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. 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. The few-block downtown is devoid of chains and flavored instead by local eateries, art galleries and characterful shops, like the custom leather outfitter Mountain Mike. These small mountain towns in NC obviously have lots to offer, and in my opinion Blowing Rock (population 1300, altitude 3500+ feet) is truly amongst the finest. Spooning Carlsbad's southern border, Encinitas is one of the best beach towns in California, with miles of coveted coastline. Downtown Truckee is also full of cute shops and restaurants. Downtown Encinitas (Photo: Brett Shoaf Artistic Visuals). Though most stick around the General Sherman, the best sequoia grove in Sequoia and Kings Canyon parks stands on the Congress Trail. Sutter Creek. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Keep an eye out for open house events that allow visitors to tour certain homes each year. 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. Once you exit 80 at Foresthill / Auburn Ravine . Ojai. Be sure to help yourself to some delicious Danish pastries for which this mountain town is known, like the local favorite aebelskivvers! Lake Arrowhead is a beautiful lakeside oasis in the mountains of Southern California, great for a summer escape on the water or a cabin escape in the winter! Take in the unique volcanic formations on the Trail of the Gargoyles or the Columns of the Giants. Check out Hotels.com to find the best hotel deals, from cheap to luxury & more! You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. And in the winter, Truckee is home to great ski resorts such as Northstar and Palisades, making it the perfect ski trip destination! But St. Helenas half-mile-long downtown, with its lovely shops and gourmet haunts housed in historic buildings, effuses that unmistakably inviting, small-town feel that makes you want to linger longer. As an Airbnb Associate, I earn when you book through my links. 6. Wine grapes were introduced to the area in the nineteenth century during the California Gold Rush. As you can see, theres no wrong time to visit the Sierra Nevada. The true treasure of this historic district, besides the friendly locals, is its signature apple pie, made with apples plucked from the surrounding orchards that sprouted once the gold was gone. "CommUnity" was the festival theme this year, a concept that came roaring to life throughout the nine film venues scattered across downtown Nevada City and Grass Valley, sister towns in the Sierra Nevada foothills. During the summer, the ski area morphs into a mountain bike haven offering over 80 miles of lift-accessed singletrack, kids adventure center, a Via Ferrata and serves as the gateway to Devils Postpile National Park and the eastern entrance to Yosemite National Park . 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. Lovely mums for sale at a San Luis Obispo farmers market (Photo: San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce). Lone Pine is also the gateway to Mt. Moreover, our partners, such as Google Adsense, will collect data and use cookies for ad personalization and measurement. California Gold Country is a big place, loosely defined as the Sierra foothills along California Highway 49. Auburn This city is located in the heart of Placer County and is known for its charming downtown area. Here are a listing of 5 Sierra Foothills towns you should explore: 1. Theres something for everyone here, so be sure to check out all of these amazing towns! Placerville Another charming gold rush town, Placerville is definitely worth a visit. The charming Santa Barbara wine country town of Solvang is located in the Santa Ynez Valley, amidst rolling hills and Figueroa Mountain in the background. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Victorian homes dot the area, and residents love their picturesque hiking trails and biking trails. 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. Why not combine them both into one! The Northern California mountain town of Mt. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Home to the Fricot Nugget, a 13.8 POUND monster that was found in the American River in 1864. In spring, the abundance of Ojai Pixie Tangerines lends the air a sweet citrus scent that is complemented by wafts of lavender come summer; olfactory symbols of this Central Coast gems dedication to not just local organic farming, but also local business. Shop and taste your way along State Street. View RV park reviews, photos, campground pricing & more. At over twelve acres in size, youll have more than enough room to build a snowman, go tubing, or anything else you can imagine. When sommelier Guy Tucker moved to the Sierra Foothills, a vast region in the northeastern part of California where the Sierra Nevadas peter out into the Central . Welcome to California Sierra Nevada summer. Carmel Beach (Photo: Sarah Tz via Flickr). The Old Mission Santa Ins is another piece of history that has survived centuries of cultural shifts and remains active in the community today. Region Characteristics Area Amenities Things to Do, Recreation & Fitness Tuolumne County offers a wide range of amenities for every age group. A 5-mile round-trip hike leads to Wapama Falls. 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. The Wine that is the perfect companion for your dinner. Much of Bridgeports Main Street is vintage 1880, from the old brick general store to the stately white Mono County Courthouse, built to serve the silver and gold mines that sprang up nearby. American Fire Now 1,200 Acres, Covering Parts Of Sierra Foothills In Smoke. Latest. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. It also is home to a botanical garden and it has easy access to Mt. The farm-to-fork movement is the pulse behind the seasonal, inventive cuisine that draws foodies along with oenophiles here, where chefs names become well-known and those following in their footsteps are trained at the Culinary Art Institute of America. Sonoma Plaza(Photo: Sonoma County Tourism, www.sonomacounty.com). Those 700 turns? Gourmet food and wine shops provide the goods for a memorable picnic in Devendorf Park or any of the 60 courtyards within the one-square mile village (where, fun fact, youll need a permit to wear heels higher than two inches). Schmitz 24 Brix Wines. Pretty much any time of year you can hop on a mountain bike and feast on more than 2,000 vertical feet of singletrack in Bass Lake. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". We have them! Netflix calls this town home, too. In the summer, its elevation provides naturally air-conditioned air yet low enough to provide mild winters. The town itself has lots of historic places to visit, including the historic Old Town district and the Gold Rush Museum. Charming indeed. This cookie can only be read from the domain they are set on and will not track any data while browsing through other sites. You can stroll the main street or head out to New Melones Lake for hiking, mountain biking, & even amazing fishing. You can hike amongst these beauties along trails traversing the 575-acre Arcata Community Forest. Looking for lodging recommendations for the area? Septembers Secret Season boasts leaf peeping hikes, high-altitude training and races including the World Championship Spartan Race, locally-sourced menus, and the renowned Autumn Food & Wine Festival. Summer at Lake Tahoe is the same as it ever was, too. Truckee This charming mountain town is perfect for those who love outdoor activities. Murphys is located in Gold Country in the foothills of the High Sierra just minutes from a wealth of outdoor adventures with multiple alpine lakes to play on, world-class rivers for fishing, hiking and biking. The neighborhood is in close proximity to the coast.. View nearby homes. Most of the Cedarville wines are sold out of . A vineyard barn in Healdsburg (Photo: ddedit via Flickr). Founded in 1911, this small Danish village set in the Santa Ynez Valley is the epitome of charming, in the European sense. But spend time lingering in Mono County and its charming small towns, Fresnos stellar lakes, and the mountains under-the-radar state and national parks; and youll discover a million little Sierras. Though mostly lacking the cobblestoned, antiquated aesthetic of Colonial towns on the opposite coast, California can also be charming in its own varied ways. You can also drive, but the more adventurous may prefer a bike ride over the Golden Gate Bridge before riding along the bay toward the waterfront or downtown. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Murphys Grammar School, listed on the National Register of Historic Places for Calaveras County, California (Photo: Jeffrey Beall via Flickr). Write if you have any specific questions. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". A great literary getaway, Jack Kerouac and his dharma bums once used Bridgeport as a base to explore the Eastern Sierra of the California Sierra Nevada. There are all sorts of cabins in Yosemite National Park, many of them located in Wawona, as well as the historic Wawona Hotel. Along with its bucolic setting, Ojai boasts many retreats dedicated to rejuvenating the mind and body, including the five-diamond Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, from where you can catch a sightseeing trolley ride to the charming downtown village. It's no wonder why the area made the National Geographic's list of the top 20 surf towns in the country. Best small towns to visit in California. SUNSET may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. 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 road to the Pico de Veleta is an enchanting trip into the glorious mountain world of the Sierra Nevada. What are some of the cities in the gold country in the foothills of northern California? Grass Valley is like a sister city to Nevada City, bigger in population but with a similar chilled-out vibe that still offers quite a bit to do and see. Below you will find a Sierra Foothills Northern California Map of the areas we write about. Or push yourself to the limit with a road biking adventure to the top of Monitor Pass. Find out more about living in the Sierra Foothills in Northern California. A taste of Arcatas unique culture: the Kinetic Grand Championship race (Photo: Bob Doran via Flickr). Roseville is only 20 minutes away from Sacramento and is a short ride away from the nearby Sierra Nevada foothills and Folsom Lake. The scene gets progressively more beautiful as you approach Grouse Lake on the roughly 2-mile trek. Shopping and dining in the European-style village is equally luxurious, offering a mix of high-end brands and boutiques along stone-paved streets in buildings with adorably curly-cued roofs. Start off with a dinner on top of a hilltop at the Cottonwood which provides you an overlooking view of downtown Truckee. It has its own charm and character. While youre at it, Bodie is a nearby spooky ghost town-turned-park worth the visit. But finding the hidden pools that are open to the public (and not scalding hot) requires local knowledgeor locals willing to share that knowledge. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Kirkwood Kirkwood is a small mountain town best visited during winter. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Whitney, the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States, can seem like a thoroughfare on a summer weekendmore than 20,000 attempt to reach the summit each year. Geology meets geometry in a massive rock formation of hexagonal columns formed by an ancient lava flow more than 100,000 years ago. It is the Sierra Foothills' best kept secret. . Not too far from the cozy town of Angels Camp is a quaint cabin that some of the GREATEST literature of the American West was written, by the likes of Bret Harte & Mark Twain. A fun way to tour the area, especially for families, is a ride on the horse-drawn trolley. 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! 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 picture-postcard streets are lined with limestone cottages, built in the classic Cotswold style. For a town of its small size, Nevada City offers more than youd expect, with great boutiques, a wide variety of restaurants, and little artisanal ice cream and chocolate shops. The cookie stores information anonymously and assigns a randomly generated number to recognize unique visitors. Its charming no matter the time of year and a great place for all sorts of outdoor activities. The beating heart of Sonomas neighbor, Napa Valley, St. Helena has been nicknamed Napas Main Street. 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. With a population of less than a thousand, most Sierraville residents are descendants of Italian-American families that settled in the area in the 1800s. We have numerous lakes perfect for fishing, swimming and boating as well as hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails. Do as the locals do here and get around by bike or on foot (or craft a mobile masterpiece for the annualKinetic Grand Championship race). Live Oak is a wonderful, quiet residential community. This community in Napa County is all about the wine. Read on for our pick of the Sierra Nevada's most beautiful towns and villages. This pretty English village straddles the slow-moving River Eye, crossed by two small footbridges. In our opinion, there are two very cool reasons to stop in Auburn. But surrounding mountains remain gorgeous and uncrowded. This list wouldnt be complete without including this adventure mountain town. 27 Top Tourist Attractions in San Francisco. During the warmer months, explore the many trails on Sonora Pass such as Leavitt Meadows giving you access to alpine lakes. This Gold Rush-era town of about 12,000 people has an outdoorsy vibe, . Pack up a picnic and head to a park, wander along the Art and Farm Trails, kayak down the Russian River or hike the Ridge Trail for majestic mountain views. Go boating or fishing out on the water, or head to Mariposa Grove in Yosemite to walk among towering giant sequoias just 30 minutes away! Locals have their favorite beach spots, but an easy go-to for a perfect beach day is the city beach, recognizable by the San Clemente pier. Normally at this elevation your Sierra foothills wildflower hike will include a mix of lupine, Indian paintbrush, poppies, purpleheads (a.k.a. And yet Mariposa has kept its small-town charm and wears it well. A stroll down the wooden pier for a break from the sand and waves reaps rewards when looking back; the view of the beach and the hill that rises behind it is reminiscent of a Mediterranean coastal village, a puzzle of white, red-roofed apartments and a sprinkling of slim, fringed palm trees. Victorian Christmas in Charming Nevada City (Photo: Nevada City Chamber). Due to its location, you can enjoy pleasant weather in the winter and do things like rock climbing or hiking and still see snow-covered peaks from a distance. Charming might not be the first word that comes to mind when thinking of California. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. There are several art galleries and live performance venues, as well as a lovely downtown area with a variety of shops and restaurants. Dining in the Sierra Foothills wine country In Sutter Creek Cavana's Pub & Grub 36 Main Street Sutter Creek, 209-267-5507 Elements Restaurant - Breakfast only - Best 61 Hanford Street Phone: 209-267-0747 Hotel . 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!). Bliss State Park and Emerald Bay State Park, as well as its wealth of winter adventure activities. The Sierra Nevada covers much of California's center and includes a patchwork of protected lands: Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park s, Lake Tahoe (the largest alpine lake in North America) and the Desolation Wilderness, Ansel Adams and John Muir Wildernesses. Its no wonder this small city was once the Hollywood of the silent-cinema era and continues to attract film and photo shoots. Surrounded by the Santa Cruz Mountains and in the San Jose foothills, the town of Los Gatos may have gotten a lot bigger. 51 reviews. The top choice is definitely Yosemite National Park with its immense and smooth monoliths that the park is famous for. Its also home to the annual frog jumping jubilee & is one of the most picturesque downtowns your eyes will ever see. Californias abundance of warm, sunny days is perfect for the beach and also for producing luscious, full-bodied wines. Later the same day you could tackle the mountain trails on foot or on a mountain bike. So whatever you find in Ojai will be unique. Nevada City Tahoe City is a quaint mountain community that hugs the shores of Lake Tahoe. Amador Vintners Association. Mammoth Mountain Resort is a massive draw for people all over California in the winter, but in the summer, Mammoth Lakes is also a great mountain getaway spot with tons of High Sierra hiking trails laid out at your feet. Not all of the park is completely discovered and busy. See more of Alexs work at https://localfreshies.com. 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. The county is situated on the eastern side of the Sacramento Valley, extending from the Sacramento River, on its western border, east into the foothills and western slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Includes Cities/Towns: Columbia, Groveland, Jamestown, Sonora, Twain Harte. 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. Mammoth Mountain covers over 3,500 acres and often boasts some of the deepest annual snowpack in the country. You dont know the Sierra until youve seen it from a saddle. So says a rider on a horse packing trip, which lets you travel like a forty-niner and cover plenty of ground in a weekend. Its close enough to Yosemite that you can visit on a day trip, but it also has enough happening on the lake for it to be worth a visit all on its own. If so, then youll definitely want to check out the charming towns in the Sierra Foothills. Being only twenty minutes from the shores of big blue, this cozy town is usually lumped in as part of Tahoe, but it shouldnt be. Sierra Foothills AVA. The test_cookie is set by doubleclick.net and is used to determine if the user's browser supports cookies. The Beach Boys hit Surfin USA even gives a shout out to the now legendary surf spot Swamis. This area is located in Northern California and is home to some of the most historic cities in the state. For some, going on vacation is to get away from it all. Indigenous roots here, though, reach back thousands of years, when the Chumash people inhabited the land. 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. 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.