A Weekend Escape to Jackson, Cal.

We stayed at a wonderful B&B in the foothils of the Sierras. Amador County is known both for their wine and gold. The quaint towns of Sutter Creek, Jackson and Amador City make for good destinations for the night with good dining, wine tasting, renovated business areas for shopping for antiques and many other items of interest.

Quick Tips:

Make a reservation at one of the many B&Bs in the area. Enjoy some shopping in the morning, wine tasting in the afternoon and a good dinner - what better way to spend a weekend? Oh yeah...and then there's the gourmet breakfast at your B&B in the morning. Maybe a little more shopping and/or wine tasting before heading home.

Best Way To Get Around:

Definately a drive in situation. It isn't far between Jackson or Pine Grove in the South and the wineries around Plymouth. Have a designated driver or check out the local limo rentals for going wine tasting. The roads are winding.

A full B&B, nice romantic escape with many amenities. We had an in room hot tub, complementary juice and soft drinks down the hall, hors d'ouvres and cranberry iced tea while making up our minds where we wanted to have dinner all in a gorgeous greenhouse wing. Gormet breakfast in the morning. A really first class B&B. Oh... and give Wags the dog (a long haired dachshund) a good ear scratch. Check out http://www.wedgewoodinn.com/

A good 6 course Italian dinner served here for moderate prices. We had some good calamari and halibut. Dinner price included polenta board, salad, soup, pasta entree we also had a nice house wine all for under $50. Nicely done entrees... is wasn't spectacular, but good.

A historic California Gold Rush era downtown that has been renovated. Many antique stores and restaurants and a museum. Just east of Sacramento. Great place to let my wife get some shopping out of her system.

Like many of the mining camps along California's State Route 49, Jackson's downtown is enjoying a revival as a tourist attraction. A number of interesting shops and good restaurants. The wives can certainly relax and unwind here...

We didn't visit any on this particular trip, but have enjoyed the many wineries in the area many times in the past. The reds af the area are particularly good. Perhaps it is because of the high iron content of the soils, but zinfandels, cabernets, barberas, syrahs and petite syrahs...wonerful in the area. Drytown winery in Drytown has a good Chardonney though (light on the oak... I don't like too much oak - so figure from there). Story, just out of Plymouth, also has a good Chardonney. Red wine all over is good. Montevina has wonderful barberas and syrahs. Check out the map at click here and enjoy!!!!