GOLD COUNTRY TRIP IDEA Stanislaus River A Mother Lode of Fun HEAD TO THE GOLD COUNTRY FOR FAMILY-FRIENDLY ADVENTURE, HISTORIC TOWNS, AND COUNTRY ROADS TWISTING INTO SIERRA FOOTHILL WINE COUNTRY. 1 capital on the American River Bicycle Trail. Visit Crocker Art Museum to see Ansel Adams's landscape prints and other iconic Californian art. Catch a River Cats minor league baseball game. AUBURN (33mi/53km; 35min). Hike through a lush forest to the 30-foot cascade that gives Hidden Falls Regional Park its name. Refuel with warm-from-theoven peach pie at Ikeda's, then go antiquing on Commercial Street in Old Town. GRASS VALLEY (24mi/39km; 29min). See ore crushers and other Mother Lode gear at Empire Mine State Historic Park. Cruise downtown for Mill St. art galleries, wine tasting at 151 Union Square, and a movie at the Art Deco De Oro Theatre. NEVADA CITY (4mi/7km; 6min). Catch a show at the 1865 Nevada Theatre, host to acts from Mark Twain to Mötley Crüe. Taste seasonal flavors at Treats ice cream-the peaches came from down the road. Play and learn at Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum. PLACERVILLE (54mi/86km; 1hr17min). Gear up at Mosquito 2 Creek Outfitters and cast for trophy trout at Jenkinson Lake. Or stick around Main Street to browse craft shops and the Original Thomas Kinkade Gallery, steps from the artist's childhood home. PLYMOUTH (20mi/33km; 27min). Marvel at more than 900 varieties of daylilies at Amador Flower Farm. Sip unusual vintages at Amador 360 on the Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail. Dine in elegance at Taste, on Main Street. 6 3 4 5 96 | VISITCALIFORNIA.COM GRASS VALLEY NEVADA CITY 80 49 AUBURN PLACERVILLE SACRAMENTO 50 PLYMOUTH SUTTER CREEK JACKSON 5 STOCKTON 88 7 SUTTER CREEK (9mi/14km; 13min). See 19th-century miner supplies at Monteverde General Store Museum, then shop for modern offerings from local artists at Fine Eye Gallery. JACKSON (4mi/7km; 9min). Stroll the 21 bronze plaques marking Main Street's historical highlights; find cocktails and California wines at the historic National Hotel and juicy rib-eyes at Stanley's steakhouse. ANGELS CAMP (28mi/45km; 36min). Raft past giant sequoia trees and old Miwok native sites on the North Fork of the Stanislaus River (with O.A.R.S. and other outfitters). See the outstanding antique carriage collection at the Angels Camp Museum. SONORA (16mi/25km; 23min). Sip hard cider and apple brandy in a restored barn at Indigeny Reserve. See live theater in an intimate setting at Sierra Repertory Theatre. 8 9 10 TO SACRAMENTO: 49 ANGELS CAMP SONORA 95mi/153km; 1hr51min 4 More ideas at visitcalifornia.com TRACY BARBUTES/COURTESY OF O.A.R.S. START: SACRAMENTO SACRAMENTO . Roll through the statehttp://www.visitcalifornia.com http://www.VISITCALIFORNIA.COM