I am planning a surprise weekend in the Gold Country for my boyfriend and I. We are both 40 and enjoy wine tasting, so I was planning on staying in Murphy's and then visiting Columbia, Twain Harte and Jamestown. Does this sound like a good plan? I have never been to the area and am looking for ideas of things to do, sites to "not miss" and maybe a nice hotel and restaurant. Any suggestions for this potential romantic weekend getaway?

What is your budget?

The Murphys Hotel has great and not-so-great rooms http://www.murphyshotel.com/

This one is in Twain Harte and fairly reasonable but still very nice. http://www.mccaffreyhouse.com/index.html

This one is in Sonora http://www.bradfordplaceinn.com/

I'd also plan on spending time farther north around Plymouth in Amador county - there are sooooo many wineries/tasting rooms w/i about 3 or 4 miles of Plymouth.

We want the best hotel for the cheapest price! Doesn't everyone? I would not want to pay more than $150 a night. That would be the max.

Ironstone Vineyards is a fun place to visit. Wine tasting and, if you're lucky, there might be a concert you would be interested in attending.

The grounds are beautiful.

We also went to Mercer Caverns and Moaning Cavern.

The Murphys hotel will be well w/i you budget.

Moaning Cave is fun to visit - not far from Columbia.

Skip the Murphys Hotel for lodging, but it does have good food on the patio & a great historic bar. Stay across the street at http://www.victoriainn-murphys.com/rooms.html

Outstanding restaurant is Alchemy http://www.alchemymarket.com/

The wine is better at Stevenot - http://www.stevenotwinery.com/ & much more user friendly than congested/snobish Ironstone. Although I must agree the gardens & lakeside park is a must see at Ironstone.

The Victoria Inn is great - but only a few of their rooms are w/i your budget. Those do tend to book up so I'd contact them right away.