Sacramento and the Gold Country
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Sacramento and the Gold Country - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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1. Angels Camp Museum
Historic District/SiteLearn a little bit about Mark Twain's "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County"—and Angels Camp's celebrated frog-jumping contests—at...
Learn a little bit about Mark Twain's "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County"—and Angels Camp's celebrated frog-jumping contests—at this museum's street-side facility, then head to the 3-acre spread behind it for a fascinating survey of gold rush–era mining history. The grounds include a carriage house with pre-automotive farming and passenger coaches and wagons, a large building with mining equipment, and, outside in its original mountings, the 27-foot-diameter water wheel that powered machinery at the area's Angels Quartz Mine.
753 S. Main St., Angels Camp, California, 95222, USA209-736–2963Sight Details
Rate Includes: $5, $7 -
2. Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Park (National/State/Provincial)The park protects hundreds of the largest and rarest living things on the planet—magnificent giant sequoia redwood trees. Some are 3,000 years...
The park protects hundreds of the largest and rarest living things on the planet—magnificent giant sequoia redwood trees. Some are 3,000 years old, 90 feet around at the base, and 250 feet tall. There are campgrounds, cabin rentals, and picnic areas; swimming, wading, fishing, and sunbathing on the Stanislaus River are popular in summer. Enjoy the "three senses" trail, designated for the blind, with interpretive signs in braille that guide visitors to touch the bark and encourage children to slow down and enjoy the forest in a more sensory way.
1170 E. Hwy. 4, Arnold, California, 95223, USA209-795–2334Sight Details
Rate Includes: $10 per vehicle -
3. California State Railroad Museum
Old Sacramento | Museum/GallerySprawling over three floors and taking up the equivalent of 2½ acres of space, this museum celebrates the history of trains from their 19th...
Sprawling over three floors and taking up the equivalent of 2½ acres of space, this museum celebrates the history of trains from their 19th-century English origins and the building of America's transcontinental railroad (Sacramento was its western terminus) to the pre–jet age glory days of rail travel and the high-speed trains in today's Europe and Asia. A permanent exhibit that debuted in 2019 for the 150th anniversary of the transcontinental railroad's completion details the contributions of Chinese laborers, and another section contains a cast gold "Last Spike," one of several spikes issued to commemorate the joining in Utah of the west-to-east Central Pacific and east-to-west Union Pacific lines. Twenty-two of the museum's railroad cars and engines—among them Pullman-style cars and steam locomotives—are on display at any one time, and there are interactive displays and a play area for kids. The exhibits of toy trains delight youngsters and adults.
125 I St., at 2nd St., Sacramento, California, 95814, USA916-323–9280Sight Details
Rate Includes: $12 -
4. Capitol
Downtown | Government BuildingBuilt in 1869 and topped by a 128-foot gilded dome, the Capitol functions as both a working museum and the active seat of California's government...
Built in 1869 and topped by a 128-foot gilded dome, the Capitol functions as both a working museum and the active seat of California's government. Wander freely by reproductions of century-old state offices and into legislative chambers (in session from January to September) decorated in the style of the 1890s. Look for the abstract portrait of Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown, alongside those of fellow former governors Ronald Reagan (who succeeded Brown's father, Edmund G. "Pat" Brown) and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Guides conduct tours of the building and the 40-acre Capitol Park, which contains a rose garden, a fragrant display of camellias (Sacramento's city flower), and California Veterans Memorials. The Capitol's diverse trees include more than 1,000 trees from around the world.
10th St. and L St., Sacramento, California, 95814, USA916-324–0333Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
5. Columbia State Historic Park
Park (National/State/Provincial)Columbia, whose mines yielded $87 million in gold, is both a functioning community and a historically preserved town. Usually you can ride a...
Columbia, whose mines yielded $87 million in gold, is both a functioning community and a historically preserved town. Usually you can ride a stagecoach, pan for gold, and watch a blacksmith working at an anvil. Street musicians perform in summer. Restored or reconstructed buildings include a Wells Fargo Express office, a Masonic temple, an old-fashioned candy store, saloons, a firehouse, churches, a school, and a newspaper office. At times, all are staffed to simulate a working 1850s town. Also in the park is the Fallon House Theater, a gorgeous Victorian structure that sometimes hosts plays and live music. The town's two reasonably priced, historic lodgings, the Fallon Hotel and City Hotel, perch you in the past; reserve a room or cottage at www.reservecalifornia.com.
11255 Jackson St., Columbia, California, 95310, USA209-588–9128Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
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6. Crocker Art Museum
Downtown | Museum/GalleryEstablished in 1885, Sacramento's premier fine-arts museum specializes in California art, European master drawings, and international ceramics...
Established in 1885, Sacramento's premier fine-arts museum specializes in California art, European master drawings, and international ceramics. A highlight is the magnificent Great Canyon of the Sierra, Yosemite (1871) by Thomas Hill. Some works are displayed in two architecturally significant 19th-century structures: the original Italianate Crocker residence and a villa-like gallery. A contemporary, 125,000-square-foot space hosts outstanding traveling exhibitions.
216 O St., at 3rd St., Sacramento, California, 95814, USA916-808–7000Sight Details
Rate Includes: $12, Closed Mon.–Wed. (but check) -
7. Delfino Farms—Edio Vineyards
Winery/Brewery/DistilleryApple growers since 1964, the Delfino family occupies one of El Dorado County's most idyllic sites. The clan gained early notice for Joan Delfino...
Apple growers since 1964, the Delfino family occupies one of El Dorado County's most idyllic sites. The clan gained early notice for Joan Delfino's apple pies and the fun farm events here. In the 2010s, her grandchildren started a winery named for her husband, local agricultural icon Edio Delfino. They pour their superb whites and reds in a gleaming-silver contemporary space whose patio perches over apple trees surrounded by grapevines ringed by a forest. Wine tasting takes place year-round; bakery visits and apple events occur seasonally.
3205 N. Canyon Rd., off Carson Rd., Placerville, California, 95709, USA530-622–0184Sight Details
Tasting room closed Tues. and Wed. Rate Includes: Tastings from $10 -
8. Empire Mine State Historic Park
Park (National/State/Provincial)Starting with the "secret map" that mine management hid from miners, you can relive the days of gold, grit, and glory, when this mine was one...
Starting with the "secret map" that mine management hid from miners, you can relive the days of gold, grit, and glory, when this mine was one of the biggest and most prosperous hard-rock gold mines in North America. Empire Mine yielded an estimated 5.8 million ounces of gold from 367 miles of underground passages. You can walk into a mine shaft and peer into dark, deep recesses, and almost imagine what it felt like to work this vast operation. Dressed-up docents portraying colorful characters who shaped Northern California's history share stories about the period. The grounds have the exquisite Bourn Cottage (call for tour times), picnic tables, and gentle trails—perfect for a family outing.
10791 E. Empire St., Grass Valley, California, 95945, USA530-273–8522Sight Details
Rate Includes: $7 -
9. Holly's Hill Vineyards
Winery/Brewery/DistilleryThe founders of this woodsy hilltop winery 7 miles south of Apple Hill tasted Châteauneuf-du-Pape on their honeymoon, sparking a lifetime passion...
The founders of this woodsy hilltop winery 7 miles south of Apple Hill tasted Châteauneuf-du-Pape on their honeymoon, sparking a lifetime passion for Rhône wines made in classic French style. Mourvèdre is a specialty, by itself and in blends with Grenache, Syrah, or both. Carignane, Counoise, and other lower-profile Rhône reds are also made, along with whites that include the Roussanne-dominant Patriarche Blanc blend. Taste these beautifully crafted estate wines in a space with views that extend 75 miles on a clear day, and picnic outside when you're done.
3680 Leisure La., off Pleasant Valley Rd., Placerville, California, 95667, USA530-344–0227Sight Details
Rate Includes: Tastings $5 -
10. Lava Cap Winery
Winery/Brewery/DistilleryNineteenth-century miners knew if they found the type of volcanic rocks visible everywhere on this winery's property that gold was nearby. These...
Nineteenth-century miners knew if they found the type of volcanic rocks visible everywhere on this winery's property that gold was nearby. These days the rocky soils and vineyard elevations as high as 2,800 feet play pivotal roles in the creation of fruit forward yet elegant wines with a hint of minerals. Zinfandel, Grenache, Cabernet Franc, and Petite Sirah star among the reds, Chardonnay and Viognier among the whites. After a tasting you can picnic on the patio and enjoy Sierra foothills vistas.
2221 Fruitridge Rd., Placerville, California, 95667, USA530-621–0175Sight Details
Rate Includes: Tastings from $5 -
11. Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park
Downtown | Historic HomeIn 1856, this structure's original owner built a modest two-story row house purchased a few years later by Leland Stanford, a railroad baron...
In 1856, this structure's original owner built a modest two-story row house purchased a few years later by Leland Stanford, a railroad baron, California governor, and U.S. senator who expanded it into a 19,000-square-foot mansion. The opulent space is open for touring except on days when California's governor hosts official events. Before Stanford's wife and heir, Jane, died, she donated the mansion to Sacramento's Roman Catholic diocese, whose nuns ran it first as an orphanage and later a home for teenage girls. Luckily for the restoration efforts, which began in 1986 after the state acquired the property, the nuns had stashed many original furnishings and fixtures in the attic, and the renowned photographer Eadweard Muybridge had shot images in the 1870s that made clear what rooms looked like and where things belonged. Guided tours of small groups depart hourly from 10 to 4.
800 N St., at 8th St., Sacramento, California, 95814, USA916-324–0575-recorded infoSight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
12. Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
Park (National/State/Provincial)The American River's south fork slices through this park commemorating California's mining history. Trails lead from the parking lot to a statue...
The American River's south fork slices through this park commemorating California's mining history. Trails lead from the parking lot to a statue of James Marshall with sublime views; beyond it to the north stands a working reproduction of an 1840s mill erected near where he first spotted gold. Most of Coloma lies within the park. Though crowded with tourists in summer, the town hardly resembles the mob scene it was in 1849, when 2,000 prospectors staked out claims along the streambed. Coloma's population grew to 4,000, supporting seven hotels, three banks, and many stores and other businesses. But when reserves of the precious metal dwindled, the prospectors left as quickly as they had come. For $8 per person, rangers give gold-panning lessons on the hour, year-round.
310 Back St., off Hwy. 49, Coloma, California, 95613, USA530-622–3470Sight Details
Rate Includes: $8 per vehicle -
13. Moaning Caverns Adventure Park
CaveFor a different sort of underground jewel, wander into an ancient limestone cave, where stalactites and stalagmites, not gold and silver, await...
For a different sort of underground jewel, wander into an ancient limestone cave, where stalactites and stalagmites, not gold and silver, await. Take the 235-step Spiral Tour down a staircase built in 1922 into the vast main cavern, or descend farther on the Expedition Tour caving adventure. Outside are ziplines and a climbing tower.
5350 Moaning Cave Rd., off Parrotts Ferry Rd./E18, Vallecito, California, 95251, USA209-736–2708Sight Details
Rate Includes: Tours from $22, zipline $50, Closed Tues. and Wed. (sometimes varies) -
14. Railtown 1897 State Historic Park
Park (National/State/Provincial)A must for rail enthusiasts and families with kids, this is one of the most intact early roundhouses (maintenance facilities) in North America...
A must for rail enthusiasts and families with kids, this is one of the most intact early roundhouses (maintenance facilities) in North America. You can hop aboard a steam train for a 40-minute journey—bring along the family dog if you'd like. The docents entertain guests with tales about the history of locomotion. Listen to the original rotor and pulleys in the engine house and take in the smell of axle grease. Walk through a genteel passenger car with dusty-green velvet seats and ornate metalwork, where Grace Kelly and Gary Cooper filmed a scene in the epic Western High Noon. Polar Express excursions at Christmastime sell out quickly.
18115 5th Ave., Jamestown, California, 95327, USA209-984–3953Sight Details
Rate Includes: Roundhouse tour $5; rides from $15 -
15. Reiff's Gas Station Museum
Museum/GalleryMark Reiff, an inveterate collector of gas-station pumps and signs, converted his home in a residential neighborhood into a joyful homage to...
Mark Reiff, an inveterate collector of gas-station pumps and signs, converted his home in a residential neighborhood into a joyful homage to 20th-century car culture. A yellow-and-orange "Roar with Gilmore" pump got Reiff going in 1999, and he's never stopped, adding more pumps and signs (Sinclair, Flying A, Sunray), along with a flood of nostalgia-inducing memorabilia. Reiff describes his creation as "labor of love and a butt load of fun"—and it is. Contact him to arrange a tour.
52 Jefferson St., at McKinley Ave., Woodland, California, 95695, USA530-666–1758Sight Details
Rate Includes: $7 -
16. Starfield Vineyards
Winery/Brewery/DistilleryIts many microclimates inspired owner-winemaker Tom Sinton to purchase a 67-acre hillside property he transformed into a magnificent showcase...
Its many microclimates inspired owner-winemaker Tom Sinton to purchase a 67-acre hillside property he transformed into a magnificent showcase for wines from mostly Rhône and Italian varietals. With a nature trail, a 300-foot-long rose arbor, an amphitheater for events, a lakeside pavilion, and an upper patio with views of trees near and far, the wines could have taken a back seat, but Sinton crafts them with such grace and precision that they more than match the setting and hospitality.
2750 Jacquier Rd., Placerville, California, 95667, USA530-748–3085Sight Details
Rate Includes: Tastings from $10 -
17. Tahoe Science Center
Museum/GalleryLearn how Lake Tahoe was formed, why it’s so blue, and how its ecosystem is changing at Tahoe’s only science center, which is affiliated with...
Learn how Lake Tahoe was formed, why it’s so blue, and how its ecosystem is changing at Tahoe’s only science center, which is affiliated with UC Davis researchers. Hands-on exhibits include aquariums, a virtual ecology lab and research boat, a watershed map with the 63 streams that flow into the lake (and the only one that flows out, the Truckee River), tables that teach how to identify trees, and a 3D theater. Visitors ages 8 and older will gain the most from the experience.
291 Country Club Dr., Incline Village, Nevada, 89451, USA775-881–7560Sight Details
Rate Includes: $5, Closed Sat.–Mon. -
18. Terre Rouge and Easton Wines
Winery/Brewery/DistilleryThe winery of Bill Easton and Jane O'Riordan achieves success with two separate labels. Terre Rouge, which focuses on Rhône-style wines, makes...
The winery of Bill Easton and Jane O'Riordan achieves success with two separate labels. Terre Rouge, which focuses on Rhône-style wines, makes some of California's best Syrahs. The Easton label specializes in high-scoring Zinfandels from old and new vines and does well with Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon. You can picnic on the lawn here.
10801 Dickson Rd., Plymouth, California, 95669, USA209-245–4277Sight Details
Rate Includes: Tastings from $10, Closed Tues. and Wed. -
19. Vina Moda
Winery/Brewery/DistilleryThe downtown tasting room of owner-winemaker Nathan Vader's boutique winery occupies a restored 1891 structure made of volcanic rock. Top Sierra...
The downtown tasting room of owner-winemaker Nathan Vader's boutique winery occupies a restored 1891 structure made of volcanic rock. Top Sierra Foothills vineyards supply grapes for his primarily reds lineup, led by best sellers Barbera and the Primitivo-based Phoenix blend. Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvѐdre, alone or with each other, rank among the other stars, served inside or on the shaded rear patio.
147 Main St., Murphys, California, 95247, USA209-743–6226Sight Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. and Wed. year-round, closed Mon. and Thurs. early fall–late spring -
20. Apple Hill
Farm/RanchFrom July to late December, Apple Hill Growers Association members open their orchards and vineyards for apple and berry picking; picnicking...
From July to late December, Apple Hill Growers Association members open their orchards and vineyards for apple and berry picking; picnicking; and wine, cider, pressed-juice, and other tastings. Treasure hunts, pond fishing, pie making, and other activities attract families. The Apple Hill website has a map and an events calendar, or download the Official Apple Hill Growers app. On autumn weekends, take U.S. 50's Camino exit to avoid some of the traffic congestion.
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