There’s lots to do in the Gold-Wine Country! We would be happy to plan packages for you for the theatre, for gold panning, rafting, skiing, restaurants, etc. To give you some idea of things to do in the Sonora area, we have provided some interesting links. There are also many other activities such as boating, backpacking, fishing, biking, and scenic railroad trips. Come and enjoy!
Wineries of the Southern Sierras
Get a taste of California’s Historic Wine Country where touring is intimate, not crowded and the wines exceptional. More than 20 wineries are located around Murphys and the surrounding communities. Discover a history of wine making in the Sierra Foothills with annual events like President’s Wine Weekend, Passport Weekend (3rd weekend in June) and Grape Stomp (1st Saturday in October). calaveraswines.org
Theatre
There are three full time theatre companies in the Mother Lode : Two Sierra Repertory Theatres and Stage3 .These are fully professional theatres in our rural community of Sonora. We have theatre weekend packages (theatre tickets, dinner and lodging).
Dining
There are excellent restaurants in Sonora, Jamestown and Columbia: Seven Sisters, Banny’s Café , Back Street Bar and Grill, National Hotel, Jamestown Hotel and City Hotel being some of the best. We have menus available for your to peruse.
Gold Pan
Gold was discovered in nearby Jamestown in 1848. Within months, Sonora was a cosmopolitan and often lawless community composed of migrants from around the world. Many miners settled in Sonora as they worked their way along treasure laden creeks and tunneled under countless hillsides. Sonora has retained its historic ambiance and walking along the downtown streets today
is like a visit to an era that never loses its charm. See Jamestown Gold Panning for a hands on experience!
River Rafting
Tuolumne River Rafting
Stanislaus River Rafting
Yosemite
The spectacular beauty of Yosemite is a “must see” for visitors, and Yosemite Park entrance is only 45 minutes from Sonora.
Y explore Yosemite Adventures – Professionally guided hiking tours and photography workshops in Yosemite National Park. Custom tours are available to individuals, groups, and families of all ages and experience levels.
Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Along with two magnificent groves of giant sequoias, the park features over 6,000 acres of pine forest on both sides of the Stanislaus River.
Columbia State Historic Park
This park is known as the best preserved Gold rush town in California. Panning for gold, riding a trail aboard a stagecoach, seeing a full-scale production at the restored theatre all make the “wild west” real.
Dodge Ridge Ski Area
Downhill, cross-country skiers and snow boarders, as well as snowshoe enthusiasts are drawn to Tuolumne County every winter. There are 12 lifts, with a capacity to serve 15,700 skiers per hour. We have ski packages for you. Click below for additional ski information.
– Bear Valley
– Nordic Skiing
– Bear Valley Cross Country Skiing
Golf Courses
Saddlecreek Golf Course is in Copperopolis, only 25 minutes from Sonora. Mountain Springs Golf Club, designed by Robert Muir Graves is minutes away from our inn. There are seven in Tuolumne County, including Greenhorn Creek, with varied degrees of challenge. We can put a package together for you with golf, dining, etc.
Cavern Tours
Moaning Cavern contains a chamber large enough to hold the Statue of Liberty! In this and California Cavern there are walking tours, adventure trips, mining, and picnicking. A helpful link: www.caverntours.com
Bicycle Tours
Gold Country Bicycle Tours is the only bike touring company located and specializing in biking in California’s historic Sierra Nevada Mother Lode!
Casino
Black Oak Casino open 24 hours a day is only 15 minutes from Sonora.
Cooking School
You can even take a cooking class at Yankee Hill Winery and Cooking School.
