About 60 miles northeast of Sacramento, Nevada City and Grass Valley are far and away the top tourist destinations of the northern Gold Country. These two historic towns were at the center of the hard-rock mining fields of Northern California. Grass Valley was California’s richest mining town, producing more than a billion dollars' worth of gold. Both are attractive, although smaller Nevada City’s wealth of Victorian homes and storefronts makes it one of the most appealing small towns in California, particularly in the fall when the maple trees are ablaze with color.

The Northern Gold Country region offers many recreational opportunities on its rivers and lakes and in the Tahoe National Forest. You can enjoy fishing, swimming, and boating at Scotts Flat Lake near Nevada City (east on Hwy. 20) and at Rollins Lake on Highway 174, between Grass Valley and Colfax. Tributary Whitewater Tours, 20480 Woodbury Dr., Grass Valley, CA 95949 (800/672-3846 or 530/346-6812; www.whitewatertours.com), offers half- to 3-day white-water rafting trips March through October. The chambers of commerce publish a trail guide for mountain biking, but you must bring your own wheels.

Nevada City
Rumors of miners pulling a pound of gold a day out of Deer Creek brought thousands of fortune seekers to the area in 1849. Within a year, Nevada City was a boisterous town of 10,000, the third-largest city in California. In its heyday, everyone visited this rollicking Western outpost with its busy red-light district. Pick up a walking-tour map at the Chamber of Commerce (132 Main St.) and stroll the streets lined with impressive Victorian buildings; the National Hotel (built 1854-56) is here, as is the Nevada Theatre, one of the oldest theaters in the nation still operating as such. Today it’s home to the Foothill Theatre Company.

To see a real hidden treasure, travel about 17 miles up Highway 49 from Nevada City, which brings you to Pleasant Valley Road, the exit that will take you (in about 7 miles) to one of the nation’s most impressive covered bridges. Built in 1862, it’s 225 feet long and was crossed by many a stagecoach (in fall, it makes for a spectacular photo opportunity).

Grass Valley
In contrast to Nevada City’s “tourist town” image, nearby Grass Valley is the commercial and retail center of the region. Although it’s lacking in high-quality restaurants and B&Bs, its wealth of historical attractions make it a worthwhile day trip. Visitors can pick up a walking-tour map at the Chamber of Commerce (248 Mill St.; 530/273-4667; www.grassvalleychamber.com) and explore the historic area along Mill and Main streets. Two museums will appeal to California-history and gold-mining buffs: the Grass Valley Museum (410 S. Church St.), adjacent to St. Joseph’s Cultural Center (530/273-5509), and the North Star Mining Museum, at the south end of Mill Street at Allison Ranch Road (530/273-4255; May-Oct).

Grass Valley was, for a time, the home of Lola Montez, singer, dancer, and paramour of the rich and famous. A fully restored home that she bought and occupied in 1853 can be viewed at 248 Mill St., now the site of Grass Valley’s chamber of commerce. Lotta Crabtree, Montez’s famous protégée, lived down the street at 238 Mill St., now an apartment house. Also pop into the Holbrooke Hotel, 212 Main St., to see the signature of Mark Twain, who stayed here, as did four U.S. presidents. The saloon has been in continuous use since 1852, and locals still come for tall cold ones.