Since the gold rush days of 1849, the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains have been drawing adventurers with an eye for striking it rich. Untold fortunes were won and lost in those Wild West years, but these days visitors reap a new kind of reward — picturesque hillside towns, unique cultural attractions and one-of-a-kind natural beauty. From the high peaks of Yosemite to the throwback saloons of Sacramento’s Old Town, you’ll be hard-pressed to beat these spectacular sights.

1) Sacramento

Starting Point

Start your trip in the state’s capital city, where a new generation of farm-to-table restaurants and hip boutiques have reenergized the downtown area. Along the banks of the Sacramento River, the Old Town district showcases museums, riverboat cruises and historic walking tours hosted by costumed performers. You can even hop a ride on the Sacramento Southern Railroad, a restored steam engine that offers 45-minute excursions through the scenic locale. Bicyclists can explore the area at their own pace on the popular paved trails that run along the scenic banks of both the American and Sacramento Rivers.

Belyay

2) Jackson

Drive 48 miles • 1 hour, 5 minutes

The small town of Jackson recalls the earliest days of the gold rush through its 150-year-old Main Street and the Victorian-era National Hotel. After exploring the downtown wine bars, tasting rooms and museum, head to the sprawling Rancheria Casino, a few minutes north of town. With over 1,500 slots and nearly three-dozen gaming tables, it’s the perfect place to try your own luck at striking it rich. The nearby town of Volcano is home to the famed Daffodil Hill, a fixture for photographers and history buffs alike. The McLaughlin family, owner of the homestead since 1887, has been covering the surrounding hills with the flowers for generations and the result is a stunningly colorful bloom each spring.

Maisna

3) Tuolumne

Drive 43 miles • 1 hour, 16 minutes

On your way to Tuolumne, be sure to stop at the Wild West towns of Jamestown, Sonora and Columbia, where you can still pan for gold while enjoying historic parks and vintage railways. Once in Tuolumne however, the great outdoors await; there’s no better jumping-off point for hiking Yosemite National Park, one of America’s great wild spaces. Nearby natural wonders include the towering Giant Sequoias, the wide-open Tuolumne Meadows and the waterfalls of the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.