Wondering what a long weekend in the Gold Country has to offer? From the streets of Sutter Creek to the surrounding town and region with plenty of indoor and outdoor activities, stay as relaxed or as busy as you wish during a getaway in the California Gold Country at Hotel Sutter.
Day One – Settle in at Hotel Sutter
Check in and relax…you’ve escaped to Sutter Creek. First stop: The Lobby Bar to sample local, award-winning wines and craft beer. Enjoy an appetizer, the streetside view of Historic Main Street, meet some locals, and let your senses be your guide. When you’re ready, stroll through town, check out the eclectic mix of boutiques and antique shops, pop into a wine-tasting room, and finally, return to the Sutter Restaurant for a mouth-watering meal. Then, slip downstairs to the Copper Room, meticulously designed with a speakeasy vibe and traditional long bar featuring rare whiskeys from around the world.
Day Two – Tour Amador County Award-Winning Wineries
More than 50 wineries call Amador County home, most of which are nestled into the Shenandoah Valley AVA, just a five-minute drive from Sutter Creek. And right on Main Street you can find a handful of wine-tasting rooms, including family, owned and run Bella Grace and Iron Hub, a father-son operation dedicated to carefully cultivated winemaking with a modern touch.
In Shenandoah Valley, be sure to sample wines from some of the most awarded wines of the region, including Cooper Vineyards, Vino Noceto, Rombauer Vineyards, and Jeff Runquist Wines, voted 2021 Winery of the Year in Dan Berger’s International Wine Competition. With a winery map and a thirst for fine wine, the day will fly by. Return to Sutter Creek for an evening show at Main Street Theater Works or sit back with a nightcap and enjoy live music in the Hotel Sutter’s Copper Room for a perfect end to a perfect day.
Day Three – Step Back in Time
If it’s the history and culture of California’s Gold Country you’re after, it’s easy to soak up the atmosphere of the Mother Lode. Surface tours of the Kennedy Gold Mine, one of the deepest gold mines in the world, along with a richly curated on-site museum, complete with a scale reproduction of a mineshaft, you’ll see life through the eyes of a miner. Several other museums, including the Whitney and the Amador County Museum, are worth a walk-through.
Just up the road in Volcano, a visit to Black Chasm Caverns, a National Natural Landmark, will keep you busy in the underground, where stunning and rare helictites in three massive chambers and a lake on the second level will shock your senses.
Historic landmarks are sprinkled throughout the region, including Knight Foundry, established in 1873 and now America’s only remaining water-powered foundry and machine shop. Other activities to take you back in time include community theater at two historic venues, and of course antiquing in the many small towns surrounding Sutter Creek.
To keep you fueled up for all these and other area adventures, you can stop by Sutter Creek Cheese Shoppe and pack a delicious picnic lunch with artisanal cheeses, local bread, fresh fruit, and much more. It’s a fantastic accompaniment to wherever the day takes you!
Just an hour from Sacramento and two hours from the Bay Area, the Gold Country offers something for everyone. Call Hotel Sutter at 209-267-0242 to speak to a staff member for more information. Then, pack your bags for an escape to the Sierra Nevada foothills of Amador County.