Are you a history buff who wants to dive deeper into the Gold Rush or travel back in time on the Sierra Railway? We have planned your ultimate getaway to Tuolumne County! Stay in the most well-preserved Gold Rush town in California and experience life in the 1850s with modern amenities. There are new nuggets to discover around every bend!

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• Start your afternoon in Jamestown in the heart of California Gold Country along the famous Highway 49 named for the “49ers,” the people who came to the area during the Gold Rush.
• Grab a coffee or bite to eat in town
• Visit Railtown 1897 State Historic Park. The park is home to the Historic “Jamestown Shops and Roundhouse,” recently added to the Register of Historic Places.
  • Explore the 24-acre park preserving the Sierra Railway.
  • Take a guided tour of the historic roundhouse and locomotives, and don’t miss the Movie Railroad Exhibit.
  • Hop on the train for a 45-minute round trip ride through the scenic Sierra foothills!
  • Before heading out, stop by The Depot Store, a railroad specialty gift shop, to pick up the perfect present for yourself or friends back home.
• After Railtown, visit Main Street in Jamestown to explore shops and have some dinner. There are a variety of local-favorite restaurants in historic inns and buildings that will suit anyone’s fancy!
• After dinner, take the short 15-minute drive to Columbia State Historic Park, which preserves the historic downtown district of what was once a bustling, brawling gold town.
  

• Wake up to find yourself transported back in time! Columbia State Historic Park.
  • Pan for gold, stop by the working blacksmith shop, and grab lunch at one of the restaurants located in the park.
  • After lunch, explore the unique shopping opportunities offered by Columbia Merchants for the perfect souvenir or special gift. Then take an authentic stagecoach ride, dip your own candle, dress up in costume for an old-fashioned photo, and finish the evening with a show at the historic Fallon Theatre.
• After exploring Columbia, drive over to Sonora (15 minutes)
  • Visit shops in historic buildings, each with their own story.
  • Tour the Tuolumne County Museum (open by appointment) housed inside the former county jail built in 1866.
  • Stay for dinner, there’s plenty of options to choose from including a variety of great new restaurants and longtime local favorites.
• After dinner, make your way back for another night in Columbia or head up to Twain Harte, a 25-minute drive, to experience more history in the ‘Gateway to the Sierra.’ Named for Mark Twain and Bret Harte the small-town charm will win anyone’s heart. There are lovey B&Bs, rustic resorts and quaint cabins to choose from.

• After breakfast, head east on Highway 108 for more adventure in some new scenery. Saddle up for a horseback ride into the wilderness to see the Sierra the way the pioneers did. Trips are available at Aspen Meadow Pack Station or higher up in the mountains at Kennedy Meadows Pack Station, May through October.
• Or, take the short drive to the town of Tuolumne for an easy hike along the West Side Trail. Following the old railroad line of the Hetch Hetchy and Yosemite Valley Railway, this trail features interpretive signs, scenic vistas and great wildflower displays in the spring.