California Official Visitor's Guide 2009 - UK - (Page 41) Marshall Gold discovery State park old Sacramento gold country a preserved Gold rush town, a jazz fest and the quintessential state fair Sutter Creek DISCoVer E vidence of California’s history is everywhere in the centrally located Gold Country. Tour the restored district of Old Sacramento, which sprang up almost overnight after the discovery of gold in the nearby foothills in 1848. Stroll around Angels Camp, the setting for Mark Twain’s 1867 short story, The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County. State 49, the pretty country road that zigzags along the western slope of the Sierra Nevada Range, leads to some of the Gold Country’s oldest and most picturesque towns. Look out for Coloma, commemorated at the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park as the place where the precious metal was first found; Sutter Creek, with excellent dining and shopping; and Jamestown, home of the carefully restored National Hotel, originally built in 1859. CALIForNIA STATe rAILroAD MuSeuM Sacramento Revel in first-class style aboard the El Dorado, a 1924 observation car that takes visitors on steam-train excursions along the Sacramento River. Roam the extensive museum and grounds, with displays, railway carriages and memorabilia commemorating the heyday of rail travel. www.sacramentocvb.org CALIForNIA STATe CApIToL MuSeuM Sacramento Walk beneath soaring palms and deodar cedar trees in Capitol Park, then enter one of the state’s most lovingly restored buildings, enlivened with filigree detail, paintings and murals. Learn more about the seat of state government on guided tours or at living history events. Finally, look out for sightings of Governor Schwarzenegger. www.sacramentocvb.org CoLuMbIA STATe hISTorIC pArk Columbia Amble through the streets of one of the best-preserved communities in the golddiscovery region known as the Mother Lode. Fortunately, the handsome brick buildings protected here withstood the fires that wiped out most of the region’s other gold-rush camps and towns that sprung up in the mid-1800s. Columbia has its contemporary side too: enjoy souvenir and antique shops, cafes, two hotels and a terrific candy store. www.tcvb.com eVeNTS May ArT & WINe AFFAIre el Dorado hills See the works of more than 100 artists using assorted media, from ceramics to photography. Also enjoy dancing and music, as well as tasting vintages from more than two-dozen El Dorado County wineries. May 9–10. www.sacramentocvb.org SACrAMeNTo JAzz JubILee Sacramento Old Sacramento and downtown both vibrate to the beat of classic jazz, Latin jazz, zydeco, blues and swing. This musical celebration is big—spread out over more than 30 concert venues showcasing some 100 performing groups. May 22–25. www.sacramentocvb.org JENNy ELIA PFEIFFER (3) August-September CALIForNIA STATe FAIr Sacramento Big-name entertainment, nightly fireworks, award-winning wines, microbrewery beers, along with sideshows, concessions and games, are the stars of this annual festival. Enjoy the spectacle, place a bet and maybe even win at the thoroughbred horse races. Aug 21–Sept 7. www.sacramentocvb.org www.visitcalifornia.co.uk 41 http://www.sacramentocvb.org http://www.tcvb.com http://www.sacramentocvb.org http://www.sacramentocvb.org http://www.sacramentocvb.org http://www.sacramentocvb.org http://www.visitcalifornia.co.uk
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