The days of the great California Gold Rush have long since past, but if you still long for the look and feel of the mid-1800s, you're in luck. Within an hour and a half from our city limits, gold rush towns like Jackson, Jamestown, Columbia, Sonora and Murphys wait like city-sized time capsules ready for you to open.

You may even strike it rich — either by panning for gold like the first settlers did, or by trying your hand at Jackson Rancheria Casino and Hotel.

And if gambling or history don't excite you, the area's rich variety of outdoor activities and natural beauty should offer plenty of other fun opportunities.

Columbia State Historical Park

Officially becoming a state park in 1945, this former Gold Rush hot spot is home to the handful of buildings that survived the town's two devastating fires in 1854 and 1857. Visitors can go on stagecoach rides to their favorite historical saloons, dress up like gunslingers for an Old West photo op or bite into a caramel apple on their way to the weekend town tours. Don't forget to visit the local shops, where you can buy handmade crafts from workers dressed in Gold Rush garb.

Railtown 1897 State Historic Park

Dubbed "The Movie Railroad" this site has been used in films since 1919. Railtown welcomes guests most weekdays and on weekends from April to October. Tours of the park's working roundhouse begin at 10:10 a.m. and continue every hour until 3:10 p.m. On weekends from April to October visitors can enjoy a 40-minute train ride. Longer trips and special, themed excursions are also available throughout the year. For more information, visit the park Web site.

Ironstone Vineyards

In 1989, not long after prominent grape grower John Kautz and his family started developing their own brand of wine, construction began on Ironstone Vineyards, the largest winery and entertainment complex in California. Located just outside Murphys, the site offers a tasting room and gourmet delicatessen, a gold rush history museum which boast the world's largest Crystalline gold leaf and a jewelry shop. Make time to walk the pristine grounds, and on weekends, see Mario the miner for lessons in gold panning. For more information, visit the Ironstone Web site.

Calaveras Big Trees State Park

The name says it all. Many trees in the park have circumferences in the upper teens, but the largest of them all is the Louis Agassiz tree, which is 250 feet tall and 25 feet in diameter. Big Trees is a great place for camping, picnicking, mountain biking, bird watching or hiking. For more information, visit the park Web site.

Downtowns

Many Foothill cities boasts quaint, historic downtowns that just shouldn't be missed. Among these towns are: Jamestown, Sonora, Murphys and Jackson. There, visitors will find a cornucopia of antique and crafts stores, as well as many historical sites. For more information, visit each town's Web site.

Hotel Leger

Hotel Leger's rich history dates back to 1851 when its proprietor, George Leger, ran what was little more than a wood and canvas tent called Hotel de France. After burning down several times, the building was finally rebuilt in 1876 out of stone. The hotel later incorporated the adjacent courthouse and jail building, which apparently came equipped with a hangman's tree. Today Hotel Leger hosts weddings and other large events, but many come for a look at the ghosts who are said to haunt the halls. For more information, visit the hotel Web site.

Jackson Pioneer Cemetery

More than 150 years old, Pioneer Cemetery is the final resting place to some of the area's first white settlers. The population includes two U.S. senators, war heroes, gold miners and many others.

Jackson Rancheria Casino and Hotel

The area's premier gaming and entertainment venue, Jackson Rancheria is home to 47 gaming tables, 15 poker tables and over 1500 slot machines. The hotel and casino's eight restaurants cook up a range of meals suitable for any palate, while the entertainment sector offers performances by big-name acts comparable to those booked at Reno and Lake Tahoe. For more information, visit the casino Web site.

Bed and Breakfasts

Bed and breakfasts nestled in foothill towns offer the perfect romantic getaways for couples. Travel to gold country towns during the day to sightsee, shop or wine taste during the day, then come home to a relaxing Jacuzzi bubble bath at night.

Indian Grinding Rock State Historical Park

Once home to the Northern Sierra Miwok, Indian Grinding Rock now offers visitors a look at one of the original settlers of the area. The park, famous for its large stone, where the Indians would grind acorns into meal, also exhibits carvings that are said to be 2,000 to 3,000 years old. The park offers a life-size replica of a Miwok village, a museum and camping and picnicking sites. For more information, visit the park Web site.