Issue link: http://globelitetravelmarketing.uberflip.com/i/444404
166 2 0 1 5 T R A V E L G U I D E T O C A L I F O R N I A City & Town 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 Plac- erville—offer all this, plus a large selection of motels, restaurants and shops in all price categories. INSIDER'S TIP » The HANGTOWN FRY, a curiously appealing concoction of oysters, bacon and eggs, was allegedly born in 1849 when a prospector tossed a satchel full of gold dust onto the bar in the EL DORADO HOTEL in PLACERVILLE—then known as "Hangtown"—and declared: "I'm a rich man and I'm going to celebrate my good luck. I want you to cook me up the finest and most expensive meal in the house." You can still get it at Buttercup Pantry, 222 Main Street, Placerville (or at The Tadich Grill in San Francisco). IRON DOOR SALOON, Grove- land, above; Lumberjack Day Parade at West Point, right; downtown Sacramento, oppo- site top; Vintage Trucks with cranes and winches at Empire Mine State Historic Park in Grass Valley, opposite boXom. GOLD COUNTRY VISITOR'S ASSOCIATION; JEFFREY B. BANKE/SHUTTERSTOCK . OPPOSITE: SACRAMENTO CVB; JIM FELICIANO/SHUTTERSTOCK