Points Of Interest - Things To Do & See
Any time of year, you'll find a host of special events nearby: arts and crafts shows, festivals and fairs, races, and games, community theatre, concerts and dances. Golfing, water sports, fishing, skiing, cycling and hiking offer physical challenge for all ages.
WINE TASTING-AMADOR COUNTY STYLE
Pack a picnic lunch and take a drive through the hollows, hills and woods of the picturesque foothills; our vineyards and wineries are found off uncrowded scenic backroads. Tours, tasting and picnic spots are offered by most wineries. Ask for a map and more information at the Shenandoah Inn front desk.
SHENANDOAH VALLEY MUSEUM
Chronicling life on the farm, this free museum is located at Sobon Estate Winery, one of California's oldest wineries. See displays ranging from spinning wheels & swifts used to create fabrics to tools used for creating wooden barrels, casks & kegs to early wine making equipment. Created by the Sobon family with the help of neighboring ranchers, farmers and associates in the wine-making industry, this interesting and educational museum illustrates the history of the Shenandoah Valley and the way the pioneers who settled it went about their daily tasks. Tasting room and shaded picnic grounds; open daily 10-5. Take Shenandoah Rd. east to Sobon Winery. Information: 245-6554.
Right here in Plymouth, just a half mile north of Hwy 49, is the Amador County Fairground, which is host to one of the finest county fairs in the state (held the last week in July). As site to a broad range of events through out the year including various rodeo and equestrian events.
Nature sets her own schedule for this impressive annual treat, but generally figure on mid-March to mid-April. A four acre hillside bursts into a profusion of glowing daffodils that crowd around the walkways and march up the hills.
CHAW-SE INDIAN GRINDING ROCKS
Located in the quiet community of Volcano, just a mile and half of Hwy 88, is the Chaw-Se Park. This 40 acre preserve gives a sense of how the northern Miwok Indians lived & protects the rocks which were used for hundreds of years to grind acorns to make bread. The park includes a Regional Indian Museum and 21 campsites.
AMADOR COUNTY MUSEUM
Two blocks north of Main Street at 225 Church in Jackson, is a museum specializing in Mother Lode memorabilia.
KENNEDY TAILING WHEELS
Kennedy Wheels Park in Jackson features the 68-foot Kennedy Tailing Wheels, picnic facilities, ample parking the Kennedy Mine office and a kiosk depicting and narrating the history of the Kennedy Mine and the huge wheels. Erected in 1912, these wheels pumped the mine tailings out of the mine, over two hills to an impounding dam, thus preventing pollution of the creek. 75,000 gallons of water and tailings were removed every 24 hours.
SUTTER CREEK'S RAGTIME FESTIVAL
Sutter Creek's Annual Ragtime Festival is a rousing good time for all and showcases nationally recognized talent as well as local and young performers. Five different venues on Sutter Creek's Main Street come alive with concerts, dancing, continuous ragtime piano and after-hours jams. For 2006, the three-day event will be held Aug 11 thru 13. Contact Motherload Ragtime Society (209-223-0867) or log on the web site at www.suttercreekragtime.com for more information.
Or better yet, stop by the Sutter Creek Ice Cream Emporium at 51 Main in Sutter Creek. Owner Steven Price is an accomplished ragtime pianist and is known to sit down at the old upright piano in his ice cream parlor and pound out some lively ragtime tune for the enjoyment of his patrons - often dress in period garb.
Located just minutes away on Hwy 49 just north of historic Sutter Creek, Sutter Gold Mine is a fascinating and fun place to visit. Tag in, don a hard hat, board the Boss Buggy Shuttle and journey deep underground for a lesson gold mining from the Gold Rush to the present day. Walk through a tunnel created by mining the quartz of the Comet Zone for gold by real miners just a decade ago. See mining equipment and learn how it works! Discover the difference between real gold and fools gold! Above ground, try your hand at gemstone mining and gold panning, or browse the Gold Store for mining equipment, gold jewelry, rocks and fun souvenirs. Next door, pop in to the California Gold Rush. 1-hour family tours are offered every day, year round from 9 am - 5pm May through October and from 10 am to 4 pm November through April. Every participant must wear a provided hardhat for the entire tour underground. Hardhats come in sizes appropriate for toddlers through adults. More information can be obtained by visiting the website at www.suttergold.com, or by calling 209-736-2708.
Set in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley's grape growing region - one of California's scenic gems - sits Amador Flower Farm. Owners, Ken and Jeanne Deaver, are well known around the region as one of the valley's larger wine grape producers. They have also created an incredible foothill garden specializing in daylilies with over 800 different varieties available for sale.
The Deavers have been selling daylilies direct mail by catalog since 1992. In 1995 they decided to open a retail site and built four acres of demonstration gardens with different themes designed to show the flowers in a variety of settings. The farm features lyrically-named gardens such as: White Garden, Wine Garden, Western Garden, Royal Court, Kitchen Garden, etc.
Flower lovers will delight in the historical garden that features all the Stout Medal Winners since 1950. The Stout Medal is the top prize offered each year for the most outstanding daylily.
The Wine Garden presents wine colored blooms with names like Raspberry Wine, Heady Wine, Vino Verde, Vintage Bordeaux and many more.
The English Garden lies in the center in a formal pattern featuring unique and unusual perennials, many of which are available for purchase. Other interesting areas are the Kitchen Garden and the wide assortment of unusual perennials and grasses in the gardens. All of these interesting and diverse areas are placed against the backdrop of Deaver's 30 year old Zinfandel vineyards and the rolling landscape of the Shenandoah Valley.
The beautiful gardens are maintained year-round, so there is always something wonderful to see. If you're lucky enough to visit in October, be sure and visit the Pumpkin Patch. You'll see Peter Pumpkin Eater's House set in the pumpkin patch filled with funny scarecrows, a hay tunnel and a corn maze! Take photos of the kids next to the "How Tall Are You?" scarecrow or with their faces shining through the pumpkin and ghost cutouts.
The entire grounds cover 12 acres and are designed for walking. Picnic facilities are available under heritage oak trees.
After exploring the gardens, browse thru the gift shop featuring a wide variety of gardening items Take a bouquet of cut flowers (available for sale in season) with you for that special friend or to brighten up your hotel room!
Reserve Your Rooms at The Shenandoah Inn:
17674 Village
Drive, Plymouth, CA 95669.
Telephone: (800) 542-4549 or (209) 245-4491
Fax: (209) 245-4498
This guide is from the Shenandoah Inn Guest Directory published by Sierra Travelers Services.