A great way to wrap up summer is by taking the family on a wild west adventure through California’s Gold Country. From Placerville, a historic gold mining town just miles from the first gold discovery site, to Groveland minutes from the world-famous Yosemite National Park -California is teeming with adventure, breathtaking landscape and hands on history. Check out my top three choices for a family-friendly, California wild west weekend.
The Historic Cary House Hotel, Placerville – The Cary House Hotel is legendary and has seen some of history’s most notable names. opened in 1857 by William Cary this then three-story hotel had 77 luxurious rooms. Only the wealthiest of people would stay here from famous politicians to gold striking miners. The Cary House Hotel was suited for people with money. With guest book signatures by Mark Twain and Buffalo Bill. Today, the Cary House sits with four stories and 40 rooms. If you stay at the Historic Cary Hotel, you’d be adding yourself to the guest list after legends like Buffalo Bill, Black Bart (a famous stagecoach robber), Mark Twain, Ulysses S. Grant, Elvis and many more. www.caryhouse.com
The Groveland Hotel, Groveland – Situated just miles from the entrance to the world-famous Yosemite National Park is the tiny and charming historic town of Groveland, home to the Groveland Hotel. This historic building sits next to California’s oldest saloon and is a popular stopping point for travelers today. Its vintage decor and comfortable rooms really provide a historic ambiance. With a full service casual yet fine dining restaurant, outdoor dining courtyard, saloon and massive award-winning wine selection, this is a great place to stay if Yosemite is your destination. www.groveland.com
The City Hotel, Columbia State Historic Park – The only thing missing from this historic hotel is the dirt road. The City Hotel sits on Main Street in the Columbia State Historic Park, a living museum of California’s Gold Country and American Wild West. This is one of the most pristinely preserved working heritage parks I have ever explored, and bam smack in the middle of it is the City Hotel, a fully operating historic hotel, part of the park itself. The staff, like all of the staff in the park, are dressed in time-period clothing and all of the furniture antique. If you really want to get a feel for the “way it was” this is your place. www.parks.ca.gov/columbia
Article written by: Christa Thompson, The Fairytale Traveler
