California Road Trips Guide - 2023 - 56

ITINERARIES
South Fork of the American River
Scan this
code for a
full online
itinerary
TOP STOPS
a Time travel
STARTS: SACRAMENTO INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT 307 MILES * 4-5 DAYS
Road to Gold
FROM CALIFORNIA'S HIP CAPITAL CITY TO TAHOE'S BLUE JEWEL
Drive from Sacramento's vibrant
neighborhoods through the Sierra's
gold-rich foothills to the high basin that
encircles Lake Tahoe's cobalt waters. This
journey offers elevation with benefits-
Gold Rush history, outdoor adventures,
and photo opportunities at every turn.
First, discover the varied personalities
of California's capital: Old Sacramento's
wood-planked sidewalks and candy
shops; the Capitol Mall's gleaming
buildings and green lawns; Midtown's
bistros and brew pubs; and East
Sacramento's Fabulous '40s mansions.
Pack your sense of adventure as you
wind east on U.S. 50, weaving across
the Sierra foothills' grassy slopes. The
highway climbs alongside the tumbling
South Fork of the American River,
passing glistening Horsetail Falls and
towering Lovers' Leap as it enters the
high country. Your anticipation builds as
you soar over the Sierra's crest at Echo
Summit, but nothing can prepare you
for your first glimpse of Lake Tahoe-it
seems too vast to be real.
The narrow asphalt ribbons snake
downhill along granite cliffs into the
Tahoe basin, a playground for nature
lovers. From South Lake Tahoe, follow
Highway 89 north across a glacial
moraine that separates Lake Tahoe from
56 | VISITCALIFORNIA.COM
Cascade Lake. Curve around photogenic
Emerald Bay and choose a hike from a
half-dozen trailheads between here and
Tahoe City. Watch the inner-tubers and
rafters near River Ranch Lodge before
trucking into Truckee, an easygoing
town with mountain-chic style.
Conifer forests straddle the route
along Interstate 80 as you descend past
glittering Donner Lake. As you cruise
back to the foothills, pause in historic
Auburn to sample handcrafted IPAs
and explore the Gold Rush Museum.
Then turn south on Highway 49 to
visit a patchwork of mining towns.
This fortune-seekers' road
switchbacks downhill to cross
the North Fork American River,
then slingshots back uphill
through pastoral ranchland.
In Coloma, marvel at the site
where California gold was first
discovered, or perhaps join a
guided whitewater rafting trip.
Continue on to Placerville,
where Gold Rush-era buildings
host hip eateries and wine bars
and the still-functioning 1854
Placerville Hardware. Send
a
AREA OF
DETAIL
yourself off with a basil martini
at The Independent and pizza at Heyday
Café, then head back to Sacramento.
Relax on red velvet couches,
sip craft cocktails, and soak
in the retro vibes at
speakeasy Shady Lady.
b Beer detour
One hour north of Truckee,
taste mountain brews at
Graeagle's Ronin
Fermentation Project or
Blairsden's The Brewing
Lair.
c Child's play
Popular for sunbathing and
swimming, Commons Beach
is a family-friendly spot with
a playground and an
amphitheater that hosts
free concerts.
d Dinner and a show
Head to Taste at The Loft for
American tapas and an
entertaining magic show in
South Lake Tahoe.
e Dessert first
Dig into a slice of pie and a
pint of cider at Apple Hill's
Boa Vista Orchards.
Truckee
b
c
Tahoe City
South Lake
Tahoe
Sacramento
e
d
Placerville
N
JUSTIN BAILIE/TANDEM STILLS + MOTION
http://www.VISITCALIFORNIA.COM
California Road Trips Guide - 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of California Road Trips Guide - 2023
