California's Overlooked Gems (The Towns & Places The Tourists Don't Know About) (Sacramento: rental, school)

[Clark Fork Fantast]

Don't miss the "Mother Lode" country along Highway 49 in the western Sierra foothills. The old mining towns from the CA gold rush of 1849 are well preserved, especially Jamestown and Angels Camp, and Columbia. Bring a book of Mark Twain stories and read the one about the Jumping Frog while in Calaveras County . Jamestown has a railroad museum, and I assume the steam engine railroad still runs its daily tourist trips. Columbia is a spectacularly well-preserved mining town, or rather a tourist recreation of an Old West town, but the layout and buildings themselves are authentic. Lots if movies are filmed there. Knights Ferry isn't too far away if you want to combine suggestions.

There are enough small, intriguing towns in CA for dozens of vacations. If you're over on the north coast be sure to visit Mendocino, doubling as Monterey in the movie East of Eden. The real Monterey ( while not small) shouldn't be missed, either, and Carmel should go on the list, too.

Oooh, now I want to go on a road trip! Have a great time.

[2nd trick op]

Originally Posted by Clark Fork Fantast

Jamestown has a railroad museum, and I assume the steam engine railroad still runs its daily tourist trips. Columbia is a spectacularly well-preserved mining town, or rather a tourist recreation of an Old West town, but the layout and buildings themselves are authentic. Lots if movies are filmed there. Knights Ferry isn't too far away if you want to combine suggestions.

There are enough small, intriguing towns in CA for dozens of vacations. If you're over on the north coast be sure to visit Mendocino, doubling as Monterey in the movie East of Eden. The real Monterey ( while not small) shouldn't be missed, either, and Carmel should go on the list, too.

Oooh, now I want to go on a road trip! Have a great time.

The story behind the filming of so many railroading scenes set in the Old West is an interesting one.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Railroad

The Sierra Railroad ran the usual "retail' branch line service between Oakdale and Tuolumne until the early 1960's, but supplemented its freight service by using the property for the film industry. The closing scene of the popular TV series Tales of Wells Fargo, with the late Dale Robertson waving to a passing train, was filmed on the Sierra. Until 1958, the line was also the only outside connection for the Tuolumne-based West Side Lumber operation, with its fleet of atypical narrow-gauge steam locomotives, which hauled unprocessed logs to the mill, and increased the adhesion on its many grades and curves by the use small, vertically-mounted cylinders and gearing, rather than piston rods. (And as an aside, Tuolumne was also the birthplace of the "countercultural" entertainer Lord Buckley).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Buckley

But the increasing suitability of motor truck transport for shorter hauls, due to better all-weather highways and vehicles of larger capacity, eventually doomed the Sierra/West Side freight business. So the line was sold to entrepreneurs who recognized its potential as both a tourist operation and the continued possibility of use in film. Which goes to show that you can't keep a good entrepreneur down.

http://www.sierrarailroad.com/

[Clark Fork Fantast]

Originally Posted by 2nd trick op

The story behind the filming of so many railroading scenes set in the Old West is an interesting one.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Railroad

The Sierra Railroad ran the usual "retail' branch line service between Oakdale and Tuolumne until the early 1960's, but supplemented its freight service by using the property for the film industry. The closing scene of the popular TV series Tales of Wells Fargo, with the late Dale Robertson waving to a passing train, was filmed on the Sierra. Until 1958, the line was also the only outside connection for the Tuolumne-based West Side Lumber operation, with its fleet of atypical narrow-gauge steam locomotives, which hauled unprocessed logs to the mill, and increased the adhesion on its many grades and curves by the use small, vertically-mounted cylinders and gearing, rather than piston rods. (And as an aside, Tuolumne was also the birthplace of the "countercultural" entertainer Lord Buckley).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Buckley

But the increasing suitability of motor truck transport for shorter hauls, due to better all-weather highways and vehicles of larger capacity, eventually doomed the Sierra/West Side freight business. So the line was sold to entrepreneurs who recognized its potential as both a tourist operation and the continued possibility of use in film. Which goes to show that you can't keep a good entrepreneur down.

Sierra Industrial Group

Great post, great details! I might add that Tuolumne is also the location of the little white church in High Noon . The train everybody is waiting for at the lonely depot in the movie is pulled by the No.3 engine which is on display at the museum, along with the other cars.

I mentioned Mendocino standing in for Monterey in East of Eden in my previous post. In a nice associative twist, the train scenes in the TV miniseries East of Eden (not the James Dean movie) were filmed in Jamestown! They still had several of the signs from the movie when I visited the museum.

Tracking down movie locations is one of our hobbies. Maybe we should have a "movie locations in California" thread!

[American Expat]

I like Grass Valley and Nevada City but that's probably further than you want to go.

[RosieSD]

Originally Posted by Masterful_Man

I leave for California in a few days and will spend a good month travelling the state, visiting many different towns, natural sites, and the big cities.

I'd like your input on what towns and cool places are often overlooked or underrated, or maybe off the beaten path?

My journey will begin in San Diego and I'll slowly make my way north, so I've already drawn up a map of most of the places I'll visit along the way, but I'd like to include other places that won't be filled with tourists.

Thanks for any suggestions.

In San Diego, head inland, away from the coast.

Drive up to Rancho Cuyamaca State Park and do a bit of hiking in the mountains (https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=667). Then, head to Julian for lunch (http://www.visitjulian.com/). If it's the weekend, on the way back to San Diegostop at a few of the wineries near Ramona (http://www.ramonavalleyvineyards.com/).

Also, the desert is starting to warm up but if you have time, try to get out Anza Borrego State Park in the eastern half of San Diego County. It's gorgeous and otherworldly and totally different from coastal San Diego. The first time I drove through Anza Borrego, I vowed to move to California some day (and did!) https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=638

Or, take highway 94 all the way east -- it becomes a two lane road near Jamul, and then winds its way along the U.S. Mexican border past some wonderful scenery and small rural towns. Eventually, 94 will wind its way back to 8. Take 8 a little farther east and stop here: http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/9178 McCain Valley is close by, and also worth stopping to drive all the way out to the view point there (it is a dirt road, but do-able in a regular car) (http://www.desertusa.com/mccain/oct_mcain.html)

These are the parts of San Diego County that few tourists know about or bother with, but which us locals in the know love and call home.

And, it is not in San Diego County, but I believe that everyone should visit the Salton Sea at least once. It will give you a totally different perspective on "California." http://www.desertusa.com/salton/salton.html

[augentier]

Glass Beach in Fort Bragg

Avenue of the Giants

[PhoenixSomeday]

Not sure if this counts, but if you're into Japanese gardens, the Hakone Japanese Garden in Saratoga's hills is the best one. Very natural and legit, hardly a speck of concrete to be seen in the garden, if at all. Apparently designed by a descendant of Japanese imperial gardeners (so the site claims). There are usually very few people there, it's very quiet, and there are tons of great picture opportunities. Really missing that place right now because we've been to many other Japanese gardens and none of them compare to Hakone.

[californianomore]

Burney is a tiny town that is home to one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world and acts as a gateway to Lassen Volcanic National Park, Mount Shasta and the beautiful Sundial Bridge in Redding. If you are making your way North ... WAY North then you should really make some time to see this "locals only" gem of an area. Check out my links and feel free to ask any questions.


[url=http://www.burney-falls.com/]McArthur-Burney Falls State Park[/url]

[url]https://www.nps.gov/lavo/index.htm[/url]

[url=http://mtshastaca.gov/]City of Mt. Shasta, California[/url]

[url=http://www.turtlebay.org/sundialbridge]Sundial Bridge - Turtle Bay Exploration Park - Redding, CA[/url]

[DMenscha]

Originally Posted by nightlysparrow

If so, world's largest ghost town: Bodie, CA is about 75 miles SE of Lake Tahoe.

If you have a helicopter. More like a 4 hour drive from Tahoe.

[DMenscha]

Originally Posted by Clark Fork Fantast

Don't miss the "Mother Lode" country along Highway 49 in the western Sierra foothills. The old mining towns from the CA gold rush of 1849 are well preserved, especially Jamestown and Angels Camp, and Columbia. Bring a book of Mark Twain stories and read the one about the Jumping Frog while in Calaveras County . Jamestown has a railroad museum, and I assume the steam engine railroad still runs its daily tourist trips. Columbia is a spectacularly well-preserved mining town, or rather a tourist recreation of an Old West town, but the layout and buildings themselves are authentic. Lots if movies are filmed there. Knights Ferry isn't too far away if you want to combine suggestions.

2nd that one.