Road to Gold

With a 15-minute drive from Sacramento International Airport, you’ll discover the varied personalities of California’s capital city, where state politics blend with high-minded eateries and rich history. Stroll along Old Sacramento’s riverfront corridor among buildings dating back to the mid-1800s. Stop in to the Sacramento History Museum to see Gold Rush artifacts or join an underground tour of the historic district. At the Central Pacific Railroad passenger station, climb aboard a restored passenger train for a riverside excursion ride. Take a free guided tour of the State Capitol building, an 1869 neoclassical stunner with an imposing 128-foot dome. Then wander over to Midtown, where you can sample Sacramento’s culinary panache at The Rind, Cafeteria 15L, or The Red Rabbit, or sip locally produced suds at more than 50 breweries.

Placerville’s well-preserved Main Street houses the town’s oldest buildings, including the rustic stone Fountain-Tallman Soda Works, built in 1852 and now a museum. Surrounding blocks are filled with Gold Rush–era buildings hosting hip eateries, wine bars, and the still-functioning 1854 Placerville Hardware. Stroll and shop through downtown, then bike or hike a stretch of the 30-mile El Dorado Trail. Sip a glass or two of Placerville’s award-winning wines, like Cabernet Franc at Lava Cap Winery and Zinfandel at Miraflores Winery. As the day wears on, sample house-cured meats and farm-fresh produce under the stamped-tin ceiling at The Farm Table, or sip a basil martini at The Independent.

Descend over Echo Summit into the alpine basin that holds cobalt-blue Lake Tahoe and the city that shares its name, South Lake Tahoe. Get a bird’s-eye view on Heavenly Mountain Resort’s thrilling gondola ride, which whisks you uphill nearly 2,800 feet in a mere 12 minutes. Or view the lake close-up with a kayak paddle or bike ride near South Lake Tahoe’s beaches. Share a charcuterie plate and a lakefront table at The Idle Hour, visit the town’s half-dozen breweries, or just cruise up to Emerald Bay to admire Fannette Island from Inspiration Point.

Tahoe City doubles down on waterfront property: It’s situated on Lake Tahoe’s northwest shoreline and also the Truckee River headwaters. Cruise the big blue lake aboard the 64-foot Tahoe Gal, then float down the lazy river in an inner tube or raft. Rent gear from Truckee River Rafting or Truckee River Raft Company and bob your way downstream over a gentle five miles to River Ranch Lodge, an 1888 stone-and-timber inn. Head back to Tahoe City for dinner, where you can choose from the alpine village’s surprisingly uptown cuisine at Spoon, River Grill, Christy Hill, or Tahoe National Brewing Company.

Truckee flaunts its Tahoe-chic style in pioneer storefronts that house stylish boutiques, cozy brunch joints, and eco-friendly lodges. Get to know Truckee’s upscale mountain culture: Browse the poetry section at Word After Word bookshop, fire a clay pot at Truckee Roundhouse, listen to jazz at Moody’s Bistro, visit the arts collective at Gallery 5830, or shop for hand-crafted goods at Bespoke. For alpine go-getters, there’s nonstop outdoor recreation on Truckee‘s bike paths, hiking trails, and golf courses. And after you’ve done all that, there’s craft beer and a sprawling outdoor deck at Alibi Ale Works.

Three years before the 1849 Gold Rush, 87 pioneers driving ox-drawn wagons took what they thought was a shortcut while migrating west from Illinois. A series of mishaps left the group stranded in an epic Sierra snowstorm, so they camped for the winter at Donner Lake. Only 46 survived. Visit the Emigrant Trail Museum at Donner Memorial State Park to learn their remarkable stories, then spend a few hours at beautiful Donner Lake. Rent a motor boat, paddleboard, canoe, or kayak at Donner Lake Marina, or nab a burger at 1970s-era Donner Lake Kitchen.

This foothills hamlet is much more than a pit stop off I-80. Perched above the North Fork American River, Colfax’s woodsy roads and trails lead to secluded swimming holes and broad, rock-strewn beaches. Take a driving detour on Ponderosa Way to see the river’s turquoise pools and rippling cascades, or park the car and hike the Stevens Trail (bring plenty of water because it’s downhill to the river and uphill on the way back). Colfax has no-sweat recreation, too: Zip over to Rollins Lake and rent a boat for a day of fishing, waterskiing, or wakeboarding. Before getting back on the highway, fill up on behemoth burgers at TJ’s Roadhouse.

In-the-know road-trippers pull over in Auburn for fruit and baked goods at Ikeda’s market, but don’t limit yourself to a pie stop. Hang around this Gold Rush town and explore Old Town Auburn’s intriguing shops, like the artist co-op at Old Town Gallery. Take home handmade artisan goods from Typewriter and Moss, or gifts and candy from Totally Cool. Poke around the Gold Rush Museum or take a thrilling walk across the Foresthill Bridge, which soars 730 feet above the American River. Make careful notes on a tour of Auburn’s breweries, and you can compare and contrast handcrafted IPAs from Crooked Lane, Knee Deep, Moonraker, and Auburn Ale House.

You know you’re in Coloma when you suddenly feel like panning for gold. This is where James Marshall discovered the precious metal at his sawmill in 1848, and California’s Gold Rush began. Pay a visit to Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park to learn how that shiny treasure influenced California’s growth, and see how the miners lived on a walking tour of Coloma’s preserved buildings. After striking it rich—in history, anyway—go have an adventure on California’s most popular stretch of whitewater, the South Fork American River. More than two dozen outfitters run half-day, full-day, and two-day river trips for rafters of all ages and experience levels. When the watery thrills are over, head west and back to Sacramento Airport, only an hour away.