Guidebook for Sonora And Surrounding Areas.
Food Scene
This is a local coffee shop/bakery. All of there bakery items are made on the premises. They also have soups, salads and sandwiches.
9 locals recommend
Schnoogs Cafe & Espresso
1005 Mono WayThis is a local coffee shop/bakery. All of there bakery items are made on the premises. They also have soups, salads and sandwiches.
"American-style" food. This is a personal favorite for hamburgers. They also have a diverse menu that can cater to just about everyone...along with a good selection of wines. It is also located in one of the historic downtown buildings.
67 locals recommend
Diamondback Grill
93 S Washington St"American-style" food. This is a personal favorite for hamburgers. They also have a diverse menu that can cater to just about everyone...along with a good selection of wines. It is also located in one of the historic downtown buildings.
A unique little restaurant known for its cow theme and non-traditional menu (as well as traditional fare). This place could be a star on the TV show Diners, Drive-ins and Dives (for those of you who are familiar with that show).
22 locals recommend
Woods Creek Cafe
18256 CA-108A unique little restaurant known for its cow theme and non-traditional menu (as well as traditional fare). This place could be a star on the TV show Diners, Drive-ins and Dives (for those of you who are familiar with that show).
A favorite and popular place for Mexican food. Good food at a good price.
15 locals recommend
El Jardin Mexican Restaurant
76 N Washington StA favorite and popular place for Mexican food. Good food at a good price.
There are several eateries at the Black Oak Casino, including the only "4-Star" restaurant in the county...Seven Sisters. This is a "fine dining" restaurant with high-end food, but also high-end prices. A great place to celebrate a special occasion.
Black Oak Casino is also a family-friendly location with a large state-of-the-art bowling alley, family-oriented restaurants and arcade center.
155 locals recommend
Black Oak Casino Resort
19400 Tuolumne Rd NThere are several eateries at the Black Oak Casino, including the only "4-Star" restaurant in the county...Seven Sisters. This is a "fine dining" restaurant with high-end food, but also high-end prices. A great place to celebrate a special occasion.
Black Oak Casino is also a family-friendly location with a large state-of-the-art bowling alley, family-oriented restaurants and arcade center.
A good selection of American-style foods, including fresh salads and pizza.
45 locals recommend
Emberz Wood-Fired Foodz
177 S Washington StA good selection of American-style foods, including fresh salads and pizza.
Gus's Steakhouse
1183 Mono WayThe best steaks in the area. The side dishes are good, too!
The only fresh sushi in the area. Good Chinese food as well. A favorite of ours
16 locals recommend
B E Wok & Sushi
764 Mono WayThe only fresh sushi in the area. Good Chinese food as well. A favorite of ours
Great Wall Restaurant
13775 Mono WayOur go-to place for Chinese food.
Everything Else
The city of Sonora is an old "mining town". The downtown area shows the architecture of days past, with many shops and restaurants...as well as the iconic "Red Church".
101 locals recommend
Sonora
The city of Sonora is an old "mining town". The downtown area shows the architecture of days past, with many shops and restaurants...as well as the iconic "Red Church".
Another of the old mining towns, Jamestown is a scene of the "old west". Just a few miles from Sonora, it also has old hotels with restaurants and quaint stores.
72 locals recommend
Jamestown
Another of the old mining towns, Jamestown is a scene of the "old west". Just a few miles from Sonora, it also has old hotels with restaurants and quaint stores.
Parks & Nature
Yosemite National Park is the Jewel of Tuolumne County. Stunning views everywhere you look. Open space that shares all of nature...wildlife, granite, waterfalls, rivers, etc. There are everything from easy hiking trails to world-class mountain climbing. This is the destination place for our area.
995 locals recommend
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is the Jewel of Tuolumne County. Stunning views everywhere you look. Open space that shares all of nature...wildlife, granite, waterfalls, rivers, etc. There are everything from easy hiking trails to world-class mountain climbing. This is the destination place for our area.
Columbia State Historic Park in California offers California visitors an “up close and personal” glimpse into the days of California’s Gold Rush in the nineteenth century. With a treasure trove of museums, displays, tours, theater, local events and shopping opportunities, your friends and family can learn all about the fascinating history of this period in California history while enjoying Columbia State Park’s many attractions.
217 locals recommend
Columbia State Historic Park
11259 Broadway StColumbia State Historic Park in California offers California visitors an “up close and personal” glimpse into the days of California’s Gold Rush in the nineteenth century. With a treasure trove of museums, displays, tours, theater, local events and shopping opportunities, your friends and family can learn all about the fascinating history of this period in California history while enjoying Columbia State Park’s many attractions.
The Natural Bridges trail is a beautiful two-mile round trip hike will lead you to spectacular limestone caverns that have been carved out by Coyote Creek which feeds into New Melones Lake. Maintained by the US Bureau of Reclamation, this natural feature is one of their recommended trails when visiting New Melones.
The trailhead is off Parrotts Ferry Road. You will need to look for the brown “Natural Bridges Day Use Area” sign on the side of the road. Due to the geological sensitivity of this outstanding natural formation, dogs and bikes are not allowed. PLEASE: stay on the trail and help keep this fragile eco-system safe and clean.
64 locals recommend
Natural Bridges Trailhead
Parrotts Ferry RoadThe Natural Bridges trail is a beautiful two-mile round trip hike will lead you to spectacular limestone caverns that have been carved out by Coyote Creek which feeds into New Melones Lake. Maintained by the US Bureau of Reclamation, this natural feature is one of their recommended trails when visiting New Melones.
The trailhead is off Parrotts Ferry Road. You will need to look for the brown “Natural Bridges Day Use Area” sign on the side of the road. Due to the geological sensitivity of this outstanding natural formation, dogs and bikes are not allowed. PLEASE: stay on the trail and help keep this fragile eco-system safe and clean.
Time allowing, this is another great natural wonder. Big Trees National Park is home to some of the largest and oldest redwood (sequoia) trees in the world. It is about 45 minutes from our house.
Calaveras Big Trees State Park recreation includes hiking through North and South Grove trails, fishing in Beaver Creek and the Stanislaus River and mountain bike riding on miles of fire/dirt roads in the park in summer, and Nordic skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. More information on Calaveras Big Trees State Park is available on on attractions page. Download park brochure for trail maps.
While recreating here, please help keep Calaveras Big Trees State Park beautiful by following our Hop Lightly guidelines. Also, please scroll down for important information on bringing your dog.
54 locals recommend
Big Trees
Time allowing, this is another great natural wonder. Big Trees National Park is home to some of the largest and oldest redwood (sequoia) trees in the world. It is about 45 minutes from our house.
Calaveras Big Trees State Park recreation includes hiking through North and South Grove trails, fishing in Beaver Creek and the Stanislaus River and mountain bike riding on miles of fire/dirt roads in the park in summer, and Nordic skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. More information on Calaveras Big Trees State Park is available on on attractions page. Download park brochure for trail maps.
While recreating here, please help keep Calaveras Big Trees State Park beautiful by following our Hop Lightly guidelines. Also, please scroll down for important information on bringing your dog.
Pinecrest is a favorite lake of ours. This is where we most often take our kayaks. There is beautiful scenery, a great hiking trail around the lake as well as fishing, boating, etc. If you want to go kayaking or fishing on Pinecrest, let us know. We have kayaks and fishing gear (you will need a fishing license).
55 locals recommend
Pinecrest
Pinecrest is a favorite lake of ours. This is where we most often take our kayaks. There is beautiful scenery, a great hiking trail around the lake as well as fishing, boating, etc. If you want to go kayaking or fishing on Pinecrest, let us know. We have kayaks and fishing gear (you will need a fishing license).
Moaning Caverns holds California’s deepest cave chamber, where you can descend deep underground on a guided walk tour, or reserve a challenging, 3-hour caving Adventure Trip. Above ground, race 1/4 mile on thrilling twin zip lines or climb their 32-ft custom climbing tower. For the little ones, gemstone mining at their custom flume system is always fun and cracking geodes is a big hit with rock hounds of all ages.
164 locals recommend
Moaning Caverns Adventure Park
5350 Moaning Cave RdMoaning Caverns holds California’s deepest cave chamber, where you can descend deep underground on a guided walk tour, or reserve a challenging, 3-hour caving Adventure Trip. Above ground, race 1/4 mile on thrilling twin zip lines or climb their 32-ft custom climbing tower. For the little ones, gemstone mining at their custom flume system is always fun and cracking geodes is a big hit with rock hounds of all ages.
Mercer Caverns, one of three caves in Calaveras County, is open for guided tours, year round. See deep underground in this cavern filled with a large array of cave formations like stalactities, stalagmites and flowstones. This cavern also won the Paris World’s Fair for its display of the rare cavern formation
104 locals recommend
Mercer Caverns
1665 Sheep Ranch RdMercer Caverns, one of three caves in Calaveras County, is open for guided tours, year round. See deep underground in this cavern filled with a large array of cave formations like stalactities, stalagmites and flowstones. This cavern also won the Paris World’s Fair for its display of the rare cavern formation
Essentials
Safeway
1291 Sanguinetti RdShopping essentials
Shopping
Walmart Supercenter
1101 Sanguinetti RdSightseeing
Railtown is home to old steam engine trains. During the season, you can take a ride through the backwoods of Jamestown on one of these historic trains. There is also a museum, train station and gift shop. During holiday seasons they have special dinner events. These are the trains that were often used in the old movies.
100 locals recommend
Railtown 1897 State History Park
10501 Reservoir RdRailtown is home to old steam engine trains. During the season, you can take a ride through the backwoods of Jamestown on one of these historic trains. There is also a museum, train station and gift shop. During holiday seasons they have special dinner events. These are the trains that were often used in the old movies.
Wine Tasting
Murphy's is another "gold rush" town. It now has a good number of places for local wine tasting and restaurants. Our personal favorites for wine tasting are Val Du Vino, Newsome-Harlow, Hatcher and Frog's Tooth. Our go-to restaurant is Alchemy's, particularly for the calamari.
While in Murphy's we suggest you go to Ironstone Vineyards. While the wine does not make our personal favorites list, you will find a beautiful facility with a gift shop, deli and the must-see 44 pound gold "nugget". It is the world's largest crystalized gold nugget and is beautifully displayed in a vault that allows you to walk around the nugget.
211 locals recommend
Murphys
Murphy's is another "gold rush" town. It now has a good number of places for local wine tasting and restaurants. Our personal favorites for wine tasting are Val Du Vino, Newsome-Harlow, Hatcher and Frog's Tooth. Our go-to restaurant is Alchemy's, particularly for the calamari.
While in Murphy's we suggest you go to Ironstone Vineyards. While the wine does not make our personal favorites list, you will find a beautiful facility with a gift shop, deli and the must-see 44 pound gold "nugget". It is the world's largest crystalized gold nugget and is beautifully displayed in a vault that allows you to walk around the nugget.