Issue link: http://globelitetravelmarketing.uberflip.com/i/149733
Inspect the signatures of everyone from Mark Twain to Ulysses S. Grant to Charles Bolles (better known as Black Bart) in the register of the historic MURPHYS HOTEL, one of the oldest continually operating hotels in California. murphyshotel.com SOUTH FORK of the American River in the Gold Country near Auburn, above. large selection of motels, restaurants and shops in all price categories. City & Town The Great Outdoors Sacramento was the terminus of the Transcontinental Railroad—from there, passengers completed their journey to San Francisco by ferry and barge—and the city still plays a vital role as the jumping-off point for exploring the Gold Country. Since the arrival of the 49ers, the small towns of the Gold Country proper have morphed through several distinct stages, from rough-and-tumble boomtowns, to somnolent hamlets, to destinations for biker rallies, to, finally, genteel venues for weekend getaways sporting comfortable B&Bs, sophisticated restaurants, antique stores and nearby wineries. Among the most popular are Sutter Creek, Nevada City and Murphys. The two largest towns of the Sierra foothills—Sonora and Placerville—offer all this, plus a From May to mid-October, the American River is California's top venue for whitewater rafting: The river flow is controlled by releases from upstream reservoirs, so rafters are assured of good conditions. Outfitters offer both half-day and full-day trips through Class III whitewater, ending up at Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park or Folsom Lake. In the northern Sierra, the town of Downieville has become a center for mountain biking. Local bike shops offer rentals and shuttles on old mining roads and single tracks from the casual to the technical, including a 15-mile ride with a 4,000foot descent. Houseboaters flock to vast, sprawling Gold Country reservoirs such as New Melones Lake, Don Pedro Lake and Lake McClure. CA 166 2013 travel guide to c al i fo r n ia COURTESY MURPHYS HOTEL; OPPOSITE: HARRIS SHIFFMAN Syrah in a number of uncrowded, upand-coming wineries.