SO WHO'S DRIVING & WHERE ARE WE GOING?

 

Celebrating the historic Gold Rush towns along California’s State Route 49 aka the “Mother Lode” or “Golden Chain” Highways so named for all the gold found in the area during California's Gold Rush period.

Oakhurst, California, population 5,365 – the beginning of California State Route 49 which stretches north/northeast for 295 miles – a drive of approximately 5 - 6 hours straight through in light to moderate traffic.  However, if you are interested in perusing the shops along the way and are not limited by a deadline, you will need a lot more time than 5 or 6 hours as in every small town or community you pass through, you will encounter antique, art, and gift shops, cafes and restaurants and inns of every kind which will ‘call’ to you to stop and take a look.  I know.  I’ve been through many of these places and most will charm you right out of your car! J

As you drive through the towns you will notice that most of them look very similar and that’s because most have done their best to maintain their historic Gold Rush facades.

You might want to start your journey in Oakhurst where it all begins by checking out a couple of antique shops – Delight-Ful Treasures, & Oakhurst Gift Works – plus others well worth peeking into.  Or, if it's the right season, day, and time, you could catch a play at the Golden Chain Theater.  Then perhaps have an early dinner at Mountain Oaks Café Restaurant before heading north on the Golden Chain Highway.

A few miles from Oakhurst you will come to a small (very small) community called Nipinawasee where you will find the Apple Blossom Inn with lovely rooms where you might spend the night.  They serve full breakfasts in the morning, and then you could be on your highway 49 adventure.

Nipinnawasee, population 434, and the Apple Blossom Inn.  Next up you will come to . . .

Mariposa, population 17,131 – where you will find Mariposa Marketplace Antiques, and Chocolate Shop Antiques among other such places.

After you leave Mariposa the highway passes a couple of small ‘blink & you’ll miss them’ settlements.  One is called Bear Valley.  Not much there but it’s the lead off to a 15 mile section of the highway called “The Little Dragon” and you can see why from this photo.  The highway winds down, curve after curve, to a bridge crossing the Merced River at a place called Bagby, and then climbs back up out of the canyon, curve by curve, to higher ground again where you eventually come to . . .  

Coulterville, population 115, with Rose Cottage Antiques, and Serendipity Gifts & Antiques

After a while the highway cruises past Chinese Camp, population 90, where you will catch sight of Chinese Camp Store & Tavern alongside the highway.  Not sure what they sell in the store?  I’m guessing not antiques, but I can’t say for sure having never been in there?

A few more miles and Jamestown, population 3,794, appears with The Emporium Antiques, and Jamestown Mercantile Antiques & Collectables among several others along Main Street’s three-block length.

After Jamestown, comes Washington Street/highway 49 in Sonora, population 4,889, which boasts shop after shop of antiques and everything else plus several cafes and restaurants.  Here is where you will find The Pine Tree Peddlers (my favorite), The Ecletic, and Legends Books & Antiques & Soda Fountain

Angels Camp, population 3,836, is where to find Nellie Lou’s Antiques & Fine Things, Angels Camp Mercantile, and Grandmother’s Antiques among others.

San Andreas, population 2,962 offers San Andreas Trading Post, Vintage Toys, Vintage Jewelry, and The Pickle Patch Deli where, if you’re a little hungry by now, you can find the most delicious & different sandwiches and salads.  My favorite is their roast turkey with cranberry sauce and blue cheese on dark bread, called a “Blue Turkey”.  Total “Yum!”  And in nice weather they have a lovely deck and patio for eating outside.  

Now comes Mokelumne Hill, population 691.  I could only find one Antique-type shop called McHale’s Revival Shop here, but a little investigation might find another?

Next up is Jackson, population 5,176, with Antiques on Main, Richard & Sherry’s Trading Company, Rabbit Hole Antiques, and The Highway House Restaurant if you like a good burger with great fries.

Sutter Creek, population 2,738, follows with the Old Sutter Creek Flea Market, Old Hotel Antiques, Creekside Shops, Gold Dust Pizza, and Cavana’s Pub & Grub

Amador City, population 200, is surprisingly antique’y with shops such as Meyers Antiques, Victorian Closet, Millers Arts & Collectables, and Water Street Antiques & Interiors

Dry Town, population 186, has at least one antique shop called E.T.’s Antiques.  There’s also a small community theater here but I don’t know when they produce their plays?

Placerville, population 10,631, is a larger town with plenty of antique & gift shops including Empire Antiques, Window Box Antiques, Olde Dorado Antiques Emporium, and La Cottage

Next up -Auburn, population 13,617, with Vintage Redeemed, Little Bird Mercantile, and Downtown Antiques

And now Highway 49 passes through Grass Valley, population 14,069, offering the Antique Gallery, Back in the Day, Gold Dust & Rust, and the Antique Emporium of Grass Valley.  I was surprised to find out how populous the town of Grass Valley is.  I had no idea it was that big.

Four and a half miles beyond Grass Valley is Nevada City, population 3,249.  I spent a week here many (like 60) years ago visiting friends and perusing all the shops, hiking, and even seeing a movie in the theater here. The shops are most likely different than the ones I poked around in all those years ago.  Currently advertised are Main Street Antiques & Books, Shiva Moon, and Treasure Trove.  Should you be looking for a place to spend the night, you might look up the National Exchange Hotel, the Broad Street Inn, or Piety Hill Cottages.  I stayed in the National Hotel, but again, that was 60 years ago.  I have a feeling it has probably changed a bit since then.  At the time it was very authentic in keeping with Gold Rush era décor, but was comfortable and more importantly, affordable! J

Thirty-eight miles up the highway is Goodyears Bar, population 69, with a cocktail lounge and a hardware store.  It looks like the store next to the hardware store might be an antique or gift shop of some kind?  Maybe a clothing shop?  All the buildings appear to be well kept.  Downieville Outfitters must be a satellite shop as Downieville is still 4 miles up the highway.

Downieville, population 290, where you can find Vintage Gal, The Carriage House Inn, Two Rivers Café, and Sabrina’s at the Forks

Downieville street market

I’ve no idea what’s going on here, but Downieville is apparently quite the fun place to be where the Downie River and the north fork of the Yuba River flow together.

Sierra City, population 235, is the place to find Sierra City Mercantile, and Sierra Country Store

Sattley, population 44, where the Sattley Cash Store is about the only place to buy anything.

Loyalton, population 740, has Lombardi Mercantile Antiques & Gifts, or the Milton Gottardi Museum full of antiquities to check out.  If you’re hungry, you’ll find the Golden West Saloon & Restaurant serving comfort-style meals like steak & mashed potatoes & gravy, or the Frogs-ty with burgers, fries, & shakes.  And if you’re looking to spend the night, there’s the Golden Drifter Inn with Victorian-style rooms, a library, & on-site dining.

Vinton/Chilcoot, population 446, might lure you from your car to check out Wiggins Trading Post (pictured), or Cornerstone Antiques.  But here is where California State Route 49 ends at its intersection with California State Route 70 where, if you turn right on highway 70 and go about 10 miles you will reach U.S highway 395.  Hang a left on 395 and pretty soon you’ll be in Reno, Nevada, population 278,226 with shops, restaurants, hotels, and gaming casinos to your heart’s content.

Casinos all lit up in downtown Reno

Add Sattley, Loyalton, and Vinton/Chilcoot beyond Sierra City and you’ll have the complete map of CA highway 49.

There are, of course, several side trips off the beaten path that would be well worth investigating – not the least of which are Groveland, Columbia, Murphys, Rough & Ready, and Bridgeport.  But those are for another time with their own stories to tell – for instance, in 1850 the folks of Rough & Ready decided to secede from the United States and declared themselves to be their own country.  Not long after this momentous decision and planning a big party to celebrate, some of the citizens of the new country went down to the town of Nevada City to buy whiskey for the occasion but were denied the sale because they were “foreigners”.  The group went back home empty-handed and soon the citizens of the new country of Rough & Ready decided perhaps they should remain citizens of the United States after all. J 

:->

La Nightingail