Page 9 - 2 LAKEWOOD EDGE FEB 2019 FINAL_Lucid

hitting the highway

Looking for

a full immersion
into the Gold Rush?
Columbia State Historic

Park is the perfect
answer. TRAVEL

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ROAD TRIP

HAS PLENTY TO OFFER

by Samantha Feuss eateries that appeal to new visitors in the area. right on Main Street. This was an amazing
The Sacramento History Museum is there to experience, and one that you and your family
alifornia tourists know big city names expand your local knowledge or if you want will treasure.
such as Sacramento, but a visit to to go back before the city was founded try the
C Northern California offers more than California State Indian Museum. VISIT APPLE HILL
one opportunity to enjoy the area. It’s a The ranches and farms that make up
great place for a road trip. Camino, Coloma, CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH Apple Hill is a top destination for food
Columbia, Jamestown, Placerville, Sonora Gold brought the original settlers to the and fun. For every season, year round, they
and Tuolumne County are full of attractions region and now you can learn about the welcome visitors. From apples to berries,
just around the next bend in the road—gas history and recapture the experience at from pumpkins to pine trees for the holidays,
up the car and see what the area has to offer. Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Apple Hill tops the list of outdoor activities.
Park in Coloma. James Marshall triggered a Over 50 ranches and farms are part of Apple
SACRAMENTO massive migration when he discovered gold in Hill. You can find details on the Apple Hill
Sacramento is one of California’s largest 1848. With a museum, gold panning, candle site. Here are the ones we visited.
cities and full of family-friendly attractions. and rope making you can spend the afternoon Rainbow Orchard, which serves their
Museums dedicated to such topics as living history. specialty, Hot Apple Cider Donuts, is known
transportation, art and history can all be Want more? Hangtown’s Gold Bug Park for their Bake Shop and produce. A third-
found here along with shops, restaurants & Mine combines education and nature. generation family farm, they grow apples,
and Old Sacramento, a registered national Whether you take advantage of the hiking pears, peaches, nectarines and blueberries.
landmark and state historic park. With the trails or investigate the two hard rock mines Their farmers market is open in the fall,
diverse offerings there is something that will in the park, there are plenty of opportunities Labor Day weekend and daily from Sept.
appeal to every family member. to learn about history and enjoy the Placerville 10 through Thanksgiving weekend. If you
Trains, cars, or both? Sacramento is home countryside. Gold was becoming harder to are looking for blueberry picking, the season
to the California State Railroad Museum and find by 1852, this is what made mining runs from early/mid June through mid/
California Auto Museum. Transportation and become more popular. The only gold mines late July, and they are open Friday through
the area’s history are closely tied as the city was still owned by the state of California, you can Sunday.
part of the transcontinental railroad and Pony take a tour into these two hard rock mines Harris Tree Farm has been operating in
Express. The Railroad Museum not only (either guided or self-guided) 362 feet into the community for over 150 years and seven
displays restored locomotives and train cars, it Gold Bug Mine, as well as visit the blacksmith generations since 1857. Open all year from
also features 40 “one-of-a kind” exhibits. Here shop, stamp mill, museum and more. 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., this is the spot for fruits
you can learn about railroad history from Looking for a full immersion into the and vegetables, fresh flowers, or picking
1850 to the trains we ride today. A mile down Gold Rush? Columbia State Historic Park a pumpkin or Christmas tree depending
the road the Auto Museum is full of examples is the perfect answer. Costumed tour guides on the season. If you get hungry, a visit to
of more modern four-wheeled transport. The lead you through the preserved Mother Irene’s Kitchen will hook you up with pies,
collection features cars from the ‘50s, ‘60s and Lode town, once the second largest city turnovers, jams and butters.
‘70s, originals and restorations. in California. Now home to an authentic Abel’s Apple Acres combines beautiful
Art? The Crocker Art Museum is a perfect stagecoach, locally made sarsaparilla soda views, hot BBQ, homemade fudge, candies,
stop. Opening in 1885, the museum is a part (which is delightful and should be tried), and of course apples. Best of all they are dog
of history too, the first public art museum in a blacksmith’s forge and saloon. Full-time friendly, so if you are looking for a place for
the Western United States. Enjoy more than residents live the 1850s lifestyle, practice the the whole family, two-legged or four, this
the art when visiting, there are also live events, trades of the time, and you can join them is it. Pony rides, the pumpkin patch, and a
tours, and classes for kids, adults or the whole to eat, drink, sleep, and be a part of living walk through a maze add to the time spent
family. When planning your trip be sure to history. Shops keep regular business hours, enjoying all the edible goodies. They are
check out their events calendar on the site. but the town never closes. No driving through open to visitors from Labor Day weekend
History? Old Town Sacramento Historic though, cars are not allowed here. Visitors are until Christmas Eve. n
District is a living piece of the past. Shops hoofing it, by foot or horseback because this
once supplied miners in search of gold, now is the real deal historical experience. You can © 2019 Distributed by
those historic buildings house shops and even stay overnight in guest houses and hotels, Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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