  Driving along El Dorado's scenic highways you will pass through quaint gold rush towns; towns like Coloma, the site where gold was first discovered, Georgetown, one of the West's oldest and wildest gold rush towns, and Placerville, formerly known as "Old Hangtown." Intricately connected to the historic places, are the fascinating personages with ties to the county's history; people like James Marshall who discovered the nugget that set off the great Gold Rush of 1849, John Studebaker who went from making wheelbarrows for miners to making a fortune in automobiles. The Pony Express has ties here, as do John "Shoeshoe" Thompson, Levi Strauss and Kit Carson. More than half of El Dorado County is comprised of National Forests, State Parks, and Public Recreation Areas with the endlessly diverse recreational opportunities available in the Sierra Nevada Foothills, Mountains and Lake Tahoe areas. Adventures such as white water rafting on the American River, backpacking and camping along the Pacific Crest Trail and the Desolation Wilderness, jeeping the Rubicon Trail or skiing while surrounded by some of the most magnificent views in the world, can all be had here. El Dorado County is also notable for a wide variety of fresh produce from Apple Hill and Farm Trails regions, as well as for award-winning wines. Come try some. You can stay at one of the wonderful Historic Country Inns. |