2013-14 official Placer County Welcome Guide is being circulated
The 2013-14 official Placer County Welcome Guide is now being circulated. All told, there are 70,000 copies and a digital version. We will have many thousands distributed ahead of the Memorial Day weekend.
The digital edition is here.
This is an ideal collaboration between our magazine and the Placer County Visitors Bureau, Placer County Board of Supervisors, [...]
2013 Food Trends: Our top predictions for the New Year
Here are our top food, wine and beer trends for the new year and where to find them in our Sierra foothills:
1. ARTISAN FOOD
Hand-crafted food sales are booming. Food lovers crave artisan cheese, crusty bread and dry-cured meats. New laws, such as California’s Homemade Food Act, will spur further growth.
• Smokey Ridge Charcuterie
Artisan sausages [...]
Auburn: Après Ski in a Gold Rush Town
AUBURN IS FAMOUS FOR ITS gold mining history. What’s less known, is the city’s leading role in bringing skiing to the Sierra. The Auburn Ski Club was formed in 1928 by resident Wendel Robie. At Cisco Grove, the Auburn Ski Club built ski jumps, ski trails and a lodge (much of it now covered by [...]
Carpe Vino in Auburn: The best of food & wine
DO YOU NEED EXCEPTIONAL BUT affordable wines to pick up on the way to the high Sierra for a winter getaway? Visit Carpe Vino in Old Town Auburn. Better yet, stop for dinner, a foodie’s delight, with fresh, local ingredients. But be sure to reserve a table. (Guests must be 21 years of age or [...]
“New Gold Rush”: How chefs, farmers, winemakers & artists are resettling the Sierra Foothills
A new generation of chefs, farmers, winemakers and artists are resettling the region.
They are adding new energy and sophisticated offerings for today’s travelers while honoring the region’s rich history. The foothills’ relaxed lifestyle, Mediterranean-like climate and stunning beauty is prompting them to open wineries; restaurants with fresh, local cuisine; and local art galleries.
This [...]
“A Glass Act”: Nicholson Blown Glass; and Artistry in Wood
THE FOOTHILLS ABOUND WITH TALENTED artists: painters, sculptors, photographers, jewelers and more. Their work is displayed at galleries and on studio tours, including the Autumn Art Studios Tour in Placer County and Fall Colors Open Studios Art Tour in Nevada County.
Participants include Rick and Janet Nicholson of Nicholson Blown Glass in Auburn—part of the Autumn [...]
Placer County Wine Trail: What’s new for summer
THE PLACER COUNTY WINE TRAIL is a series of family-run, boutique wineries dedicated to preserving the winemaking legacy of the foothills.
Just a short 30 minute drive from Sacramento, the trail runs from Lincoln to Newcastle and Auburn and is easily accessible from Interstate 80 and Highway 49.
Summer on the Placer County Wine Trail:
•Friday [...]
Art & Wine Walks: Grass Valley, Nevada City and Auburn
THE FOOTHILLS ARE A PRIME DESTINATION for historic, walkable towns. “Towns that ooze century-old ambience are strung out along Hwy. 49,” as Lonely Planet wrote in naming Gold Country one of the nation’s top 10 travel destinations for 2012.
Examples include old-town Auburn; downtown Auburn, with its new central square; Grass Valley and Nevada City. The [...]
Power’s Mansion Inn: In the heart of Gold Country
AUBURN IS ONE OF THE BEST preserved historic towns in Placer County. With a revitalized downtown, it offers fine restaurants (from Monkey Cat to Tre Pazzi), unique shops and the venerable PlacerArts gallery. Old Town Auburn has its own unique charm.
There are nearby golf courses, the magnificent Auburn State Recreation Area, hiking and biking and [...]
Where to Dine Al Fresco
Enjoyable spots for patio dining as the weather warms up:
IKE’S QUARTER CAFE
Ike’s tree-covered patio with brightly colored flowers is one of the finest outdoor dining spots in the foothills. Ike’s specializes in Creole food, using fresh, organic ingredients.
401 Commercial St., Nevada City
530-265-6138 IkesQuarterCafe.com
KANE’S FAMILY RESTAURANT
The attractive outdoor patio at Kane’s is a [...]

