Affordable California Vacations

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Summer is nearer and for many of us, this means some time off: time off from packing lunches for the kids, time off of work, time off of carpool or simply some time off from the daily grind that is our routine.

If you can't plan that dream getaway this year, worry not, for there are many fun and mind freeing getaways right here in our own backyards.

Isn't it always so that we forget how incredible the place we live? To remember can remind us not to take for granted those who support and love us; too often, we can take them for granted as well.

Think about it, many people flock to Northern California for their vacation! Here we have a gorgeous mountain range, The Sierra Nevada, we have some of the best wine country in the entire world, we have coastal hideaways and tourist oriented cities, the great redwood forest, world-class resorts and restaurants.

In this article we'll look at a specific region of Northern California and explore some of the experiences awaiting you on your Sierra Nevada Foothill getaway.

Let's begin with the area largely responsible for the greater area developing, because of the Gold Rush, the Coloma River Valley and El Dorado County.

El Dorado County hosts some of the best getaway vacation spots in all the state. Located just 2-hours from the San Francisco Bay Area and between both major access roads to North Shore and South Shore Lake Tahoe, El Dorado County is an excellent choice for an affordable break from it all filled with variety. It's an excellent choice as it's a relatively easy commute from anywhere in the State and it boasts some of the richest history in all the United States.

The History:

James W. Marshall discovered gold in 1848 on the South Fork of the American River in the valley the Nisenan Indians knew as Cullumah. This event led to the greatest mass movement of people in the Western Hemisphere and was the spark that ignited the spectacular growth of the West during the ensuing decades. The gold discovery site, located in the still visible tailrace of Sutter's sawmill, in present day Coloma California, is one of the most significant historic sites in the nation -  Excerpted from the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park website.

So often it's easy to overlook what's right here in our backyard, but truly, the epic Gold Rush took place right here. The park is as good a place as any to begin your local getaway. Onsite are many artifacts from the Gold Rush era, including a replica of the mill, still-standing buildings from the day, a museum and a nature trail wherein you can have a park ranger lead a walk through history.

Before you make your way to Coloma and the Gold Rush site, you have a decisions to make. Are you making a day of this? Is it just you and the family coming into town for a little history and picnic on the banks of the South Fork of the American River or are you planning a big family get together, reunion style, and you're planning to employ some of the built in barbeques they have available for your use. Is the family going to stay a day or multiple days?

There are campgrounds in the Coloma/Lotus area: Camp Lotus on Bassi Road, American River Resort on River Road. Perhaps an historic hotel suits your needs better or a bed and breakfast: The Albert Shafsky House in Placerville is a Bed and Breakfast, The Sierra Nevada House is right in Coloma and is an old hotel. Once here, what do you want to do? Are you looking for a day trip, such as wine tasting or rafting?

South East El Dorado County is recognized by the Viticulture Society as some of the best land for specific wine-grape varietals. Thus, some of the best wineries can be visited and tasted while you're right here. Personal favorites are Oakstone and Windwalker wineries both in Fairplay!

Maybe you want more than wine tasting, maybe you want wine tasting AND something else... there is so much to do but one of the greatest, most fulfilling options you can chose is whitewater rafting.

There are a number of rafting companies in the area. There are considerations to be made when booking your trip, but all in all, the whole host of companies is pretty darned good and customer oriented.

We encourage you to come whitewater rafting, raft a day or two or three. With the variety of outings available it's a great place for the whole family to meet up and reunion together. Those not into rafting, though it's good for most all ages and fitness levels, can find plenty to do for the few hours the rafters are on the water.

The historic town of Placerville, also known as Hangtown, and Dry Diggins, is home to the oldest hardware store in the west, a TruValue now. Too, the oldest newspaper in the west resides here in El Dorado County as well, The Mountain Democrat. You can make the 20-minute drive to Placerville and walk historic Main Street where you look up into building facades that have stood for 100+ years.

Want to really mix it up? Make plans to get up early and shoot up US 50 and spend a day in the beautiful South Lake Tahoe basin home to the Lake, hiking, biking, Desolation Wilderness, gaming, shopping, entertainment and the like.

Perhaps we'd all love to cruise the Mediterranean for a few weeks but it's simply not in our cards right now. You can head to the foothills of Northern California from anywhere in the State and be there within a day's drive. Once here, with some simple planning, you can have as fulfilling and diverse holiday as nearly anywhere in the world. Tens of thousands of people a year come to visit, shouldn't you? Happy holidays!