Yosemite and the Sierras
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Visitors can also check out a handful of attractions, such as Railtown 1897 State Historic Park (whose vintage trains have appeared in countless movies) and Columbia State Historic Park, whose preserved Gold Rush-era commercial district abounds with shops and eateries, plus two hotels and a theater. You can even pan for gold at the California Gold Co., where a guide teaches you everything you need to know about becoming your own prospector.

Calaveras County has developed an increasingly strong reputation of late as a wine tasting region. In the small town of Murphys, you can tour the area's most renowned winery, Ironstone, which occupies a former gold-stamping mill set in a lush green valley. Have lunch (perhaps a panini stuffed with smoked salami, red peppers, and provolone) in the excellent deli, and sample wines in a handsome tasting room anchored by a 42-foot limestone fireplace. The garden-laced grounds are popular for weddings and commitment ceremonies, and an amphitheater hosts pop and rock concerts in summer. Other notable winemakers in the area include Twisted Oak Winery and Chatom Vineyards.

Undoubtedly, the region's signature attraction is Yosemite National Park, whose magnificent landscape has been immortalized in photographs by Ansel Adams and paintings by Albert Bierstadt and Thomas Moran. The park, which was established in 1890, comprises an amazingly varied terrain, from the peak of 13,114-foot Mt. Lyell to the valley floor, which sits at an elevation of 4,315 feet. In April 2007, Yosemite unveiled a new $1.2 million visitor center with imaginatively rendered exhibits interpreting the park's many natural features. Although you don't want to miss viewing such dazzling icons as the El Capitan granite cliff, Sentinel Rock dome, or 2,424-foot-high Yosemite Falls, set aside some time to visit some of the park's less-visited sights. One such off-the-beaten-path gem is Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, which was built in 1923 to provide water and electricity to the 2.5 million Californians who reside in San Francisco and surrounding counties.

This part of California has experienced something of a dining boom over the past decade, with several restaurants in the region specializing in local produce, game, and wines. In downtown Sonora, you'll find Banny's Cafe & Wine Bar, an airy spot where California-inspired Mediterranean fare awaits. Try the spinach salad topped with Humbolt Fog goat cheese, pancetta, and sherry-mustard vinaigrette, or chorizo-and-clam paella with roasted red pepper. A 15-minute drive east of town, the Tuolumne Me-Wuk tribe opened Black Oak Casino in 2001. As gaming facilities go, this one is airy, pleasant, and well-ventilated (there's even a smoke-free section, as well as a state-of-the-art bowling alley). But it's also home to the stellar Seven Sisters restaurant, which you shouldn't miss even if you're not a fan of gambling. Typically memorable dishes include smoked buffalo tenderloin wrapped in bacon with red-currant sauce, and sake-glazed char-grilled prawns with tangerine vinaigrette.
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