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| One of many historical homes in Nevada City |
A sense of excitement overwhelmed me as I began preparation for a road trip along Highway 49 in Northern California. Although I had visited many of the towns along the way, this would be my most extensive journey along the Mother lode trail.
Today we start in Nevada City in the north, and hope to reach Oakhurst near Yosemite Valley in Central California in late May (that's when the waterfalls in Yosemite are at their maximum flow). Our travels will take us through 15 towns and cities over approximately 235 miles along highway 49.
Gold Country. For those unfamiliar with the history of our state, the discovery of gold in 1848 by John Marshall was a watershed event that forever changed the dynamics of California.
Before the discovery of gold there were less than 1,000 non-indigenous settlers in the entire state. Herds of elk and antelope filled the Central Valley with numerous mountain lions and grizzle bears who feasted upon them.
Otters filled the untamed streams and rivers that flowed from the snow-packed Sierra Madre mountain range to the east into the delta region and into the San Francisco bay. The birds and waterfowl inhabiting the delta region were said to number in the millions.
The rush of mostly European immigrants in search of riches peaked in 1852 and is now part of California history. After the gold rush, many of these men and their families moved on to other parts of the state, some to farm the fertile soil, others took to ranching, raising cattle or sheep.
Many others moved into the urban centers of San Francisco, Sacramento or, further south to Los Angeles.
As I turned onto Broad St. off of Hwy. 49, the sense of having stepped back in time hit me as I look at the 19th century buildings lining the street.
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| Broad St. in downtown Nevada City. The Nevada Theatre, built in 1865 is on the near right. |
Nevada City is a pearl nestled in the Sierra foothills. In his new guide book, "The Great Towns of America", David Vokac calls Nevada City, "One of the best getaways for a vacation or a lifetime".
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| The National Hotel |
Our first stop is at the historical National Hotel. It is said to be the oldest continuously operating hotel in California built in stages between 1854-1857. Its more recent claim to fame was being featured on an episode of "Ghost Adventures" on the Travel Channel.
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| Old safe and cash register. |
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| The founders of Pacific, Gas & Electric Co. allegedly formed their company while sitting at the bar inside the National Hotel. |
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| Daniel at Broad Street Bistro |
Broad St. Bistro, featuring fair-trade coffee, organic coffees, teas and made-to-order bagels, eggs, sandwiches, and salads. Did I mention free wi-fi?
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| Broad St. Inn |
Built in 1870, the Broad St. Inn is a small, family-owned green business that prides itself on providing clean, comfortable accommodations at affordable rates. It is located in the heart of historic downtown and offers six contemporary rooms. And while they don't offer meals, Broad Street Bistro is just down the street for organic coffee and wonderful pastries.
www.broadstreetinn.com
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| Sitting Room, Broad St. Inn |
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| One of six bedrooms. Each comes with private bathroom. |
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| Friendly staff help make the Broad Street Inn an excellent choice for your stay in Nevada City. |
Go to
http://norcallifestyle.blogspot.com for part 2 of this article.
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