Yosemite and the Sierras
By Andrew Collins

California is so unbelievably rich with magnificent scenery and sophisticated vacation destinations, it can prove challenging to set aside time to see them all. For example, plenty of travelers who regularly visit Los Angeles and San Francisco still haven't explored one of the state's most stunning locales, Yosemite National Park, which makes for a fantastic weekend adventure. There's plenty for nature lovers to see and do here (from river rafting to skiing to camping), but Yosemite also sits close to several charming communities in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, where you'll find gay-friendly inns and historic hotels, excellent but underrated wineries and art galleries, and a smattering of intriguing historic attractions.

Two of the region's counties make particularly good bases for exploring: Calaveras (where Mark Twain penned "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County") and Tuolumne (which rhymes, more or less, with "follow me"). Although set high above the San Joaquin Valley and accessed via twisting mountain roads, the region is relatively easy to reach from several major California cities, including Sacramento (100 miles) and San Francisco (130 miles). From Los Angeles, it's a longer drive (360 miles), but, at about five or six hours, still manageable.

Sonora, founded as a mining town in 1849, is the largest community in the region, with a population of about 5,000. Here you'll find a handful of appealing hotels, some good restaurants, and a first-rate theater scene you might not expect in such a rural area. You can see top-notch plays produced by the Sierra Repertory Theatre company, which stages plays throughout the year at both the East Sonora Theatre and Columbia State Historic Park's Fallon House. Downtown Sonora's Stage 3 Theater is another excellent venue.

Sonora also has several cool and funky antiques shops and galleries, such as Antiques Etcetra and Jake + Lulu's Pet Boutique. Legends is a cute bookstore and antiques shop with an inviting coffeehouse upfront, where you can stop for ice cream or espresso. With its mix of no-nonsense workaday businesses and up-and-coming boutiques, unpretentious Sonora feels a bit like Guerneville, in the Russian River - inviting but free from excessive commercialism. On Saturday mornings from mid-May through mid-October, the town hosts a farmers market where you'll find everything from local honeys and preserves to baked goods produced by an area Mennonite sect.
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