Wikimedia/ Bobak Ha'Eri. . Lets just say the fun never stops it just evolves based on the time of year. Sierra Foothills Escape to Rustic California Living Live in California's historic Gold Country in the rustic Sierra Nevada Foothills where the towns are picturesque and rich with history. Redding, a medium-sized city of 90,000 in Northern California, is underrated as a retirement destination. The small mountain town of Mt. "CommUnity" was the festival theme this year, a concept that came roaring to life throughout the nine film venues scattered across downtown Nevada City and Grass Valley, sister towns in the Sierra Nevada foothills. The High Sierra is very fortunate to offer an assortment of mountain towns featuring fun & adventure all year round. Another perk of the winter season is the Victorian Christmas Celebration, when the streets come to life with twinkling lights, Victorian singers and minstrels, roasted chestnuts, crafty vendors, horse-drawn carriages, a live nativity and a boon of holiday cheer. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". The town is known for its unparalleled access to outdoor adventures like redwood gazing, whitewater rafting, cave exploration, and waterfall hikes. A 2,500 square-foot deck wraps the entire length of the lodge, offering a perfect perch for not only watching sunsets but also the stars at night. A peaceful picnic in St. Helena (Photo: St. Helena Chamber of Commerce). You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. An Amador County Winery in California. For its part, Auburn (population 13,500), located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, made our 2015 list of the Top 100 Best Small Towns, thanks in part to its lower than average median home prices and strong healthy-lifestyle indicators, including low rates of obesity and excellent access to health care. A requisite for being in the Sierra is enjoying the outdoors. The charming Santa Barbara wine country town of Solvang is located in the Santa Ynez Valley, amidst rolling hills and Figueroa Mountain in the background. Downieville is a small town off of the Yuba River, and it's one of the first sites where gold miners arrived in the 1800s. Geology meets geometry in a massive rock formation of hexagonal columns formed by an ancient lava flow more than 100,000 years ago. Many mountain ranges have ski towns focused only on one time of year. Whether youre wiggling your toes in the sand or pausing roadside to breathe in the salty ocean air and snap yet another photo of the tree-covered hills, pristine beaches and gurgling sea, you may understand why. Her writing and podcast have been featured in Forbes, CBC Canada, National Geographic, the Huffington Post, and CNN Arabic, amongst others. As one local put it, the beauty of Murphys is that it lends the feeling of stumbling upon an oasis of old-fashioned, gold country charm that has yet to be found by other outsiders, yet without a shortage of modern comforts. There are also several great museums and art galleries to explore. The _ga cookie, installed by Google Analytics, calculates visitor, session and campaign data and also keeps track of site usage for the site's analytics report. The former gold rush town is now rich in local art, theater and foodie-delights, yet still lures travelers away from the city to escape into the humbling grandeur of the mountains and to swirl a pan in the Yuba River, one of the famed golden rivers where little sparkling nuggets can still be found today. There are several art galleries and live performance venues, as well as a lovely downtown area with a variety of shops and restaurants. Its also close to the McCloud Waterfalls a short drive away. Start off with a dinner on top of a hilltop at the Cottonwood which provides you an overlooking view of downtown Truckee. No matter where you are, a mountain escape in California is never far from reach! Looking for dining recommendations? Allison Green is a travel blogger, writer, and podcasterwho grew up in the Bay Area of California. Go boating or fishing out on the water, or head to Mariposa Grove in Yosemite to walk among towering giant sequoias just 30 minutes away! Placerville Another charming gold rush town, Placerville is definitely worth a visit. Darling Solvang (Photo: Prayitno via Flickr). A view of the coastline from Heisler Park, a three-quarter mile stretch that runs alongside Cliff Drive in Laguna (Photo:www.VisitLagunaBeach.com). Shasta is full of classic charm, with restaurants, accommodations, and bars creating a lively scene in winter and summer alike. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Normally at this elevation your Sierra foothills wildflower hike will include a mix of lupine, Indian paintbrush, poppies, purpleheads (a.k.a. It's a place full of history, with lots of cute little towns and winding roads. West of the summit, Kennedy Meadows Resort has hamburgers and horseback rides. Downtown Encinitas (Photo: Brett Shoaf Artistic Visuals). The beautiful town of Nevada City is located in the Sierra Nevada foothills, and youd be forgiven for feeling transported back in time when you visit as you see all the lovely Victorian architecture in downtown Nevada City. Google DoubleClick IDE cookies are used to store information about how the user uses the website to present them with relevant ads and according to the user profile. San Luis Obispo County was one of the original 27 counties when California became a state in 1850, after the Mexican-American War. The small town of Groveland, California is one youll pass through if youre heading to Yosemites Big Oak Flat Entrance, the one you reach if you are visiting from the Bay Area. Here are a listing of 5 Sierra Foothills towns you should explore: 1. Story Winery. The historic Presidio Neighborhood provides a peek into some of the states oldest homes. Shes obsessed with bouldering, houseplants, other peoples pets, and anywhere she can see the ocean. This community in Napa County is all about the wine. Here are a listing of 5 Sierra Foothills towns you should explore: 1. For others, its about getting inspired. An epic photo-op spot along your trek through the Sierras. This tiny town tucked into the Sierra foothills of Calaveras County, just 18 miles north of Sonora, offers visitors a wide range of things to see and do, making the short side-trip up Highway 4 well worth the effort. Groveland A few miles past Silver City Mountain Resort, the only non-camping option along the way, the road rounds the last of its nearly 700 turns then dead-ends at Mineral King Valley. In the winter, there are a host of unique natural phenomena to see and things to do. Those 700 turns? Here, the trees give way to the fall-rainbow of colors, snow falls just enough to make the town that much more picturesque, and the bounty of spring flowers to come (along with the lingering view of snow-capped peaks) makes the winter chill more endurable. Get a glimpse of the stunning scenery to see and activities to do in the Sierra Nevada. The departure point for a horse packing trip, McGee pack station sits at 7,600 feet. The city of Sonoma is a perfect start for any wine-tasting adventure, as the Buena Vista Winery here was the states first winery, founded in 1857. This little world is made all the more enchanting by the scent (and taste!) Once the snow flies, get your adrenaline fix on the slopes of Dodge Ridge, or for some frosty fun, visit the biggest snow play park in California Leland Snow Play. The town of Bishop in the Eastern Sierras is a great base camp for all kinds of mountain adventures in the region. Only a few roads cut through the Sierra Nevada in California from west to east. Along the iconic Pacific Coast Highway, between Los Angeles and San Diego, this quaint, affluent enclave was once the home base of an eponymous MTV reality television series. Like Garrick (above), we often trade the beauty of the coast for the history and laid-back vibe of the foothills. The southernmost Golden nugget of the Gold Rush towns. Located at the Northern edge of Lake Tahoe, Truckee is one of the best-loved mountain towns in NorCal. Auburn- This city is located in the heart of Placer County and is known for its charming downtown area. This is just a taste of the best mountain towns in California High Sierra. It is in Fair Play, a tiny town in El Dorado County. Wikimedia/ Sanfranman59. Just be careful with the altitude it can sneak up on you! The best apple pie in town is a hotly debated title, and the perfect excuse to visit a few shops, notably Moms Pie House and Julian Pie Company, where oven-fresh pies are served however you fancy, from plain and Dutch crumble to creative renditions mixed with berries. While nearby word-class ski areas like Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows and their intimate boutique resorts draw snowbirds during the winter, the area is also a treasure trove of outdoor action come summer. . Only three hours from the Bay Area, the park makes a perfect weekend trip. Another draw to the area, besides the leisurely shopping downtown, is hiking in the Marin Headlands and amongst the towering redwoods in the Muir Woods. No list of the best swimming lakes in Northern California would be complete without the charming Whiskeytown Lake. Stroll the main thoroughfare and pick up a gift for a friend or family. Family-friendly Activities Fun for All Ages Historic Towns, Eastern Sierra Lake Tahoe Western Sierra. All Rights Reserved. It holds annual events such as Mule Days which plays host to the largest non-motorized parade in the world. Lake Arrowhead is a beautiful lakeside oasis in the mountains of Southern California, great for a summer escape on the water or a cabin escape in the winter! This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. This city is home to some great shops and restaurants, as well as a few historic landmarks. So incredible that nearly 400 films have been shot in a place called Alabama Hills just outside of town. Known best as an overlook/picnic area along the McCloud River Three Falls Hike, Upper Falls offers a quieter, . Ask for a la mode, then cruise downtown, where Main Street resembles a Western film set, with its pioneer-storefronts selling antiques, Native American handicrafts, local art and more. of freshly baked pastries. 25 Most Amazing Ancient Ruins of the World. Where you should stay depends on the season, which walks you want to do, whether you prefer a big town or a small village, what other activities you want to do and, of course, prices and availability. Living in the Sierra Nevada Foothills For the tens of thousands of folks who live in the Sierra Nevada foothills, the region is the best of many worlds: a great climate (usually above the Central Valley winter fogs and below the snows of the high Sierra), relatively inexpensive cost of living, spectacular scenery, and easy driving distance to the mountains and seashore. YouTube sets this cookie via embedded youtube-videos and registers anonymous statistical data. At one time it boasted a population over 15,000 which was quite high for the time. Beyond the waves and the white sandy beaches and bluffs, the Flower Capital of the World is home to the San Diego Botanic Garden, where the green-thumbed can meander through the largest bamboo grove and largest interactive childrens garden in the country while snapping shots of thousands of plants from across the globe. Do you love spending time in the great outdoors? Thinking about making a move to the area? Nevada City If youre looking for a true gold rush town, then look no further than Nevada City. Sierra Foothills real estate offers bucolic surroundings and easy access to the state's best outdoor attractions. USA , Sierra Foothills. Chains are legally banned here, a loyalty to local that also purposefully preserves its community-oriented, eco-minded charm. Another draw for young, curious minds is Cal Poly University, a nationally ranked institution uniquely keen on a learn-by-doing philosophy. Its also in the up-and-coming Gold Country wine region, and there are several great vineyards located in town so you can experience both history and wine while enjoying a mountain getaway. . Part of the drama of Mineral King, a small town gem in the California Sierra Nevada is in getting there. The town itself has lots of historic places to visit, including the historic Old Town district and the Gold Rush Museum. The charming town of Burney is a great base for Northern California mountain adventures! Arcata is known for being its own ultra-progressive, eco-minded little world along the banks of Humbolt Bay in Northern California (NorCal). Yes, windmills too, even statues of the famed writer Hans Christian Andersen and a replica of The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen. Capileira Clinging to the dramatic foothills of Mount Mulhacn, Capileira is the highest of a three-strong cluster of villages in the Poquira valley, on the Sierra Nevada 's southern edge. Fortunately, theres much more to this seaside city than teenage drama. #7 Best Places to Live in Santa Cruz County. The neighborhood is in close proximity to the coast.. View nearby homes. Its also located near the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park where youll find Sutters Mill: the place that sparked the California Gold Rush in 1848. For dinner and a motel room, Bridgeport is your best bet. Though it's a reservoir, it still has the heart of a natural lake. Making four crossings within South Yuba River State Park, Highway 49 explores California's Gold Country and historic mining . Equally true: Its impossible to know the California Sierra Nevada. In summer you can slip in a raft and bob down the Merced River. The Sierra Foothills AVA (established in 1987) is an American Viticultural Area in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada in the U.S. state of California in the United States. Schmitz 24 Brix Wines. This historic city is full of charm, from its quaint downtown area to its picturesque Victorian homes. San Clemente is the surfers paradise of Orange County; an area of former farmland turned affluent urban sprawl brought into the spotlight by The OCtelevision series. This post guides you through all the best mountain towns in California. And for generations, its been Californias backyard mountain range. Often called the "Sausalito of the foothills," Sutter Creek is just plain cute. The Truckee River outlet in Tahoe City (Photo: Luke H. Gordon), We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience and save your preferences. Take in the unique volcanic formations on the Trail of the Gargoyles or the Columns of the Giants. Guest rating . Entirely located within Yosemite National Park, Wawona is a great base for Yosemite adventures! Population 16,948. We see the Sierra Nevada only in bits. Whiskeytown Lake. Home to the Fricot Nugget, a 13.8 POUND monster that was found in the American River in 1864. The valley of La Puebla, which it heads, is a natural spectacle in which the human elements are perfectly . Less than two hours away from Los Angeles, the desert town of Ojai is a popular weekend destination for city dwellers looking for a peaceful . Sutter Creek. World-renowned surf spots here T-street, Trestles, Church and San Onofre draw and produce top surf talent. American Fire Now 1,200 Acres, Covering Parts Of Sierra Foothills In Smoke. The perfect Sierra lodge should at once give you lots of things to do and make it hard for the outside world to annoy you. Heres just a sampling of the best mountain towns in California High Sierra to visit ANY time of year. 2 Renwood Winery One of the biggest and best wineries in the Foothills, Renwood offers an extensive tasting menu, snack options and comfortable indoor and outdoor areas to chill with friends.. Keep an eye out for open house events that allow visitors to tour certain homes each year. Sierra Foothills AVA. Sierra Nevada. Jamestown in Tuolumne County is one of California's most prominent Gold Rush towns. A gorgeous campground, Wrights Lake links you to the Twin Lakes trail, which allows you to hike into the Desolation Wilderness from the west. You can get out on the lake in a boat, kayak or standup paddle board and admire the impressive views of the surrounding mountains. But locals argue about which other mountain pass boasts the best scenery. Book now. Fun fact: This little frontier town in Owens Valley is sandwiched between national parks that are home to the highest and lowest points in the contiguous United States Mount Whitney (to the west) and the Bad Water Basin in Death Valley (a little southeast), respectively. Read on for our pick of the Sierra Nevada's most beautiful towns and villages. by Breawna Power Eaton|Published October 29, 2017, Where to Find Short Term Furnished Rentals in Jersey City or New Jersey, A Comparison of Bus Services from Dallas to Houston, 10 Exhibitions to Visit in Indianapolis and Indiana this Spring, 7 of the Best Patagonia Down Jackets for Women. Fiddletown, 8 miles from Plymouth, remains off the beaten path, and a midweek visit will often present no competing tourists to admire the old city. These cookies will be stored in your browser. Here's 9 towns that prove our point. For a taste of a quintessential Southern Californian beach town, look no further than Laguna Beach. I also wanted to distinguish between towns on the Western and Eastern sides of the Sierra Nevada range, because the range is all but impassable except for a few select routes, making them two extremely distinct regions when you consider how to get between them. ), wild clematis and others. Instead, take a weekend for a road trip on States 4 and 108. Oak Glen is also known for its shopping, local festivals, and its Wildlands Conservancy which is a great place to take a walk among local flora and fauna. One good option is to spend a few days in two different places . It's near some of the best places for whitewater rafting in the western U.S., and you can go kayaking . 11. Tahoe City is a quaint mountain community that hugs the shores of Lake Tahoe. You may have noticed that California boasts many wine regions, but the two that are the best known (for both their wines and their long-standing competition) are neighboring Sonoma and Napa Valley. The characteristically warm weather makes the state beach a popular attraction year-round, perfect for riding waves, building sand castles, running along the hard-packed shore or boardwalk, and relaxing with the sound track of crashing waves in the background. Dont believe us? There are many locally owned businesses within the neighborhood, including gyms and cafes. Its close enough to Yosemite that you can visit on a day trip, but it also has enough happening on the lake for it to be worth a visit all on its own. Sightseeing trolley through downtown Ojai (Photo: Gaszton Gal Photography via Ojaivisitors.com). These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Later, savor samples at local wineries, while chatting it up with those who grew the grapes and produced the wine. A dreamy California sunset (Photo: Scott McCracken via Flickr). These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Over 400 films, including those by mega-stars like John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, Johnny Depp and Mel Gibson, have been filmed here since the 1920s. The mountain town of Sonora on the western edge of the Sierra foothills, north of Yosemite, is yet another interesting Gold Country town worth a visit. 6. Swimming is on offer here too, and you can rent tubes and pontoon boats for more leisurely floating. It is located in the Sierra Nevada foothills and was founded in 1848. Shasta as well. Before you know it, Mineral King Road is leading you on a succession of twists and blind corners with drop-offs above a seemingly bottomless canyon. california gold country. The Old Mission Santa Ins is another piece of history that has survived centuries of cultural shifts and remains active in the community today. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Murphys Grammar School, listed on the National Register of Historic Places for Calaveras County, California (Photo: Jeffrey Beall via Flickr). Indigenous roots here, though, reach back thousands of years, when the Chumash people inhabited the land. English EnglishGermanSpanishFrenchChinese (Simplified) Menu Explore Regions Lake Tahoe Western Sierra Eastern Sierra Southern Sierra Close Trip Ideas Native American Information Getting Here Contact Us Itineraries Itineraries To see the terrain immortalized in Ansel Adams photographs in person is humbling. Which is why you shouldnt drive just one. And in the winter, Truckee is home to great ski resorts such as Northstar and Palisades, making it the perfect ski trip destination! Gold Country is located in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevadas and is one of the best regions for taking a . Dont just stop here, explore all the towns that exist in the foothills, mountains, and valleys in this area. Whitney, the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States, can seem like a thoroughfare on a summer weekendmore than 20,000 attempt to reach the summit each year. South Lake Tahoe is known for its proximity to gorgeous state parks in the summer, like D.L. Shallow, salty2 1/2 times as salty as the oceanand shadowed by eerie tufa formations, Mono is Northern Californias second-most famous lake; where Tahoes beauties are clear and obvious, Monos are more mysterious. The farm-to-fork movement is the pulse behind the seasonal, inventive cuisine that draws foodies along with oenophiles here, where chefs names become well-known and those following in their footsteps are trained at the Culinary Art Institute of America. But there is much more to Cali than sun and surf, glitzy cityscapes and epic traffic jams. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 5/9 Bass Lake If your family likes to kayak, swim, water ski or wakeboard, you'll hit the jackpot at Bass Lake, just half an hour south of Yosemite in the Sierra National Forest. Best Lodging Sutter Creek Hanford House, Bed & Breakfast P.O. Halfway between El Atazar and La Hiruela lies Puebla de la Sierra. Or traverse the city and beyond by way of the Ojai Valley Trail. Will You Like Gold Country? Once a supply-hub for silver miners, the town was named after a single pine tree standing at the mouth of a canyon. . We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Murphys is located in Gold Country in the foothills of the High Sierra just minutes from a wealth of outdoor adventures with multiple alpine lakes to play on, world-class rivers for fishing, hiking and biking. All woo in their own Cali-way, with historic main streets, echoes of the Wild West, or natural wonders that invite wandering; where the sound of honking cars is traded for the concert of birds or gracious silence. Its definitely not secret, but you cant skip this classic sight in the California Sierra Nevada. Pretty much any time of year you can hop on a mountain bike and feast on more than 2,000 vertical feet of singletrack in Bass Lake. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. For backcountry hikers, this area provides a perfect gateway to the High Sierras. VIP. But for those looking for an enclave filled with shops, boutiques, & lakefront restaurants that are right on the crystal clear waters of North Lake Tahoe, then you may want to consider Tahoe City. Sierra Nevada National Park. The beautiful town of Mammoth Lakes is a wonderful all-season California mountain town. With a population of less than a thousand, most Sierraville residents are descendants of Italian-American families that settled in the area in the 1800s. Its no wonder why Trips to Discover also picked Murphys the queen of the Sierra as one of the best small towns in California to visit. A taste of the Wild West and apple pie in Julian (Photo: Julian Chamber of Commerce). Mammoth Mountain covers over 3,500 acres and often boasts some of the deepest annual snowpack in the country. Septembers Secret Season boasts leaf peeping hikes, high-altitude training and races including the World Championship Spartan Race, locally-sourced menus, and the renowned Autumn Food & Wine Festival. There are plenty of great shops and restaurants to check out, as well as historic buildings and a beautiful river spots to explore. This area is located in Northern California and is home to some of the most historic cities in the state. Check WineCountryGetaways.com and see which wineries are the best to visit in the Sierra Foothills. More outdoor exploration awaits at the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary; a paradise for birders. Once you exit 80 at Foresthill / Auburn Ravine . For some, going on vacation is to get away from it all. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". All rights reserved. Think slender palm trees sprinkled between white-washed buildings topped with red-tile roofs. One particularly fun visit was to Columbia State Historic Park, where we settled into a campground cabin for two nights with our two kids and two dogs.A clean, comfortable two-bedroom cabin with full bathrooms and a small kitchen costs about $100/night. Julian is also a great place for stargazing in California, with some of the darkest skies and a great observatory/inn to stay at and check out the night sky from your secluded mountain oasis. TravelMag set out to find the most charming towns and small cities in California. Set in a valley fringed by the Topatopa Mountains, Ojai is a cute low altitude mountain town in Southern California. Much like Murphys, this former frontier town in the Sierra Nevada foothills feels like a preserved relic of American history. 1. Ive broken this post into four sections for ease of use: This is an imperfect way to classify things, as many of the Northern California mountain towns are also part of the Sierras, such as the mountain towns in Lake Tahoe. A bouldering paradise. Once there, you can pick from two beautiful campsitesopt for the North Grove site, which sits in an alpine meadow. Another beauty to behold is the restored 18th century Carmel Mission Basilica, which still holds mass today. Spooning Carlsbad's southern border, Encinitas is one of the best beach towns in California, with miles of coveted coastline. Find it 13 mile south of Bridgeport. Here are some of the Sierras top hits and best-kept secrets, wonders waiting to be explored. The 5 Best Hikes in Muir Woods National Monument, 15 Beautiful Desert Towns in California for a Unique Getaway. The Best Places to Stay in the Sierra Nevada National Park The foothills of the Sierra Nevada National Park are sprinkled with charming little villages and hamlets, but the higher elevations are dramatic, snowcapped and a bit wild, craggy and exciting. #36 Hike to the 6th Highest Waterfalls in U.S.A. The Sierra Nevadas define the interior, with many wonderful California mountain towns dotting the foothills and edges of the mountains, and smaller ranges in Southern California combine both beauty and accessibility. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Our New Newsletter Will Help, A Montecito House with an English Garden Vibe Gets a Modern Facelift, The New Cult Cabs Are from Wineries Youve Never Heard Of. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Its famous for its waterfalls: namely, Hedge Creek Falls and Mossbrae Falls, the latter of which is currently inaccessible. Surrounded by famed Sonoma Wine Country appellations youve probably noticed on memorable bottles of wine Alexander Valley, Chalk Hill, Dry Creek Valley, and Russian River Valley Healdsburg is surely known for its picturesque scenery as well as its wine. You wont be disappointed. Trips can climb up to 3,000 feet (or more) higher, uphill treks that shed light on the appeal of the pack trip, a Sierra Nevada tradition that dates back to 19th-century surveyors, miners, and anyone who needed to haul stuff: Its better to have a four-footed animal lug you and your gear upward than it is to carry it all on your own two feet.