Sutter Creek not only matches Hollywood’s vision of what an upscale, thriving gold mining community should look like after it has already struck it rich, it also matches what visitors and tourists enjoy when they are looking for antiques, B&Bs, Inns, chic shops, and trendy, upscale dining.
The heart of town stretches a comfortable walking distance of five blocks by two at the most. A walking tour guide for the historic buildings is available.
There are over a half dozen B&Bs and historic Inns, including what is arguably the oldest continuously running hotel and saloon in California.
Yet, down the street you can visit the Monteverde Store Museum and see the authentic goods available to miners and residents in the early 20th Century Sutter Creek. Talk about comparison shopping!
The heart of town stretches a comfortable walking distance of five blocks by two at the most. A walking tour guide for the historic buildings is available. The Knight Foundry, one of the oldest machine shops still working is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and it’s still operating by water power.
There are over a half dozen B&Bs and historic Inns, including what is arguably the oldest continuously running hotel and saloon in California. Contemporary lodging spans from upscale to family friendly. Dining opportunities range from gourmet to home-cooking and family fare. Fast food dining is best found in neighboring Jackson or forgotten for a night or two.
Outdoor sporting activities are found in the high country an hour or more away. This is a romantic town for a different sort of sport or way to get your heart racing. Unless you think of wine tasting and driving or pedaling through the outstanding wine country an outdoor activity. Over 25 wineries are only minutes away. This beautiful region in the Amador County foothills is often referred to as the “Tuscany of California.” Every – ok, almost all – of the little communities tucked along the road have a country store or deli. Mochas, lattes, and fresh baked goodies have been spotted on menus catering to visitors.
Take a picnic lunch and ride your road bike and the day definitely qualifies as an aerobic outdoor activity. The rolling foothills, spring wildflowers, or the summer’s golden, grassy meadows and deep green oaks with many miles of paved, winding county roads offer a lovely setting. If you are pedaling, some of the hills will make you work for your wine; so pace your riding as well as your sipping, unless its water. There are numerous paved roads that can keep you away from the heavy traffic along Highway 49. Favorite destinations are Fiddletown, Volcano, Daffodill Hill, Fairplay, Mt Aukum, and Plymouth. And if you’re up to it, and up, and up, an uphill pedal to Cooks Station on Highway 89 via Omo Ranch will get your adrenaline going. So will the mostly-coasting ride back down. Then again, just relaxing in a day of quiet revelry celebrating yesterday’s adventure of mountain biking, motorcycling, hiking, or whitewater sports and you have the perfect weekend.
Gold mining enthusiasts or visitors wanting to learn more about mining have a golden opportunity – sorry, I had to get that out of my system. Five minutes from the heart of town is the Sutter Gold Mine that offers underground tours. Hour long excursions are by shuttle vehicles but you also get to walk over and touch the gold bearing quartz that has yielded millions of dollars of gold in this area. Above ground you have the opportunity to pan for gold – and keep what you find. A four-hour underground experience is available with advance reservations. This is a mostly walking tour. You will begin to appreciate the day in the life of a miner.
Combining visits of the four foothills communities – Drytown, Amador City, Sutter Creek, and Jackson – that line the pockets of Highway 49, the “Golden Chain Highway,” in a space of less that 10 miles total, will fill the day or a weekend. Each town has its own personality not to mention unique choices of antique shops, boutiques, trendy shops, restaurants, and lodging options.
| Population: | 4,606 | Links: | Chamber of Commerce: www.amadorcountychamber.com Community: http://ci.sutter-creek.ca.us/ |
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From Sacramento follow Highway 50 east out of town for about 6 miles until you reach Highway 16, the “Jackson Highway.” Turn right (southeast) and follow it for 34 miles until you reach the Highway 49 intersection just east of Plymouth. Turn right (south) on Highway 49 and follow it for 6 miles. In 2004 a bypass was being built around the mining communities of Drytown, Amador City, and Sutter Creek to relieve traffic congestion of big rigs and tourists in the heart of each town. Watch for signs indicating changing directions.
You can also reach the community via Highway 49 either south out of Placerville or north from Sonora and numerous highway links in between.