California
Related: About this forumA question from a traveller. I am going to be driving from Sacramento to Sonora later this year
I am a flatlander from Chicago and rarely drive in mountains
Can you help me out with a question ?
Is that drive all mountain driving? .. . Will I fall off a cliff or something going there , or it it an easy drive in a small rental for a flatlander ?
Gold county so I'm thinking lot of hills , not mountains . Like ...there's gold in them hills
I'm not going up into the forest just the towns of Sonora and Columbia college but I see further east of there the roads close in winter so I wasn't sure if I'm just going into the towns how rugged it is from Sacramento
I once rented a small auto car for some driving somewhere I really needed something like a Jeep
That's why I'm asking . Can't wait to check out the area .
Roland99
(53,342 posts)lunasun
(21,646 posts)Roland99
(53,342 posts)Timewas
(2,174 posts)You can go south on 99 and cut east through Oakdale and take 108 to Sonora damn near freeway all the way and no real mountain driving at all...
lunasun
(21,646 posts)ghostsinthemachine
(3,569 posts)Only if you are in a big hurry. So much history on highway 49 to miss, opting for the ugliest freeway ever. (99).
Timewas
(2,174 posts)With this 49 is a great drive in summer weather much much more interesting than the "ugly" route I laid out for him, my response was based on his concerns with "mountain road" driving.... personally I would take the 49 route...
ghostsinthemachine
(3,569 posts)Hills. My favorite drive. I love the Gold Rush towns along the route. Columbia is an elevation gain but still not into the snow line. I think the hotel in Columbia is a highly rated restaurant. I'd look it up before making plans things have a way of changing.
Sutter Creek is nice.the Belloti Inn was a great dinner spot (italian, basque style). Again, be sure. Lots of gold rushness. In the town.
Jackson too. Hit the Italian market when there.
If I was me and leaving Sacramento I would go out The Jackson Highway, (highway 12) past Rancho Murrieta and hook up to highway 49 there. The drive from Placerville to that point isn't worth it. All kinds of great stuff, lots of Mark Twain history.
lunasun
(21,646 posts)Thank you for the recs
ghostsinthemachine
(3,569 posts)I found one of his horseshoes once in Cameron Park at a ruined gold rush building.
Calaveras county is the site of the jumping frog jubilee, and there are a few landmarks along the way.
lunasun
(21,646 posts)Nitram
(22,671 posts)ghostsinthemachine
(3,569 posts)Okay, longish story.
My grandparents managed ranches for one of the areas largest land owners, Cameron. When we would visit, we would become archeologists, by rooting through this ruin across the street. All rocks, a building caved in.we spent hours digging up horseshoes, bullet casings (the real find), containers etc. I was going through the days treasures and saw this shoe. A used shoe.
It had a marking, SC, on the center of the top. I, under my parents instruction, sought out the local historian, to check it out. I did some reading and research too, trying to tie Twain to the area. Not just the area, but Cameron Park specifically. I found a newspaper article where he was near. (Keeping in mind he was a reporter with the Sacramento Union, so it was likely).
The historian came to the ranch and verified that it was Twains. Turns out the ruin where I found the shoe (and a ton of other cool stuff) was a former blacksmith shop. Apparently, some people marked their horseshoes. I cant remember the reasoning he gave, but it was commonplace. The historian also had a few, or seen a few of Twain's shoe as well.
Nitram
(22,671 posts)Roland99
(53,342 posts)Recently downloaded his complete works on my kindle. My grandparents had a wonderful book collection and it includes his works. My grandfather introduced me to "Punch, brothers. Punch in the presence of the passenjare" and the jumping frog of Calabasas County
ghostsinthemachine
(3,569 posts)Just saying. They still hold the contest. Site is on highway 49 at Calaveras count fairgrounds outside of Angels Camp.
Shrike47
(6,913 posts)lunasun
(21,646 posts)left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)and thought you were driving to Mexico.
PoindexterOglethorpe
(25,750 posts)you might possibly drive off a cliff in the mountains. If you normally can stay on the road, no problem.
TallMike
(161 posts)2.5 hours by hwy 49 and 2 hours by 99. Take the 49. Hills and a few twisty bits but a much better drive. Take your time, enjoy the sights. Yes, Christopher's in Columbia is an amazing dining experience. Really top notch. The what cheer saloon adjoining it is nice too (Hi Heather!).