Sonora California Attractions, Majestic Yosemite (See Yosemite) is the attraction that draws so many to the Sonora region from all over the world, but there is a lot more to see and do in and around Sonora. A Must see is Columbia State Historic Park. Columbia State Park offers the unique living experience being in a Gold Rush era mining town as it was during the late 1850s. For a time early on Columbia was the second largest city in California. While other mining boom towns of California turned to ghost towns, and became pray to vandals and fire, Colombia stayed so much like it was in the 1850s that it was turned into a state park in 1945. Its a full living experience of history, not just a museum. Relive the old Gold Rush era business district with people dressed in period cloths. Columbia State Historic Park is only three miles north of Sonora California.

You dont have to be a railroad buff to enjoy Railtown 1897 Historical Park. Railtown 1897 is managed by the California State Railroad Museum. It features one of Americas last functional original roundhouses. Also a fully tooled vintage railroad machine shop, and steam train rides along the historic Sierra Railroad every weekend April thru October. Railtown 1897 Historical Park is 4 miles south west of Sonora California.

Sonora has two public caverns for the adventurous cave explorers. Moaning Cavern has the deepest vertical drop cavern open to the public in California. Moaning Cavern is 14 miles north west of Sonora California. The other cavern is Mercer Caverns It is the longest continually operating commercial caverns in the state of California. Mercer Caverns is 18 miles north of Sonora California

Sonora's Historic Downtown offers Shopping, Antiques, Art, Bookstores, Handcrafted Jewelry and much more. The planning and development of streets of Sonora go back to the early 1850s The Tuolumne County Historical Museum is located in the city of Sonora in the old jail. The jail was first built in 1857 and rebuilt in 1865. The museum features old fire arms, gold collections, and the history of the early immigration to each geographical area of Tuolumne County.

There are Gold Panning and Prospecting Tours available thru several business. Jamestown Gold Panning 209-984-4038 (Office) California Gold 209-984-4914, Matelot Gulch & Hidden Treasure Gold Mine 209-532-9693 Gold Prospecting Adventures, LLC 209-984-4653

Greater Sonora also has so many outdoor recreational activities. Boating and fishing are very popular. New Melones Reservoir, Lake Tulloch, Lake Don Pedro, Tuolume River, Pinecrest Lake, Pine Mountain Lake, and Melones Lake, are all water ways that can be driven to from Sonora. There are even white water rafting and Kayaking.