5 Days Through California’s Hidden Gems

Hey friends! My husband and I did an epic fall road trip through California’s Gold Country—think haunted hotels, underground adventures, cozy glamping, and some seriously good sips. I explored El Dorado, Calaveras, and Tuolumne Counties and packed in so many hidden gems. Here’s the highlight reel (and your next fall getaway idea):

🌟 Start in Placerville

• Tasted small-batch spirits at Dry Diggings Distillery
• Explored a legit Gold Rush mine at Gold Bug Park
• Had a haunted wine tasting in the cellar of a mansion (yes, haunted 👻)
• Stayed overnight at the historic (and spooky!) Cary House Hotel

🍏 Apple Hill Adventures

• Apple picking, coffee flights, cider sipping—Apple Hill is fall magic
• Vineyard views at Wofford Acres
• Dinner inside a historic gold mine building at Smith Flat House
• Glamping under the stars at Camp Nauvoo

🍷 On to Calaveras County

• Stopped in the cutest towns: Mokelumne Hill + Murphys
• Saw a 44-lb gold nugget (!!) at Ironstone Vineyards
• Explored underground caves at Moaning Caverns
• Sipped small-batch reds at Newsome Harlow
• Crashed at the dreamy Dunbar House B&B

🌲 Big Trees + Big Flavor

• Walked among giants at Calaveras Big Trees State Park
• Tasted spirits made with Sierra spring water at Hinterhaus

🎃 Tuolumne County Vibes

• Fall fest fun at Columbia State Historic Park
• Cider tasting at Indigeny Reserve
• Explored Sonora + stayed at the beautiful (and haunted) National Hotel (no longer open.)
• Wrapped it all up with brunch, a ghost tour, and one last wine tasting in Jamestown

Whether you’re in it for the ghosts, the gold, or the wine—this stretch of Northern California is so worth exploring. Let me know if you plan a trip—I’ll send recs!