TUOLUMNE COUNTY TRANSIT PRESENTS
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THE TUOLUMNE COUNTY VISITORS BUREAU • yosemitegoldcountry.com
YOSEMITE &
GOLD
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Trolley Service
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VISIT COLUMBIA • SONORA • JAMESTOWN
TROLLEY RUNS WEEKENDS THRU LABOR DAY ALL DAY PASS/$4.00 SINGLE RIDE/$1.50
12 & Under RIDE FREE when accompanied by adult DIAL-A-RIDE SERVICE TO THE TROLLEY
209-532-0404
Air Conditioned Visit www.historic49trolleyservice.com for schedule and details
WILD & MILD ADVENTURES
PHOTO CREDIT: LAURIE CARSON
Yosemite NATIONAL PARK Service from Sonora/Jamestown • Groveland/Yosemite Pines Smith Station/Buck Meadows Thousand Trails/Big Oak Flatsonorachamber.com • Crane Flat
YARTS.COM • 877.989.2787
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TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDE EXPLORE
THE TUOLUMNE COUNTY VISITORS BUREAU • yosemitegoldcountry.com
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o matter what your favorite season is, Tuolumne County has everything you need to experience the vacation of a lifetime and create everlasting memories! From calm and mild – to wild and spicy, extreme relaxation or adventure begins here! We’ve put together a few detailed Sample Itineraries to help you plan your visit to this amazing county!
inspiring Yosemite. Use the free trams, shuttle buses, or your car to enjoy the breathtaking splendor of the valley and the diverse wildlife habitat. Climb the world famous El Capitan or Half Dome, hike the same trails as pioneer John Muir, go bike riding, horseback riding, or experience our magni�cent rivers on a peaceful �oat down the Merced River or up to class �ve rapids on the “Wild and Scenic” Tuolumne River. 3-Day Itinerary Have a casual or formal lunch Yosemite & Gold Coun- in Yosemite Valley. After an untry forgettable day in Yosemite, return Here is a great itinerary for a 3- to the Highway 120 Corridor and Day Yosemite, Gold Country Hisspend the night near the entrance tory & High Country Tour: of the park near the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir or in Groveland at a
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array of popular restaurants in historic downtown Jamestown or Sonora. On to an informative history lesson at the Tuolumne County Museum in downtown Sonora. Just up the road, Columbia State Historic Park awaits you. Step back in time and experience the gold rush era of the 1850’s at this thrivPhoto Credit: Briggs Hospitality ing restored “living history museum.” Spend the day swimming, sailEnjoy an educational docent-led tour of the park, go for a ride on a stage- ing, kayaking, or any variety of coach (complete with a “hold-up”), boating opportunities on a crisp, go horseback riding, or travel deep clean mountain lake. When its into the earth and tour a real working time to relax, just hang out on a gold mine that has been operating for picturesque beach of Pinecrest Lake. more than 100 years. Check in to accommodations Check in to accommodations in Jamestown, Columbia, or Sonora. at a country inn or local resort. From historic bed and breakfast On the other hand, you may inns and haunted hotels to three-diamond comfort, you will be sure to �nd just what you’re looking for in these historic towns, Continue your historic adventure and top off your day with an outstanding dinner followed by live theatre in CoPhoto Credit: Half-Dome, John DeGrazio, yexplore.com lumbia or Sonora. Photo Credit: The Historic National Hotel beautiful, charming historic hotel. Day 3 No matter where you choose to stay, Day 1 want to continue east to Kennedy superb dining experience awaits you. The High Country The Yosemite Experience aAfter Head east on Highway 108 and Meadows. Spend your day horsedinner, experience the unique isit the Yosemite Gateway back riding or hiking and take in ambiance of the oldest operating saloon connect to Tuolumne Road. Museum in Groveland, see Stop at an old-fashioned foot- the unbelievable, breathtaking in California, the Iron Door. a spectacular display of the Mi hill Apple Ranch and pick up a views and high country vistas. Wok Indian culture, and then Day 2 piece of “Mile High” apple pie, Plan to picnic in the meadow or continue to the park. True California History delicious homemade treats, try one of the local resort cafes Spend the entire day in aweStop in Jamestown and take a jams, and fresh-grown fruits and where you will �nd real home ride through the foot- vegetables. cooking! hills on an authentic Continue east on Highway 108 After dinner, spend the evening old steam train and to our beautiful High Sierra. Vis- relaxing under the stars around tour Railtown 1897 it the Pinecrest area and go for a the camp�re and dream of what State Historic Park and hike on the- Shadow of the Mi- you’re going to do the next time its working Round- Wok Trail, Trail of the Gargoyles, you come back to Tuolumne house (AKA the movie Trail of the Ancient Dwarfs, County. railroad). Donnell Vista or the Columns of On your next trip rhink about Next stop, Wood’s the Giants experiencing a cozy mountain Creek. Learn to “pan Choose to recreate for the day cabin for an extended stay. for gold” just as the at Pinecrest Lake and have lunch 49’er miners did. at the lakeside snack bar or local Have lunch at an Resort. exploresonora.com
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THE TUOLUMNE COUNTY VISITORS BUREAU • yosemitegoldcountry.com
TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDE EXPLORE
The
THE TUOLUMNE COUNTY VISITORS BUREAU • yosemitegoldcountry.com
Groveland Hotel
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avor a lazy morning in the most luxurious featherbed you’ll never want to get out of, snuggle into one of our cozy bathrobes, enjoy a cup of freshly brewed coffee on our veranda and permit a gracious staff member to indulge your every request. Included in your stay is a morning feast we nicknamed the Innkeeper’s Breakfast.
California-fresh Cuisine Historic Saloon • Cocktails The
Cellar Door
R e s t a u r a n T
Photo Credit: Kennedy Meadows, upper Highway 108
4-Day Itinerary
Warm Weather Sample Itinerary Eve of Day One
Arrive in the historic gold town of Sonora and check into your Hotel. Stroll downtown antique stores, shops and restaurants. Be sure to visit Legend’s sandwich shop & ice cream parlor for some great food and view awesome mining tunnels dug underneath the city of Sonora by gold-seekers in the 1850’s. If you arrive on a Friday during summer, you can walk downtown and catch a
The humble origins of the Historic Gunn House Hotel
6:00 pm live “Music in the Park” concert performance in Sonora’s Courthouse Park (free).
Day One
18767 Main Street Groveland, CA 95321 209.962.4000 800.273.3314 www.groveland.com
Travel approximately 5 minutes to Railtown 1897 State Historic Park in Jamestown to see the “Movie Railroad” where over 300 movies and commercials have been �lmed. Back to the Future III, High Noon, Pale Rider, are among some of the Westerns
�lmed there. Private train rides For some relaxed �ne dining can be arranged for your group as check out some of Sonora’s top well. Contact Railtown 1897 State downtown restaurants such as TaHistoric Park for details. lulah’s or Christopher’s Ristorante Italiano. Both are available for private functions as well. Take in a play (depending on the day of the week at either the Stage 3 Theater in downtown or the nearby Sierra Repertory Theater offerings in East Sonora or Columbia.
After touring the park, stroll historic Jamestown and enjoy lunch at one of its �ne historic restaurants. Check out their store Gold Prospecting Adventures on Main Street in Jamestown. Go across the highway from Jamestown to the Jimtown 1849 Gold Mining Camp for a tour and history lesson. See the Long Tom, Rocker Boxes, Grizzly Adams mercantile and many other historical artifacts and replicas. The camp has picnic tables and BBQs where you can have your lunch that you brought or bought in town. Return to your hotel for a later afternoon function or a bit of relaxation before dinner.
sonorachamber.com
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Sierra Repertory Theatre’s, ‘Carousel’
Day Two
Head up Highway 108 to the Summit Ranger Station at the Pinecrest Lake turnoff where you can get a map that shows �ve interesting trails and vistas that are well marked (free). Try at least one or all �ve (free):: 1) Shadow of the Mi-Wok Trail, easy ¼ mile walk, 2) Trail of the Gargoyles, scenic 1 THE
The Historic
EXPLORE
Built in 1850
Gunn House Hotel In the Heart of Historic Downtown Sonora
‘Gunny’ Our Famous Hotel Bear Don’t miss our famous Innkeeper’s Breakfast– Waffles made to order!
Rooms $79-$115
286 S. Washington Street, Sonora, CA 95370 Reservations (209) 532-3421 www.gunnhousehotel.com
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½ mile walk, 3) Trail of the Ancient Dwarfs, pleasant ½ mile walk to unique geological formations 4) Donnell Vista, ¼ mile paved trail with magni�cent scenic views 5) Columns of the Giants, easy ¼ mile walk. After your morning hike, get picnic supplies at the store at Pinecrest Lake where you can have a picnic on the beach. If you have energy left, spend a few leisurely hours exploring the lake by taking a mild hike around it, rent a paddle boat, or just relax on the beach, go swimming, read a book or take a snooze on a blanket in the pines. You can go horseback riding at nearby Aspen Meadows Pack Station where you can ride for one hour for $20 per person. On the way back to your hotel in Sonora, stop for a burger or salad at the Strawberry Inn. Then take another relaxing eve-
ning swim before falling into deep sleep.
Day Three
Drive past Columbia State Historic Park across the Parrotts Ferry Bridge and stop on the west side of the road at the Natural Bridges sign and hike down to the creek (two mile round trip). There are a couple of interesting caverns along the way. If you are a little bit warm, there’s a great place to splash in the water and swim through the caves, especially since you have to hike back up! Return towards Columbia State Historic Park (3 miles north of Sonora and free admission), a Gold Rush town that has survived the passage of time better than the other early settlements. Walk along the wooden sidewalks and learn some history while enjoying hand dipped chocolates from the Columbia Candy Kitchen and maybe a
Photo Credit:: Columbia State Historic Park
Sarsaparilla at the Jack Douglass Saloon. Some of these venues are available for private functions as well. Return to your hotel for a free evening.
bow Pool (free) day use area for a swim and photo ops. Rainbow Pool
Day Four
After breakfast, take a drive into Yosemite National Park (entrance fee applies) where you can view some of the most famous geological icons (Half Dome/El Capitan) and waterfalls in the world. Take a hike through the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias.
After returning from magical Yosemite, collapse in bed knowing you have spent four wonderful days enjoying and exploring the best wonders of the Sierra foothills.
On your return trip, stop in Groveland at the colorful Iron Door Saloon (oldest continuously running saloon in California) for an ice cream or refreshment in their sandwich shop. Time allowing on your way back, stop at the South Fork of the Tuolumne River at the Rain-
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The Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau 542 W. Stockton Street Sonora , CA 95370 (209) 533-4420 800-446-1333 yosemitegoldcountry.com