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. Think half-timbered, thatch-roofed Danish Provincial architecture. Sightseeing trolley through downtown Ojai (Photo: Gaszton Gal Photography via Ojaivisitors.com). Lower Slaughter is home to one of Britain's most romantic streets, Copse Hill Road. The Beach Boys hit "Surfin' USA" even gives a shout out to the now legendary surf spot Swami's. Its southern border is approximately 55 miles north of the State's capital in Sacramento. Case in point: the Granddaddy of All Woodie Meets is a gathering of wood-sided surfer mobiles every September at Moonlight Beach, which was a popular spot for midnight picnics in the early 1900s. Wine Tree Farm & Corinne Wines. 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. Its also quite close to Hetch Hetchy for those looking to explore a quieter part of Yosemite, far away from the crowds of the Valley. Here, the California Sierra Nevada rises from Owens Valley in a sheer 3,000-foot wall that shouts, We are what mountains are all about. SUNSET is a registered trademark of S Media International Corporation. The lakeside mountain town of Big Bear Lake is a SoCal favorite in summer or winter! 8. Shimbu Rebel Sushi and Music. Good hospitals and doctors. Or tide pools? Grab sandwiches to-go and picnic at Yee Tok Chee Park, Via Del Mar Plaza or Rodeo Beach, with its picturesque off-shore rock formations. Couple that with hot springs, thousands of acres of wilderness to explore (Yosemite, Ansel Adams, & John Muir Wilderness areas), and events like the Bluesapalooza & you cant go wrong. And dont forget the explosion of wildflowers each season on the Hite Cove Trail. The active community is also home to the world-renowned Carlsbad Triathlon and the states first skateboard park (built in 1976), as well as the skateboarding legend Tony Hawk and the Olympic snowboarder Shaun White. There are plenty of great hiking and biking trails in the area, as well as several ski resorts nearby. Box 395 (209) 267-5500 And for generations, its been Californias backyard mountain range. 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. This cookie, set by YouTube, registers a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen. This designated historical landmark is about an hour's drive from Yosemite National Park and Stanislaus National Forest - great for those who want to explore both natural neighborhoods. This serene setting is rich with the cultural influences of its Native American, Portuguese, Spanish and Mexican history. Roseville is only 20 minutes away from Sacramento and is a short ride away from the nearby Sierra Nevada foothills and Folsom Lake. Clear, blue, and still a classic: Tahoe is a sparkling gem in the California Sierra Nevada. In the summer, youre just steps away from fun. Prefer less people? Just like a proud parent, we think all the towns & communities surrounding the Lake Tahoe region are amazing, and we cant say one is better than the others. The charming town of Burney is a great base for Northern California mountain adventures! Up and down the coast along PCH, youll pass through beach town after beach town, each with its own personality. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". While youre at it, Bodie is a nearby spooky ghost town-turned-park worth the visit. See more of Alexs work at https://localfreshies.com. But there is much more to Cali than sun and surf, glitzy cityscapes and epic traffic jams. Not to be missed is a chance to peer up at the giant sequoia groves at the nearby Calaveras Big Trees State Park, which has drawn folks into the wild since the early 1850s (a very, very long time ago by Californian standards!). One good option is to spend a few days in two different places . 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. Anyone that enjoys spending their time outdoors doing lots of activities filled with fresh air 2,000 vertical feet of singletrack in Bass Lake, towns & communities surrounding the Lake Tahoe region, Stroll the main thoroughfare and pick up a gift for a friend or family, wines grown within the county or enjoy a frosty pint brewed locally, California State Mining and Mineral Museum, perfect basecamp to the High Sierra in any season, gateway to Devils Postpile National Park, New Melones Lake for hiking, mountain biking, & even amazing fishing, new dining options available in Markleeville. Tucked at the base of the eastern Sierra Nevada, this little mountain town offers you complete solitude. The town of Oakhurst is the perfect place to setup your basecamp not just for Yosemite but the treasure trove of adventure to be had in the foothills of the Sierra. Arcata is known for being its own ultra-progressive, eco-minded little world along the banks of Humbolt Bay in Northern California (NorCal). Heres just a sampling of the best mountain towns in California High Sierra to visit ANY time of year. 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. Lovely mums for sale at a San Luis Obispo farmers market (Photo: San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce). A taste of the Wild West and apple pie in Julian (Photo: Julian Chamber of Commerce). Abstract. What has earned the areas title of the happiest city in America is the combination of its congenial, community vibe and bounty of hiking and biking trails, wineries, micro-breweries and famed farmers markets. Offers may be subject to change without notice. It is, of course, celebrated for the unusual rock formation that is the town's namesake- a huge stone thrust over the Johns River. Sierra Nevada National Park. If speeds your goal, set cruise control and take I-80 over Donner Summit. 3. If youre looking for amazing live music venues, Nevada City wins the prize for me. Set in a valley fringed by the Topatopa Mountains, Ojai is a cute low altitude mountain town in Southern California. Not all of the park is completely discovered and busy. Nestled in the eastern side of the High Sierra, when it comes down to outdoor mountain fun, Mammoth Lakes is the champion. A taste of Arcatas unique culture: the Kinetic Grand Championship race (Photo: Bob Doran via Flickr). The small mountain town of Mt. 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. For others, its about getting inspired. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". 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. Your next hometown could be one of these 25 Best Places to Live. World-renowned surf spots here T-street, Trestles, Church and San Onofre draw and produce top surf talent. 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. Stroll through North Grovethe first stand of giant sequoias visited by nonNative Americans. 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. The top choice is definitely Yosemite National Park with its immense and smooth monoliths that the park is famous for. Looking for lodging recommendations for the area? The park's dramatically eroded landscape is a remnant of the world's largest hydraulic mine, where water cannons were used to wash away whole mountainsides in. Copyright 2023 S Media International Corporation. South Yuba River State Park is parceled along the South Yuba River north of Sacramento, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. 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. Worth it, every one of them. Scenery thats unreal. Take in the unique volcanic formations on the Trail of the Gargoyles or the Columns of the Giants. The Sierra Foothills, which run from the eastern edge of the Central Valley to the crest of the Sierra Nevada, were once home to a booming gold rush industry. The scene gets progressively more beautiful as you approach Grouse Lake on the roughly 2-mile trek. Travel Inspiration. Locals mingle weekly at the lively State Street Farmers Market in the Village; the town center that is packed with interesting shops and restaurants. Carlsbad, the village by the sea in Southern California (SoCal), is adored for its seemingly endless coastline. 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. 27 Top Tourist Attractions in San Francisco. SUNSET may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. 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. During the holidays, they decorate extravagantly and host an annual event called Cornish Christmas. 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. Being in the heart of Santa Barbara wine country makes it easy to try the local wines featured at village tasting rooms. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. . Another draw for young, curious minds is Cal Poly University, a nationally ranked institution uniquely keen on a learn-by-doing philosophy. This cookie is installed by Google Universal Analytics to restrain request rate and thus limit the collection of data on high traffic sites. There are all sorts of cabins in Yosemite National Park, many of them located in Wawona, as well as the historic Wawona Hotel. Mokelumne Hill Mokelumne Hill was one of the richest sites in California. Nevada County towns are Grass Valley Nevada City French Corral Smartsville Timbuctoo Rough and Ready Relief Hill Washington El Dorado County cities are Cameron Park Camino Coloma Yes, windmills too, even statues of the famed writer Hans Christian Andersen and a replica of The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen. Lone Pine is located at the intersection of Death Valley and the Eastern Sierra region, and its a charming mountain town with an Old West feel. Good morning, Alabama Hills (Photo: Fred Moore via Flickr). 51 reviews. Netflix calls this town home, too. Vintage-cover posters, coffee mugs, jigsaw puzzles, tote bags, and more. 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. Located near Donner Lake and Donner Memorial State Park, Truckee is home to a wealth of beautiful outdoor activities and scenery, plus lots of great Tahoe area hikes in summer. Home | Recreation | Lifestyle | Maps | Real Estate | Articles | Advertise Here | Contact Us: Please note: all photographs and other illustrations on this site are . 10 Downieville. #7 Best Places to Live in Santa Cruz County. Downtown Encinitas (Photo: Brett Shoaf Artistic Visuals). Spooning Carlsbad's southern border, Encinitas is one of the best beach towns in California, with miles of coveted coastline. These cookies do not store any personal information. Of course, theres more to do here than swirl a glass. Lone Pine is also the gateway to Mt. Skip to header Skip to header; Skip to search Skip to search; . The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Here are a listing of 5 Sierra Foothills towns you should explore: 1. This pretty English village straddles the slow-moving River Eye, crossed by two small footbridges. Amidst the oak and pine forests of the Cuyamaca Mountains, northeast of San Diego, find yourself transported back to the gold rush that lured early settlers to California in the 1800s. While youre at it, enjoy the regions wine bounty and leisurely sip your way from tasting room to tasting room along the Urban Wine Trail. Over a dozen waterfallsat their most bountiful in springsplash here; Half Dome and El Capitan lure world-class climbers, artists and photographers. 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. We have them! Here are some of the Sierras top hits and best-kept secrets, wonders waiting to be explored. Other ways to embrace being out in the wild include mountain biking, fishing, and rock climbing on Suicide Rock and Tahquitz Rock, the intimidating monolith that comes into view long before you exit the highway. The Truckee Cultural District, located in the High Sierra, is well-known for its forests, waterways, and spectacular mountain views, attracting visitors and residents alike. This peaceful escape in the San Jacinto Mountains, 100-miles east of Los Angeles, is yet another California gem that has retained its small-town character. During the warmer months, explore the many trails on Sonora Pass such as Leavitt Meadows giving you access to alpine lakes. Auburn- This city is located in the heart of Placer County and is known for its charming downtown area. The Route to Pico de Veleta. Her writing and podcast have been featured in Forbes, CBC Canada, National Geographic, the Huffington Post, and CNN Arabic, amongst others. Normally at this elevation your Sierra foothills wildflower hike will include a mix of lupine, Indian paintbrush, poppies, purpleheads (a.k.a. There are gorgeous mountain cabins to rent, and the downtown area of Truckee is full of great restaurants and bars to enjoy a California mountain getaway. Unlike many areas of The Golden State, summer does not last year-round in Nevada City. The cabins in Big Bear are a great place for a mountain escape, and the town has tons of great bars, restaurants, and shops to enjoy no matter the weather. It is the Sierra Foothills' best kept secret. Proper lake attire is flip-flops and a bathing suit, but come evening, when the scent of campfires and roasting smores wafts along the shore, its jacket weather until bedtime. A short drive away is all the hiking youll ever need: Easy treks include the 1-mile trail to Granite Lake. Youll also find some very small communities nestled in the mountains that offer a true escape from city life. It's known for its nearby natural wonders and burgeoning wine industry. Related Links: 9 Suburbs You'll Actually Want to Visit 11 Brooklyn-esque Neighborhoods in Cities You Wouldn't Expect 10 Cutest Small Towns in the South Youll find everything from historic cities to small communities nestled in the mountains. 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. Yet the The American Riviera has a flavor of its own, with cooler evenings and characteristic Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. This little world is made all the more enchanting by the scent (and taste!) 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. Once you exit 80 at Foresthill / Auburn Ravine . Darling Solvang (Photo: Prayitno via Flickr). For backcountry hikers, this area provides a perfect gateway to the High Sierras. Its home to several great museums, a delicious cidery called Indigeny Reserve, beautiful hiking trails, and an excellent downtown shopping scene. The beating heart of Sonomas neighbor, Napa Valley, St. Helena has been nicknamed Napas Main Street. The glacier-carved valley is the jumping-off point for hikes in meadows of wildflowers, along creeks that tumble through stands of aspen, up to alpine lakes. The quaint downtown area is worth a day (or few) of wandering. At 14,494 feet, its the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States. We have numerous lakes perfect for fishing, swimming and boating as well as hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails. This is but a glimpse as to why Bishop is one of the best mountain towns in California. This cookie can only be read from the domain they are set on and will not track any data while browsing through other sites. Find it 13 mile south of Bridgeport. sacramento river. The 25-mile, nearly 7,000-foot climb starts innocently enough in Three Rivers, one of Sequoia National Park's gateway towns. The __gads cookie, set by Google, is stored under DoubleClick domain and tracks the number of times users see an advert, measures the success of the campaign and calculates its revenue. Part of the drama of Mineral King, a small town gem in the California Sierra Nevada is in getting there. No list of the best swimming lakes in Northern California would be complete without the charming Whiskeytown Lake. Get fresh recipes, wine pairings, weekend getaway ideas, regional gardening tips, home design inspiration, and more. Your email address will not be published. The Fresno Yacht Club holds its High Sierra Regatta here, but Huntington sailors arent snobby. In the winter, there are a host of unique natural phenomena to see and things to do. Keep an eye out for open house events that allow visitors to tour certain homes each year. Family-friendly Activities Fun for All Ages Historic Towns, Eastern Sierra Lake Tahoe Western Sierra. The historic Presidio Neighborhood provides a peek into some of the states oldest homes. At 7 miles long by 1 mile wide, Huntington is a great Western lake ideal for sailboat racing. Tahquitz Rock stands tall above the village of Idyllwild (Photo: Don Graham via Flickr). In the winter, youre located mere minutes from an assortment of ski resorts like Palisades Tahoe, Homewood Resort, and Granlibakken Ski & Sled Hill. 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. VIP. Its no wonder why the area made the National Geographics list of the top 20 surf towns in the country. A requisite for being in the Sierra is enjoying the outdoors. Why Should You Go? Read on for our pick of the Sierra Nevada's most beautiful towns and villages. Nevada City In addition to the natural beauty you find in this part of the Sierra, what really makes it stand head and shoulders above the rest is its historic and vibrant downtown. These cookies will be stored in your browser. The beautiful Southern California mountain town of Oak Glen is a beloved place to visit in the fall for apple-picking as well as in the winter for a spot of snow, if youre lucky! 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. West of the summit, Kennedy Meadows Resort has hamburgers and horseback rides. In Julian, you can even tour the underground tunnels at Eagle Mining Co. and practice gold panning. It is located in the Sierra Nevada foothills and was founded in 1848. It also is home to a botanical garden and it has easy access to Mt. Sip on wines grown within the county or enjoy a frosty pint brewed locally. 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. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Grass Valley has a distinctly hippie-ish vibe, as opposed to many of the more sports-focused mountain towns in California, making it a great choice for people who want a more relaxed getaway. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Cap off the trip with a swim at Pinecrest Lake, and dream of doing it all again in reverse. 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. 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. Installed by Google Analytics, _gid cookie stores information on how visitors use a website, while also creating an analytics report of the website's performance. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Search this website. She has spent time living in New York, Prague, and Sofia, but has returned to live in the East Bay. 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. Guest rating . In the summer, take a short stroll to see a waterfall in Grover Hot Springs State Park. Redding, a medium-sized city of 90,000 in Northern California, is underrated as a retirement destination. The Sierra Nevada region of California is its alpine region, covering a large portion of the state's inland territory. For some, going on vacation is to get away from it all. 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.