craft. Discover great quilting shops tucked away in our towns, and be sure to check the calendar for the many summer and fall quilt fairs hosted by guilds in Valley Springs, Oakdale, Sonora, Placerville, and Murphys.
www.loosethreadsquiltguild.com, www.sierraquiltguild.com
Railtown 1897 State Historic Park
Located in Jamestown, this historic park celebrates the era of the locomotive with tours of a working roundhouse, depot and visitors center, and the main attraction: short train rides across the countryside. This summer, welcome the return of the steam engine “No. 3,” the Sierra’s old “movie train,” lovingly restored by state railroad supporters.
www.railtown1897.org
Strawberry Music Festival
A four-day gathering for great music held every Memorial Day and Labor Day at Camp Mather, just outside of Yosemite National Park.
www.strawberrymusic.com
Theatre
The Central Sierra boasts an abundance of great live theater, with year-round companies presenting professional and community performances on stages in Sonora, East Sonora, Columbia, Murphys, Sutter Creek, and Volcano.
www.sierrarep.org, www.mstw.org, www.murphyscreektheatre.org, www.stage3.org, www.volcanotheatre.org
Underground Exploring
Adventures await in the Mother Lode’s unique network of underground caves and caverns. Enjoy a great selection of guided tours at several different sites, including California Cavern, Mercer Cavern, Moaning Cavern, and Black Chasm Cavern.
www.caveandmineadventures.com
Vineyards
are thriving in the Central Sierra – some 60 small wineries now operate in the region, and we can all enjoy the fruits of their effort! A growing number of vineyards line our many country roads, and you can sample the award-winning wines in dozens of tasting rooms scattered in Amador, Calaveras, and Tuolumne counties.
www.calaveraswines.org, www.farmsoftuolumnecounty.org
Western Movie Sets
Get a taste of our region’s classic Western film-making heritage, when you sign up to be a star for a day at the unique Millerosa movie set in Vallecito. Bring your family and friends and join the Vallecito Vigilantes in re-enacting an old-fashioned Western. Millerosa provides the costumes, script and scenery, then films and edits the fun and provides you with your own copy on DVD.
www.millerosa.com
X-treme Sports
Central Sierra’s options are nearly unlimited for outdoor adventurers – rock climbing, white water rafting, mountain biking, and high country hiking. Local sports shops like the Sierra Nevada Adventure Company in Sonora, Angels Camp and Arnold will load you up with information and options.
www.snacattack.com
Yosemite National Park
One the world's most popular outdoor destinations is right in our backyard. Day trips, overnight excursions or extended stays all offer fantastic opportunities to enjoy the famous glacially-sculpted landscape.
www.yosemitepark.com
Zipline
Indulge in some high-spirited fun with a ride on the unique high-wire zipline, a new feature offered by Sierra Nevada Recreation Company at Moaning Cavern.
www.caveandmineadventures.com
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