I was raised in the small town of Sonora which is located in the heart of the Northern California’s Sierra Nevada foothills, also known as the Gold Country.  In the mid 1800s miners settled in the California Mother Lode area in the hopes of striking it rich.  The area, located between San Francisco and Lake Tahoe and northwest of Yosemite, is now known for tourism but I didn’t fully appreciate it as a kid.
Growing up, my dad would pack us up with a picnic lunch for a ride over Sonora Pass, then descend into the high desert along going south to Tioga Pass through Yosemite just to see the colors of fall.  We made trips to Columbia State Park at Christmas to stop by Nelson’s Candy Kitchen for their hand-dipped chocolates and hand-pulled candy canes, some of which were more than three feet tall.  When spring arrived we always made the trip to Yosemite to see the waterfalls at their fullest from the melting winter snow. We got away from the hot summer temperatures at Pinecrest Lake with a barbeque and a trip around the lake in a paddle boat.  All of this was in an area that people traveled hundreds of miles to get to and it was my ‘backyard’ all along.

Like many people, I moved on from my childhood home for new experiences, which ultimately to my job as a AAA inspector in central California. However, I still have family is living in Calaveras County, just north of my hometown and now I’m discovering new Gold Country treasures every time I visit.  One favorite route is via SR 4. (Click on the map to see the route, the eastern part is also known as the Ebbetts Pass Scenic Byway.)

I start in the town of Angels Camp, known for its annual Celebrated Jumping Frog contest made famous by the 1865 short story by Mark Twain that occurs every May.  As the area is not overpopulated, there are views of rolling hills, old farm houses and animals grazing and an abundance of grape vineyards.  When most people think of California wine, their thoughts go directly to the Napa Valley, but the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains have been producing award-winning wines for many years and many vineyards are family owned and operated. 

One of the quaintest towns I have come across is just east on SR 4 - the small town of Murphys, where you will find many tasting rooms to sample area wines. Due to the small town feel, these tasting rooms allow for a more intimate and one-on-one visit with the vintner.  Especially noted for their wines are Black Sheep Winery, Chatom Vineyards, Hatcher Winery, Irish Vineyards, Milliaire Vineyards, Newsome-Harlow Wines and Twisted Oak Winery.  Along the town’s streets are many unique gift shops, antiques stores and restaurants.

Another great stop for families along SR4 is Calaveras Big Trees State Park.  Miles of trails for hiking meander along naturally landscaped pathways where the giant sequoias grow. Along the North Grove area of the park is “Discovery Tree”.  Visitors are allowed to walk on top of Discovery’s stump, which measures 24 feet in diameter and lived to 1244 years old.  Not wanting to be outdone, the South Grove offers a tree that stands almost 243 feet tall and is known to be the largest tree in the park. 

State Road 4 continues to Bear Valley which is known for incredible skiing in the winter and music festivals in the summer.  Guests arrive early with their picnic dinners along with one of Calaveras County's fine wines and mingle with other guests before the concert.  The styles of music change every few weeks so there is something that is sure to please. 

On my last birthday, my family treated me to the sounds of a band replicating Frankie Valle and the Four Seasons – people were dancing in the aisles!

Take it from a native, Gold Country is an area worth exploring.