April/May 2015 63 CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: COURTESY OF GREENHORN CREEK RESORT; DARLA REHLING; CAROLYN FOX CAMPS RESTAURANT Gold Country is now well-known as a thriving winemaking region that produces award-winning, robust zinfandels and other red varietals. You’ll find some 50 wineries in the Mother Lode, including IRONSTONE VINEYARDS (ironstonevineyards. com), encompassing a music room, outdoor amphitheater, culinary demonstration kitchen, jewelry shop, heritage museum and 14 acres of lakeside gardens. If you’re short on time, head to MAIN STREET IN MURPHYS and sample a dozen local wines all at once in a line of tasting rooms. feated. The sightless man took up music and became the fiddler of Angels Camp. My favorite hole at Greenhorn is the par-3 No. 13 that features a magnificent view of surrounding foothills from an elevated tee. From here, it’s a 136-yard drop (all yardage given from the middle tees) to an awaiting green with a tranquil pond on the front right. I played the hole at twilight, when you can hear the ranch cows mooing and the falling sun paints an array of colors in the sky. I teed one up and let her disappear into the fading light of day. A few seconds later, I heard my ball strike earth—the green? Upon reaching the site, I found my ball resting pleasantly like a hen’s egg on the fringe just off the green. I cherished the idea of taking away the memory of a birdie if I could just roll the little egg into the hole about 10 feet away. My putt tracked nicely toward the cup, my emotions high and hopeful. We golfers have all been there. I believe it was the evening dampness that held the white sphere one revolution short. That’s my story. And I would never complain about a tap-in par amidst all this beauty. The golf course is hidden within a quiet real estate development that includes single family residences, condominiums and cottages. Some are second homes, many are available for golf getaways. A utility building on the premises has been converted into a well-appointed, stay-andplay “apartment/man cave” called the Caddy Shack for overnight golf groups. OUT AND AB OUT IN GOLD C OUNTRY There’s no shortage of things to do for visitors of all ages and interests. Recreational activities run the gamut from sky-high hot air ballooning to down-low cave and mining adventures—and in between, there is whitewater rafting, hiking, biking, antiquing and wine tasting. Angels Camp is home of the annual CALAVERAS COUNTY FAIR AND JUMPING FROG JUBILEE, which takes place this year from May 14-17 (frogtown.org). This tiny fair draws thousands of enthusiasts to witness a tradition that started with a simple tale written by Mark Twain. Along with jumping frogs, there are cook-offs, live music, pageants and a rodeo. can ride a stagecoach, pan for gold and enjoy a cold bottle of locally made sarsaparilla. (No cars allowed on the streets.) Other interesting historical sites include the MARSHALL GOLD DISCOVERY STATE PARK in Coloma and the CHAW-SE INDIAN MUSEUM in Jackson. Go underground and tour the geological wonders of MERCER CAVERNS (mercercaverns.com). Other trips below the earth’s surface are offered through CAVE AND MINE ADVENTURES (cavetours. com). Or, sign up for a guided goldpanning excursion with JAMESTOWN’S GOLD PROSPECTING ADVENTURES (goldprospecting.com). Spring is a great time to visit DAFFODIL HILL near the town of Volcano and witness the glory of some 300,000 bulbs in full bloom. If you miss this display, pack a picnic and head to the AMADOR FLOWER FARM in Plymouth (amadorflowerfarm. com), with nearly 1,000 varieties of day lilies and a great gardening gift shop. For a fascinating look at life during the Gold Rush era, visit COLUMBIA STATE HISTORIC PARK (visitcolumbiacalifornia.com), a living Gold Rush town encompassing about 30 preserved structures, including Victorian-style hotels and saloons, a blacksmith forge and a Wells Fargo Express office. Visitors CALAVERAS COUNTY FAIR DAFFODIL HILL
South Bay Accent - Apr/May 2015
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