More Than Just Yosemite
Food Scene
These are a few of my favorite restaurants in Jamestown and Sonora.
Sweet teahouse in a garden setting in Columbia State Park; great for brunch or afternoon tea.
Visit their website for more info: http://columbiakates.com/
18 locals recommend
Columbia Kate's Teahouse
22727 Columbia StSweet teahouse in a garden setting in Columbia State Park; great for brunch or afternoon tea.
Visit their website for more info: http://columbiakates.com/
Historic restaurant with full bar; late night meals available during summer. Be sure to ask me for a coupon for a complimentary cocktail or beverage with your meal purchase.
Visit their website for more info and menu: http://www.national-hotel.com/historic-goldrush-restaurant-saloon/
National Hotel & Restaurant
18183 Main StHistoric restaurant with full bar; late night meals available during summer. Be sure to ask me for a coupon for a complimentary cocktail or beverage with your meal purchase.
Visit their website for more info and menu: http://www.national-hotel.com/historic-goldrush-restaurant-saloon/
Freshly prepared food, great wines and a very creative chef... friendly wait staff as well. Open Wednesday through Sunday. Great for Sunday brunch. Their new outdoor beer garden is open in the warm weather months as well.
Check their website for more info: http://jamestownservicestation.com/
23 locals recommend
The Service Station
18242 Main StFreshly prepared food, great wines and a very creative chef... friendly wait staff as well. Open Wednesday through Sunday. Great for Sunday brunch. Their new outdoor beer garden is open in the warm weather months as well.
Check their website for more info: http://jamestownservicestation.com/
The best independent cafe in our area serving fresh, house-baked pastries and lunches with gluten free options. A very mindful menu.
Check their website for more info & location: http://schnoogs.com/
9 locals recommend
Schnoogs Cafe & Espresso
1005 Mono WayThe best independent cafe in our area serving fresh, house-baked pastries and lunches with gluten free options. A very mindful menu.
Check their website for more info & location: http://schnoogs.com/
We've never had a bad meal here. Great menu choices, lovely wines, two bars, and weekend entertainment.
Their website will tell you more: http://www.emberzzz.com/
45 locals recommend
Emberz Wood-Fired Foodz
177 S Washington StWe've never had a bad meal here. Great menu choices, lovely wines, two bars, and weekend entertainment.
Their website will tell you more: http://www.emberzzz.com/
One of my two go-to restaurants for Mexican food in Downtown Sonora. Food is consistently awesome!
CAZADORA RESTAURANTE
70 W Stockton StOne of my two go-to restaurants for Mexican food in Downtown Sonora. Food is consistently awesome!
Ramen, ramen & more ramen! Everything is fresh, fresh & fresher! And just three doors away is their boba tea cafe.
https://yoshoku.business.site/
25 locals recommend
Yoshoku
70 S Washington StRamen, ramen & more ramen! Everything is fresh, fresh & fresher! And just three doors away is their boba tea cafe.
https://yoshoku.business.site/
Sightseeing
A few nearby historic places to visit while you're here
Historic steam trains run during summer and there's a working roundhouse too. Get there at 7:00 am to watch them fire up Locomotive #3, the famous movie train.
Buy tickets or get more info on their website here: https://railtown1897.org/
100 locals recommend
Railtown 1897 State History Park
10501 Reservoir RdHistoric steam trains run during summer and there's a working roundhouse too. Get there at 7:00 am to watch them fire up Locomotive #3, the famous movie train.
Buy tickets or get more info on their website here: https://railtown1897.org/
Welcome back to the days of the Gold Rush! Columbia State Park is the last town in California that gives you a sense of what life was like in the mid to late 1800s.
More details & info on the park's website: http://visitcolumbiacalifornia.com/
217 locals recommend
Columbia State Historic Park
11259 Broadway StWelcome back to the days of the Gold Rush! Columbia State Park is the last town in California that gives you a sense of what life was like in the mid to late 1800s.
More details & info on the park's website: http://visitcolumbiacalifornia.com/
This state park is about a 35-minute drive from my home but is well worth your time. It is the last grove of Redwood and Sequoia trees that once filled the Sierra Foothills.
Visit their website for more info and hours: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=551
274 locals recommend
Calaveras Big Trees State Park
1170 CA-4This state park is about a 35-minute drive from my home but is well worth your time. It is the last grove of Redwood and Sequoia trees that once filled the Sierra Foothills.
Visit their website for more info and hours: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=551
More Great Outdoors
Places to walk & hike nearby
Tuttletown Recreation Area
Reynolds Ferry RoadTrailhead is 15 minutes from my home
Best display of wildflowers nearby in Spring and early Summer. Great hiking trails too!
Red Hills Recreation Management Area
Red Hill RoadBest display of wildflowers nearby in Spring and early Summer. Great hiking trails too!
Our all-time favorite mountain lake in Tuolumne County! Boat rentals of all shapes & sizes. Paddle board rentals nearby. There's a hiking trail around the lake that takes you by some sweet mountain cabins. A great way to spend a relaxing day.
55 locals recommend
Pinecrest
Our all-time favorite mountain lake in Tuolumne County! Boat rentals of all shapes & sizes. Paddle board rentals nearby. There's a hiking trail around the lake that takes you by some sweet mountain cabins. A great way to spend a relaxing day.
The Social Scene
Here are a few locations for great libations & entertainment.
This is the oldest drinking establishment in all of Tuolumne County. It was recently purchased by a local businesswoman after being closed for a few years and is a great location for finding new wines, new friends and great music.
You can find more info on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TarFlatSonora/
8 locals recommend
Servente's Saloon
64 S Washington StThis is the oldest drinking establishment in all of Tuolumne County. It was recently purchased by a local businesswoman after being closed for a few years and is a great location for finding new wines, new friends and great music.
You can find more info on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TarFlatSonora/
The smallest taproom with the greatest beer selection in Downtown Sonora. Outdoor music & street dancing in Summer too.
Find them on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/sonorataproom/
20 locals recommend
Sonora Tap Room
1 Linoberg StThe smallest taproom with the greatest beer selection in Downtown Sonora. Outdoor music & street dancing in Summer too.
Find them on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/sonorataproom/
A great little wine bar with outdoor seating as well located about 4 miles from my home. They feature Thirsty Thursday specials and live music.
More info on their website here: https://www.innersanctumcellars.com/
9 locals recommend
Inner Sanctum Cellars
18204 Main StA great little wine bar with outdoor seating as well located about 4 miles from my home. They feature Thirsty Thursday specials and live music.
More info on their website here: https://www.innersanctumcellars.com/
Here's where the big concert events are held during the warm weather months. Check out their website for the summer lineup.
Westside Pavilion
17807 Tuolumne RdHere's where the big concert events are held during the warm weather months. Check out their website for the summer lineup.
Looking for a nearby quiet place with a great selection of cigars? How about a glass of brandy to go with it? Stogies has an indoor and outdoor area for guests.
See their website for a full description: https://www.stogiesgoldcountry.com/
6 locals recommend
Stogies Gold Country Lounge
18202 Main StLooking for a nearby quiet place with a great selection of cigars? How about a glass of brandy to go with it? Stogies has an indoor and outdoor area for guests.
See their website for a full description: https://www.stogiesgoldcountry.com/
On the Road to Yosemite
Groveland is the town you will drive through on your way to Yosemite. Here are a few recommendations for places to stop or shop.
This market is located just as you're about to leave Groveland. It's a great place to get sandwiches to go as food in Yosemite can be very expensive. You can call in your order before leaving in the morning and it will be ready for pickup when you arrive.
82 locals recommend
Mar-Val
19000 Main StThis market is located just as you're about to leave Groveland. It's a great place to get sandwiches to go as food in Yosemite can be very expensive. You can call in your order before leaving in the morning and it will be ready for pickup when you arrive.
A must-stop on your trip in or out of Yosemite. The oldest operating saloon in Northern California! So much history here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMsz9-GZ-KU
122 locals recommend
Iron Door Store
18752 Main StA must-stop on your trip in or out of Yosemite. The oldest operating saloon in Northern California! So much history here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMsz9-GZ-KU
It's not just the food... it's the view that counts! This is the little place located at the very top of the Old Priest Grade, one of the steepest roads around. But you'll probably coming up the "new" grade which takes a little longer but still provides the view of the old grade to the south.
42 locals recommend
Priest Station Café
16756 Old Priest GradeIt's not just the food... it's the view that counts! This is the little place located at the very top of the Old Priest Grade, one of the steepest roads around. But you'll probably coming up the "new" grade which takes a little longer but still provides the view of the old grade to the south.
If you need a packed lunch, this is the place to get a loaded, made-to-order sandwich or healthy salad (the edamame and bean salad is delicious!). You can also pick up grass-fed beef, organic poultry, deli meats, cheeses and homemade cookies and cakes.
28 locals recommend
Kevin N Randi's Old Fashion Meat Market
18687 Main StIf you need a packed lunch, this is the place to get a loaded, made-to-order sandwich or healthy salad (the edamame and bean salad is delicious!). You can also pick up grass-fed beef, organic poultry, deli meats, cheeses and homemade cookies and cakes.
You'll find this place just before you arrive at the entrance to Yosemite on the south side of Hwy 120. My favorite thing to do after a day of hiking is to stop here for an ice cream cone! Plus the surroundings are beautiful.
17 locals recommend
Rush Creek Lodge at Yosemite
34001 CA-120You'll find this place just before you arrive at the entrance to Yosemite on the south side of Hwy 120. My favorite thing to do after a day of hiking is to stop here for an ice cream cone! Plus the surroundings are beautiful.
This place is off the beaten path unless you're heading out to see Hetch Hetchy or hike to Wapama Falls. Good food but check their serving times on the website.
10 locals recommend
Evergreen Lodge at Yosemite
33160 Evergreen RdThis place is off the beaten path unless you're heading out to see Hetch Hetchy or hike to Wapama Falls. Good food but check their serving times on the website.