Gold Country Hotels

Hello again. Well day two in Murphys started out a little cloudy and I don't mean the sky!  Actually the weather in the Gold Country was quite beautiful that morning.  We were lucky enough to stay at my friends brother's home up above Murphys and had a wonderful view of the hillsides!  Our first stop of the day was for breakfast in Murphys on Main Street.  We went to Grounds. It was a lovely place with inside and outside seating.  We enjoyed the morning outside with Bloody Mary's and Mimosa's.  The second day at Murphys (there is no apostrophe; you will read why when you click on the link) was saved to visit the outlying areas of the Gold Country.  At breakfast we mapped out the wineries we wanted to visit.  But before we left Main Street we stopped at one last winery, Frog's Tooth. They had some lovely wines and the staff was very nice!

Now we are off to visit the first Gold Country wineries off of Main Street, Ironstone Vineyards. 
Ironstone is a very large winery with a huge tasting room/deli, a museum and an amphitheatre where they hold concerts.  When you first enter Ironstone you see these amazing wine barrels planted with tulips and daffodils. It is so beautiful and I couldn't get over the amazing colors.  We were tasting a few wines when in walked a gold mine - really he was!  He showed us the gold he had taken from the river, but he wouldn't tell us where for fear we would want to start panning for gold.  He was a very interesting character with many stories. Ironstone has gold panning on their property. 

As we were  getting ready to leave, John Kautz (Kautz family owns Ironstone Vineyards) came in. I introduced myself and he offered to give us a tour of the jewelry shoppe/museum.  The museum is filled with historical artifacts. Here is John showing us some of the many historical pieces he has curated for the museum.  One he is especially proud of is the Gold Leaf specimen.  It is housed in a bank safe-type room for temperature and security reasons.   We then set off to visit some other wineries, Indian Rock and Coppermine.  Indian Rock is a small winery with a lovely pond to have a picnic around.  On Saturdays they BBQ for their winery guests.  Indian Rock had a lovely Barbera that made its way home with me!  Coppermine was next. They provided you with pub tables to do your tasting.  They also paired their wine with potato chips and chocolate. I could not have asked for a better combination!!  Last but not least we went to visit Twisted Oak Winery.  You drive up a twisted road with many roadside attractions along the way.   It is a fun drive through the vineyards and it overlooks the hills of the Gold Country. 

Here we tasted a few wines that were not in their tasting room on Main Street.  As we left the winery there is a large frog that looks like a rubber chicken. In our travels we saw a few of these large frogs and the story is that Calaveras County (where Murphys is located) is known for their jumping frog contests.  So here we are at our last stop with a frog that looks like a rubber chicken!

As we are leaving I stop to take one more picture and I feel like I am on top of the world or at least
"Queen of The Sierra."  
 

It was a wonderful two days in the Gold Country.  It is easily a day trip and you can stay at one of the Sacramento area hotels and enjoy one day visiting Sacramento, California, attractions, like Old Sacramento.  Or make a weekend of it and stay in one of the lovely and quaint Gold Country hotels!!  That is all for now.   I hope you enjoyed the tale of Murphys. Until next time, CHEERS!!

Hello all you lovers of wine!!  I know many of you have been to wineries in California and in asking around I found that several of my co-workers and friends have been to Murphys in Calaveras County.  Well, I had not until now!!  Murphys is in the Gold Country and is known as the Queen of Sierra. 

I am excited to get to talk about Murphys but I must start at the beginning.  My girlfriends and I left
Sacramento on Saturday morning.  We were in the car 10 minutes and made a stop at Lidos Bar & Grill in Carmichael. I told the girls we didn't get very far. in Lidos we planned our trip and within the hour we were on the road with The Sacramento Regional Wine Tasting Guide and Map and heading towards the Gold Country and the town of Murphys!  One of my friends grew up near Murphys and she loves wine so I knew I was in good hands! 

The drive at this time of year was absolutely beautiful; all the hillsides were green and they looked like green velvet blankets!  We arrived in Murphy's in about 90 minutes.  We drove down Main Street in Murphys where you see several wine tasting rooms, quaint shops and restaurants and Gold Country Hotels.  We parked and began the day with our first winery, Twisted Oak.  They served us some lovely wines. Most of the reds were of the Spanish varietal.  We were told that the owner was talking about one of his wines and stated that it pairs with chicken. He said, "it's so good it would pair with a rubber chicken!" (We didn't actually have any rubber chickens to eat.)

Our next stop was Newsome-Harlow Wines. The first wine we tasted was their Sauvignon Blanc, one of my favorite varietals. It was lovely and several bottles were enjoyed at the tasting room and will be enjoyed at home.  Newsome-Harlow has several other delicious  wines. One red I really enjoyed was named Train Wreck, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah! There is a wonderful outside patio and we were told that on sunny warm days it is the place to be.  We were also treated to their restaurant The Kitchen, it is adjacent to the tasting room and is open to the public on Fridays and Saturdays. The other days it is used for their wine club. All these wineries we are visiting are on Main Street in Murphys, so we are taking a nice stroll looking at the quaint shops, restaurants and the unique Gold Country hotels available for your enjoyment.

Now we get to eat dinner. There are a lot of nice restaurants to choose from, we chose Mineral because my girlfriend is a
vegetarian and she knew the chef. Here we are enjoying our dinner, I chose the Mineral Burger which was delicious. We brought in a Barbera that we purchased from Hatcher and had a lovely dinner with old and new friends 

That is the end of Day One in Murphys. I hope you enjoyed reading about Main Street in Murphys, Queen of the Sierra. The next day we visit some of the Gold Country wineries that surround Murphys! You will see at the end of Day Two why I thought I was Queen of the Sierra!!

Do you depend on booster clubs, parents and fans when it comes to the success of your team -- on and off the home field or home court? Could you use a reliable boost of support to help you plan and execute a well-run tournament?

It's no surprise that tournament directors and competition organizers recruit the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau to assist with their volunteer-run events. Here are 3 reasons we can help you plan a successful tournament:

• Athletes and their families always rank #1.

We work hard off the field, so you can focus and do your best when game time matters. During the free time, athletes and their guests remain our first priority. Ask us how we can enhance their visitor experience.

From personal greetings at Sacramento International Airport and welcome signs at contracted hotels, our tournament services include exclusive discounts at premium shopping malls in addition to brochures and visitor guides.

• Put us in the game, Coach. We know venues, hotels, and more.

We have working relationships with a range of world-class venues from Lake Natoma to impressive facilities like Memorial Auditorium; affordable hotels; restaurants; shopping; and entertainment -- all conveniently located within close proximity. We'll even arrange transportation if you need it!

Furthermore, Sacramento has hosted an array of sports -- from USA Club Soccer to U.S. Fencing, high school wrestling to cross country, NCAA Division I volleyball to USA Track & Field Olympic team trials, and more. We bring the gold standard of professionalism to all levels of competition.  

• Promote your event with a customized web site.

You tell us the details. We listen, and then build your microsite -- so you can get back to the game! Access the site via smartphone for info on the go. It's faster & less costly than an app. Give 'em travel related info. when they want it.

By the way, housing is only a quick click away! Athletes and guests easily can book hotel rooms from a list that you choose to work with.

Before we forget to mention, we've got sunny weather -- without humidity. Athletes love our restaurants, many of which serve fruits, vegetables, even rice that's grown locally. Most of all, they enjoy the enthusiasm of our neighbors who gather to cheer on aspiring athletes. 

Contact Director of Sports Development, Brad Hillard, CSEE (bhillard@cityofsacramento.org) to talk about the needs of your tournament.

• Rose Sidhu began her career with Hyatt Regency Sacramento as a valet (learning to drive a manual transmission on a Porsche) and now works as a security agent with GM Ulrich Samietz as her backup.

• Amado Abarca, a line cook with Radisson Sacramento, was celebrated for his inspiration with a smile and outstanding respect from his peers.

• Alex Palamarchuk, a native of the country of Georgia, of Sheraton Grand Sacramento was described as the 'heart of the house' and praised for his "I'll take care of it!" mentality.

Until recently the adjective 'cowtown' made Sacramentans cringe. It unfairly reduced our bounty of gold country wineries, outdoor recreation and sports, and cosmopolitan city living to … commodity cows and draft animals. Well, we invite you to join our revolution, to rightly respect our agricultural neighbors for nourishing and fueling our daily lives.

With 320 days of sunshine a year, the Sacramento region is a jewel with urban and rural facets. Area chefs (professional and amateur) are quick to recognize local growers who bring high-quality vegetables, fruits, meats, beers and wines to their dining rooms. Locals and visitors alike, whet your appetites as you consider your next culinary experience in California’s capital.

Rather than equip you with a laundry list of good eats, let me highlight the gourmet ghettos and allow you to discover tasty treasures for yourself:

·         Savor Old Sacramento’s fine dining scene even if you didn’t bring your Sunday best.

Dine on the riverfront or in a number of restored, historic buildings.

·         Bound by 11^th and 16^th streets, near K & L streets, enjoy a variety of cuisines near the Sacramento Convention Center and the State Capitol. Anchors include The Park Downtown (15^th & L), The Firestone (16^th & L), and The Elliott Building (16^th Street, between J & K).

·         L Street & Capitol Avenue between 18^th & 21^st streets are the veins of Midtown's Handle District.  

·         The Sutter District surrounds Sutter’s Fort, but its artery is 28^th Street, between J and N.

·         Explore Midtown along J Street, bound by 18^th and 28^th streets, and R Street between 14th & 15th.
Note: MARRS, on 20^th Street between J & K, is not as distant as we once thought.

·         Tower Café reigns at the heart of the ethnic food enclave on Broadway, between Riverside Blvd. and 26^th Street. Thanks to Capital Public Radio, the local NPR affiliate, for this preview.

·         Luxury defines Financial District dining on Capitol Mall, bound by 4^th and 7^th streets.

On the verge of a food coma as you daydream about a decadent meal? Book accommodations and ask for VIP treatment at these Sacramento Gold Card hotels.

If you’re like me, you are always in search of the real deal. It’s what makes me choose locally owned over mass-produced, independent stores over chains, an actual walk instead of a spin on the treadmill and so on. Of course, it’s clearly impossible to avoid the fake stuff.

We have created a fake world around us. From lip-synched concerts to jeans with factory-manufactured holes in them, authenticity is harder to find than ever.

In Joel Achenbach’s essay of the same name, he coined the term “Creeping Surrealism.” He was moved to create the term after contemplating some store-bought cookies that were designed to look homemade. Somewhere along the way, Pepperridge Farm actually had to design a machine that purposely would make uneven edges to mimic a handmade product. How weird is that? Don’t you still know that you’re eating a factory-produced cookie.


“Creeping surrealism” has crept well in to the world of tourism.

This was never more obvious to me than on a recent trip I just took.  It was theme park after theme park and chain restaurant after chain restaurant.

The week I spent away made me appreciate Sacramento more than ever.

Sure, we don’t have major theme parks, but we have something better: A soul.

There’s a real city with real people in Sacramento.  When you walk into a bar that looks like an Old West saloon, there’s a good chance that, at some point, it really was an Old West saloon. If you want to pan for gold, take a short drive to Coloma and experience the real Gold Country and actual gold panning. I’m not saying everything is authentic in Sacramento – we have our fair share of standards – but there is more than enough “real” city to give you a true sense of being somewhere.

Our restaurants have real chefs who control their own menus based on the real and actual produce grown just miles down the road. Our best water park is the real and actual river. Our big hotel that looks like a boat actually is a boat. Our biggest tour attraction, the Capitol building, is filled with real and actual politicians doing real and actual political work – more or less.

When you visit Sacramento, you’ll get a real experience in a real city that wants to show you a good time. There’s a lot to be said for that.