Sutter's Mill

Parking is $10. We paid in the museum and then walked back to the car to place the pass inside. Lots of historical sites to see. We walked everywhere and got 5 miles exercise by the end of 4 hours. The trail by the Catholic cemetery to the monument was too steep for me so we walked the pave road. The ice cream at the store was a nice way to end the day.

Experience the gold rush at this historic site. Original buildings guided tours great experience for all ages

Went for a school Field trip, our kiddos had a blast. So much to see and explore. We got to mine for gold, kids got to take home their own gold. Friendly staff.

Nice place. You can learn alot and appreciate how easy we truly have it compared to the bygone days!

Great historic site. It can get hot in the summer but luckily the river, with many access spots, are nearby.

There's Gold in them hills!! It's cool.

Our experience is very good. The place is nice and clean

Educational and well maintained

My partner and I explored this state park for the first time on Thursday. It's pretty spread out so there is a lot of walking if you do more than the museum but it's beautiful out here. If you come on a weekday there is likely going to be a field trip so I would recommend a weekend. There is a cafe in the park that we tried and enjoyed (see my review for the Argonaut Cafe) and the museum was interesting but just walking around the park was my favorite part since there was a lot to learn outside of the museum as well. I found this place more interesting than Sutter's Fort so I would check this place out if you are interested in the history of the gold rush.

Adorable park with lots of historic buildings to see. We visited on Marshall Gold Discovery Day and it was lively but not too crowded. Plenty of activities and the volunteers were super eager to share information. Dog friendly outdoors (just not in the buildings).

Sunday, 10/15/2023 - Went to Coloma Gold Rush event today. It was pretty cool! People dressed and lived like back in the old days. We learned a lot. There's this guy that made these rolled thin wood things covered in beeswax. They use to use it to light a fire, cigar, pipe, etc. They used it for trading. There were tents that charges for wash, dry, iron. Tents that sold candy. Mercantile tent that sold all sorts of stuff. A doctor tent if your sick. Saw a puppet show. There's an old wagon ride you can go on. Vendor foods and stuff you can buy. Museum. Gift shop. Kids corner with all mins of activities. Learned how to milk a cow, made rope, made little dolls, etc. So much going on. It was really neat. We had so much fun, staffs were so nice, and we learned a lot. I hope they continue to do this every year! We had so much fun.

Visited back in October 2022 with my wife... Beautiful nature walk with tons of historical artifac, stuff to see, pose near, reflect, refresh, and just get outside. Coloma is rich with history, and it's a wonderful day trip excursion to explore one of Northern California's landscapes 'rich' with facts about the gold mining era...

What a great museum showcasing the California Gold Rush and beginnings of statehood. This is THE location of where gold was reported being found that started it all. About 90% of the museum is outdoors. They have so many attractions from the mill, to stores, gold panning, a blacksmith, school, old stores/shops, military, Asian history, Native history, and a few more things that just don't come to mind. We were here on a school field trip and spent about four hours. There is a lot to explore. If you come here as a family or by yourself, they do have built-in grills in the picnic areas if grilling is your thing. Overall Amazing time learning about the gold rush and what led to the beginning of statehood for California. We'll worth the trip!

I luv this California State park. It's a whole little collection of structures and exhibits of the Gold Rush times in the mid to late 1800s. In 1848, John Marshall discovered gold at Sutter's sawmill along the American River right here. That started the California gold rush... right here in the town of Coloma, CA. The structures are all connected by walking/biking trails. It has a visitors center, museum, and picnic areas with open green space. It's one of my favorite places to spend the day. Of course, on the weekends, this place is jam packed especially in the summer. The entry fee is $10 a car. You can park along the road or in the museum parking lot. The payment system is very old school paper base. You grab an envelope at the pay stations which are located throughout the park. Tear off the payment number stub (to place in your car dashboard) and and place cash in the envelope to return to the locked box at the pay station. Don't risk not paying, they do have lots of rangers out n about. If the blacksmith shop is open, please check it out. The volunteer blacksmiths are a hoot to talk to. Fun and engaging gentlemen with a wealth of historical knowledge.

This is a fun park. Came for the history, stayed for the foliage on a misty November day. This is where gold was discovered in California and there's lots of displays to read out the gold rush days along with replicas of historic buildings, equipment and scenic views. There's a visitor center which I didn't get to visit along with some hiking trails. On my visit, I did a short walk along the river and admired the changing leaves. I was short on time but would love to come back and do some the hikes up the hillsides. Fees apply but they do accept the California state parks pass. Plenty of picnic tables and lawns to spread out and spend some time if you're not in a rush. Another gem in the state park system.

Make every effort to take a tour or engage a docent on your visit. Make every effort to take a tour or engage a docent on your visit. It certainly would be worthwhile wandering this park and picturing yourself back in the 1800's as a settler discovering gold yourself. But hearing the back stories of the discovery, the Chinese corporation (such as they existed at the time) setting up shop in this location, the operation of the lumber mill, the "Mother Rock", etc. greatly enhanced our visit. A must stop if you are touring gold country.

If you have young children, this is probably a nice little spot to visit. There were lots of school buses when we visited and I am sure that for children this is a nice way to spend an educational day. For $10 you can get a parking pass for the day and visit the small museum here. There are outdoor exhibits and markers as well. We came in April and it was quite hot and dry with little greenery or shade, so I would not recommend coming any time after May as I cannot imagine the temperatures. We saw a sign that said $10 to pan for gold and there were some small children being helped to do so by people in period clothing but both the kids and the "actors" seemed quite bored. We tried walking a trail, but for all the rangers and employees we saw, the trails were not well maintained. We also stopped near the water but I just did not find this an exceptional place to spend the day so we headed out. If you just want to enjoy nature, there are plenty of free spots along the way but $10 for some history is a small price to pay. I guess it just depends what you are in the mood for.

We had been to this park many years ago in our early marriage so this was a bit of nostalgia to return recently. Commemorating the site of the discovery of gold by John Marshall, this park is packed with history. A short, flat trail hugs the American River and leads you to the discovery site and a monument to the site of Sutter's mill. The river is lovely and full (not a creek) backed by scenic hills. We were pleased to see numerous upgrades to the park that have been made since our initial visit. An impressive, large, wooden gold sluicing structure has been created, as well as a wonderful museum. Many picnic tables are available overlooking the river which made for an enjoyable lunch. Finally, at one end of the park we drove up a hill to see a tall statue of John Marshall. Hiking is limited here, the park is not huge, but it's definitely worth a visit for its role in California history.

Grandson missed his school trip because of covid and had to do the video trip so we took him to make it like we did with his brother and mother so glad we did.. Also made it nice as my being a veteran is honored with parking pass.. so Thankful for the staff and how we were extended a powerful lesson for our grandson..

Nice place to visit alone or with a family. Museum and actual old structures to explorenor at least look into. Large area to cover both side of the road down to the South Fork of the American River. Picnic areas available or Argonaut snack Cafe open at times. Replica of Sutters Mill worth checking out. Very accurate.

Post Covid Review. This is a cute small section of Northern California that still preserves the history of the Gold Rush. This is a great little get away and a great educational spot for young mind.

This is a great place. I went here with my dad yesterday. The man in the blacksmith shop is nice.

I wanted to go here and see the museum stuff. I didn't see a single bit of it, because my child has gold fever. All I did was sit by the river for a few hours while he panned for gold (I occasionally got in on it) and it was a perfectly lovely afternoon. We found a shady spot under a mulberry tree next to a blackberry thicket on the bank of the American River. We had a great time eating berries and cursing at pyrite for not being gold and dipping in and out of the water, which was clean and cool. I look forward to coming back to check out the rest of the park! If your kids are losers who don't care about museums, don't overlook this place. The river access alone is worth it.

Having not grown up in California I was curious about the history of the Gold Rush and we checked out "Gold Country" one weekend. It's nice out here and the American River is gorgeous. Can almost picture those 49ers panning for gold. You can do it yourself, apparently, but I'll leave that to the kids. We hiked the Monroe Ridge Trail and Monument trail which was a nice 3-4 mile loop around the park. The trail head is near the James Marshall monument. In the park itself you can walk around and read about Sutter's mill, equipment used for mining, among other historical tidbits. There's a small area for the Native Americans who were originally in the area, and even a small area for the Chinese immigrants that came as a part of the migration. During COVID-19, the indoor facilities such as the museum are closed.

My fiance and our two daughters went here to spend a day with nature. It was beyond beautiful and perfect for the family. The area is open and vast, we brought the kids scooters too! We laid out a blanket on the grass area and had our packed lunch and rested while the kids played. Then we hiked! So cool for kids, bring a stroller if you have tiny ones. My kids are 6 & 8 and they did just fine! The path on the hike is absolutely gorgeous and so aesthetic, bring a camera for sure if you're into that sort of thing (I am!) When you get to the top there's an area to rest and hang out. There's a creek or (lake?) area where we sat on the rocks and saw people float on by in their kayak's. People had their dogs out there as well if you have any doggies you want to bring along. The historic area is gorgeous and so fun for kids. You can see in the windows of some of the old establishments and my daughters thought they were on the set of a movie! It is a very nice area and I definitely recommend for a nature day with the family!

Historic, scenic, monumental. Fantastic area for family fun with a bit of education. Trails well maintained, features monument of James Marshall, pioneer cemetery, old church house, group picnic area (with well maintained restrooms) and access to Sutter's Mill.

Recently went here for a field trip with my son's class. It was very enjoyable, lots to see and learn. Our tour guide Ed was very knowledgeable and patiently answered all our kids questions, however silly they were. I highly recommend asking for him specifically if you have the chance. The kids did some panning, made a little leather pouch, and learned a lot. Overall fantastic!

As a relatively new resident of California, I found visiting this site to be very informative and fun. In a small but interactive area, you can learn a lot of history about the area and California more broadly. My girlfriend and I came on a summer weekend, and there were barely any people around. The indoor museum is small, and it is a must. I appreciate the angle it takes when discussing gold's impact on the Native Americans who were originally in the area. That thread is never lost throughout the exhibit, though in history, and often is. The large scale dioramas are entertaining but also very illustrative. It is definitely worth walking around outside as well. There are a lot of good examples of actual tools that were used for gold mining as well as the site where gold was discovered. You're truly walking into history. Well maintained and not commercialized.

California has had many histories, and one of them started in 1848 on This Spot. From Highway 49, you can see a replica of a big mill that stood on that spot. On the other side of that mill is the American River, where John Marshall found a yuge gold nugget. This started the Gold Rush, and 1-1/2 years later, California became a state. Several buildings from old Coloma are still standing, and can be viewed. This state park, however, is not restored the way Columbia was. Most of the buildings are gone, replaced by signs saying "Wells Fargo / the Monroe General Store / the Odd Fellows Hall stood here." So it doesn't have the same feel of living history that Columbia does. But you can still get a sense of what the area was like 150 years ago. The best of the lot is the one-room schoolhouse, which is furnished the same way as when students were last taught here in the 1950s. It doesn't take a lot of time to explore, and it's worth a short drop-in.

Even if you don't know much about or don't take a serious interest in the CA gold rush, this little state park is a nice excursion not far outside Sacramento. It's a quaint place with historic ruins (check out the jail) and a fabulous museum, especially for its size. Really--the life-size models are wonderful, and the staff is knowledgeable and engaging. Wander the grounds to find a replica of the old sawmill and the spot where gold was first discovered. Read up on the history of the town, the Native Americans who lived in the area (and worked mining gold--not by choice), the Chinese immigrants who mined and set up shop, etc. The old schoolhouse is neat, and there's a tiny shop that makes and serves pies. You can pan for gold on your own or with help. There was a rubber duck race and some vendors and a barbecue the day we chanced to visit, so check online for fun events. Also, this area of the American River is popular for kayakers and there are companies who do guided white water rafting tours.

Great piece of history to visit. A little bit of indoors with a lot of outdoors. Tip: if you go across the one lane bridge to pan for gold, buy your pans at the resort general store across the street. They're $3 cheaper there. Watch for bees crossing the bridge though. We got stung.

The people at the souvenir shop are really unwelcoming. Don't recommend. Skip this shop.

This is such a cool hidden gem. They do a fantastic job maintaining the park, accessible restrooms that are super clean, lots of hikes only limited by how much you want to explore, and plaques every few steps giving you the story start to finish. It's a great, covid safe, day trip

This where gold was discovered in 1848 before the great gold rush of 1849. Take a step back into history with interpreters giving gold panning lessons to telling the history of the Nissan to the Sutter's Mill and all kinds of history of the Gold Rush and the town of Coloma. The park itself is clean and beautiful while the bathrooms are immaculate this is a beautiful park to visit and enjoy

I came here with my daughters class on a Field Trip. What a great experience. Everyone was dressed up and it really looked like we walked back into the past. There was so much to learn and look at. My daughters favorite part was the gold mining. We were there for 3-4 hours and still didn't get to see everything they had. We'll definitely need to take another trip here so we can take our time and look at everything. They do have bathrooms in a few areas. I saw a snack bar area. You can bring in your own food. There are a lot of different areas were you can sit to eat for lunch.

What a gorgeous beautiful site! My hubby wanted to explore gold panning so I packed us a lunch picnic with snacks late October last year and what a treat I wasn't expecting! We parked and had to walk to the museum nearby to pay for parking so that we could place the ticket on the dashboard. I'm so glad we had to because we were able to walk along the way and visit the museum which had a great amount of valuable artifacts and interesting information about the town during the goldrush years. We were also able to walk into the gift store and visit the area nearby before walking to the American river to begin our gold panning. Next time we are going to come better prepared by wearing water shoes or flip flops/sandals, bringing a towel to dry off our feet and perhaps some portable chairs to lounge in with a shade cover since the sun was pretty hot and there wasn't a lot of shady areas. After a while our feet and legs got comfy with the cold water and my feet were happy walking along the tops of rocks in the river. There were numerous river rafters who were enjoying the day rafting along the river waving friendly hellos and all in happy cheers galore. Definitely river rafting is gonna be on our list to explore this coming spring, summer and autumn! The walk to our panning area was a treat in itself and I was so very Thankful that such a beautiful gorgeous place is available for us to enjoy. Hours on end one can enjoy the peace and quiet sounds of the river flowing along while truly enjoying the breathtaking views of this amazing scenic wonderland. There were numerous RVs campers parked along the river on the right side of us and we also noted there are mini cabins one can rent for overnights too! I ended up panning for gold just a while and ended up spending most of my time simply walking through the river and enjoying the stunning views. The hours passed very quickly and I am very much looking forward to exploring many more areas of this perfect creation.

James Marshall found gold here. Most of the men who came to Coloma were hoping that they would become rich. They worked hard and long hours in the cold rivers with the hot sun shinning down on them. If you've ever done gold panning you'll quickly see how after 30 minutes your back will become sore. We participated in the walking and the gold panning tour. The walking tour was so eduvational. You could walk around without the guide but it is sure nice to learn about the natives, James Marshall, and the plants growing here.We also ate at the Argonaut Farm to Fork Café which was very tasty. There is so much history here and so much to see. A lot of it is within walking distance but you do have to drive to see the church, James Marshall cabin, and the James Marshall monument.

Do it yourself state park. The museum is dated and minimal. The map of the park attractions is difficult to read and there few things to see require some walking around and exploration. That being said, my dad got us free day passes by being a disabled vet. I loved being in the river. So much so, that we came back a second day so I could keep panning for gold in their little gold panning beach. The water was cool and nice. Such a pretty spot. I also liked the Sutter's Mill spot and the jail. The post office was a real fully functional Post office and it was cool to go in and hand my postcards to the person inside. The blacksmith shop was cool with two people in there hammering away on stuff, like it wasn't 100+ degrees even with being next to a fiery forge. I also liked the Pioneet Cemetery and the Marshall monument.

Visiting this state park was a great experience. I grew up in Ohio and only moved out west four years ago, so I didn't learn any California history as a child. Now having visited this park, I know so much more about the discovery of gold here in 1848. It's so interesting that the discovery was accidental and lamented in some ways by Marshall and Sutter. They wanted to build a lumber business and just happened to find gold in the rocks as they were building the lumber mill. So much for their plans for a peaceful small community! My fiancé and his Sacramento-based family and I came here on a toasty summer Sunday afternoon. It was fun to watch the rafters and kayakers navigate the roaring river. We enjoyed walking on the trails and reading the informational signs. I wasn't wearing hiking appropriate shoes, but that was no problem on the finely crushed gravel trails. The female employee to whom we paid our $8 entrance fee at the North Beach parking lot was very friendly. The Gold Discovery Museum was good for a quick walk-through and to take a break from being outside in the sun and heat. There are lots of bathrooms, drinking fountains, and parking spots in the shade to be had. The water in the south fork of the American River was freezing and refreshing to the touch! As a child of the 1990s, I played so much of the Oregon Trail computer game that I just love seeing the covered wagon display and thinking about pioneer life. The only downside of our visit was that we could not walk down to the neat sign that had been constructed along the river in 1926. The heavy rains this winter and spring washed away the path to it, and we obeyed the signs that said "trail closed." I'd like to come here again with proper hiking shoes and gear to walk to the James Marshall Monument and to the lookout point (elevation 1,276 feet, says the park map).

Absolutely great place to visit. I cannot speak high enough about this historical state park and museum. I took both a class here and also came here by myself as just a historian enthusiast. From the blacksmith who shared fun stories about the iron counting candle and the S hooks he crafted to the area where one can mine for gold (the docent told me they put over 200 dollars of gold flakes into their mining troughs each week), it is worth the fun. The museum also holds some fascinating relics of the time, from a stage coach to Patti Reed's Doll amongst other Gold Rush and California settler historical pieces. Besides the mentioned about activities, the grounds are just gorgeous. For a parking fee of 8 bucks, you have access to all of the grounds. I recommend having a picnic outdoors and giving yourself time to explore the trails near the river on top of visiting the buildings. It is worth a day trip. It is family friendly and the docents are top notch. There wasn't a question I asked that wasn't answered. I highly recommend visiting here.

Cool park for some history. Definitely worth the $7 parking fee. Try to come when it's not hot. Unfortunately we came when it was like 100 degrees and we were dying but we enjoyed it anyways. It's actually like a whole little old time town. They also have a museum and a cafe (although the cafe was closed when we were there). I'm not a huge history buff but I enjoyed walking around looking at all the old stuff.

Great monument to one of Californias Pioneers. Beautiful well thought out monument in a location where it all began.

Due to heavy rains off and on since the New Year there were puddles and muck on paths. I recommend sturdy shoes in this type of weather, the hillsides were lovely and green, though. It was drizzling/sprinkling on the day of our visit. We still had fun though. Not overrun with people. Learned about the sight from volunteers in period apparel. I don't think this an everyday thing, I think it was a special event. Toured the mill worker or miner cabin, the Chinese store, the museum and another building. Thoughtful and informative displays appropriately placed around the site. You can learn about the native Americans who lived here, too.

This is such a neat little place to take the family for a day trip! Visiting Historic Coloma is like stepping back in time - so many of the relics form the gold rush still remain in this tiny town. Walking through he area you can visit any one of the small, clapboard buildings which host everything from the blacksmith to information on Chinese immigrants and their experiences. Unending photo ops and neat stuff to see. And they have hiking! A short 2.5 mile loop takes you to a confluence where two waterfalls combine. Absolutely gorgeous! So bring your good walking shoes and a camera (and perhaps a picnic lunch) and enjoy this charming little town!

I have been to this state park a few times and have always been impressed. There is much to learn and much to see. I took my boys on a walking tour today. $3/adults $2/kids. The price was well worth it for the hour tour. The tour guide turned on the working mill and the stamp press. We learned about the history of the natives and the gold discovery. The sticker kids receive with junior ranger program is slightly disappointing when compared to a national park's wood badge but it's a free program.

This is a must visit, since this was the birth of the California Gold rush. Only $5 to park and there is so much to see so pack a picnic. We elected the kids to go gold panning across the street from the museum for $7 . They got a lesson by the ranger and got 45 mins to pan. They were excited to get real gold. After that we signed up for the walking tour. Very affordable and we got lucky we were the only ones. We learned a whole lot.

We enjoyed the California History lesson and step back in time. The park and ranger staff were knowledgeable and helpful. Thank you!! We paid $7 to pan for gold and $3 for a guided tour led by a park ranger. Parking is $8. The machinery used for extracting gold, the history of the many people groups who settled here and learning their way of life made the trip worthwhile. Worthwhile visit.

As you pull into the town of Coloma- it's a historic little town with lots to explore, besides the museum there is a cafe and landmark park to enjoy. Now, something to know, if you park in the actual parking area, it does cost $8.00, however; it also covers the fee for the museum entrance. And we have a family of five and all it costs was that $8.00. There is additional free parking as an option- on the side of the street. The museum offers a lot of artifacts, realistic mahicans, reading material, and videos. The education was great and fulfilling. Now it is a smaller museum. The explore and walk around time was probably not more than about thirty minutes in total. Saying that, it's nothing extra and beyond, but for younger kids that don't understand as much and want to run around- than a place indoors (where they can't touch anything) like this- is a great idea. It's not too long for them. I would suggest it and but I think once is enough. I don't think we'll go here again, just the historical park nearby.

Great day trip for the family! This was an awesome state park that is free to attend - with only a small fee for parking. The area is beautiful right along the river and the part itself is just big enough to feel like there's a lot to do, and just small enough that you can do everything and not get worn out. It's absolutely worth a full day of exploration. I highly recommend walking around all the buildings, taking a jaunt around the big meadow, and hiking or driving up the hill to the monument - gorgeous views!

We have been coming to Coloma for years, and now we are bringing our kids here. It is such a timeless place to visit and something everyone should do while living here, or if you have time for some education in your visit. They have done a great job putting together exhibits, hands-on activities and keeping the park nice. The kids really enjoyed panning for gold and talking with the docents there, who are very acknowledgeable and do a great job talking with even the youngest kiddos. The area is beautiful for walking around, easy hiking, exploring and picnics. Definitely, plan to spend at least half a day there - 3 to 4 hours, pack and lunch and enjoy. There are some cute places to stop along the way if you are coming from some of the Sacramento suburbs.

I was a little disappointed with this place. We went on a Sunday and nearly everything was closed. The only thing that was open was the incredibly small museum with approximately two exhibits. The only employee working offered us a map of the surrounding area, but I wish she had informed us that nothing else was open. She did, however, inform us that it cost $8.00 for parking. We paid before I knew that absolutely everything was closed, so that was kind of a bummer. Directly across the street, there is river access, which was the best part. Saw multiple people tubing, swimming, camping, and of course panning for gold. I wish I would have known that everything was going to be closed before driving out here. Would have loved to explore more and learn about all of the gold rush history.

News Flash!!!! After many years of planning the small museum at the Park is now a reality. Many items from the State Collection Center are now on display. As you walk into the room you are facing a Concord Stagecoach, the only one still in existence. There are numerous items on display such as two black powder rifles that were actually owned by James Marshall, the man who started the Gold Rush. The other exhibits include Chinese and Native American Artifacts, old photos of Coloma, wine bottle from one of the first wineries in Calif., gold mining equipment, and several audio visual displays. The official opening has not taken place, but if you ask nicely at the desk you will probably be allowed to visit.

I love going up here and relax kids can go swimming and we can go on a hike and look at how things used to be very historical learning experience. you can go gold panning there's a little café and ice cream had the best white mocha at the café

Wow what a great day. Great walk through the museum and grounds. Would really recomend this for a great day trip. Pack a picnic and enjoy your lunch along the river.

It does cost $8/car to park, but the upside is you can use the same pass throughout the day at other state parks that charge by the car. We used it at the Emigrant Trail Museum (Donner Pass) earlier in the day. The museum here is probably a 3 star. It does have some interesting info but it's quite small. What we really enjoyed was driving around to the different areas of interest in town such as Sutter's Mill site, the Mining ditches, James Marshall's cabin, jail ruins, etc. You could walk this, but it was 106 while we were there, so driving was more enjoyable. You can see it all in about 1 1/2 hours.

Check out the museum..it has a/c and free wifi!  Great little park to kill a couple hours and enjoy a picnic.  There is a nice little snack shack on the river side of the road. Test your wilderness lore by finding edible plants, berries, and nuts.  We found over 15 on a short walk to the river! Lots of cool old buildings and exhibits to see.  A little piece of California history!

***************************** 1,043 ******************************* Think of California Gold Rush era, it started here in 1840s, where James Marshall discovered gold nuggets along this South Fork American River in Coloma, CA and the rest is history. Amazingly that later in his life, he died as a near poverty man. I love coming here, the entire park is peaceful, so rich in history, the State of California has done an amazing job to keep this lively for children and generations to come. There's a blacksmith house there with a real blacksmith, he shown us how they do things then. The actual El Dorado Hills County jail, the post office, the museum, the guide, the mills, and the educational sessions for kids and adult about searching for gold nuggets. The museum is expanding and the project should be complete later 2014, I'm looking forward to see that new building to be up. Along the river, you can chill, and have a picnic with your love ones after a morning for learning about history. I, on the other hand, love to run along the river, and stop in for some sight seeing and people watching. Taken back in time, peaceful, and away from my hustling city life. It's 1 of my getaway town. It's great for couple to getaway and perfect for family with young children 6 and over, it's a great place to spend with your family, and you can do a day trip here from the Bay Area, affordable, educational, and beautiful nature got to offer.

This is a fun place to stop with the kids and learn about the gold rush. The cost is $8 per vehicle. Most of the exhibits are outside and/or accessible from walking paths that are partially shaded. It was ideal for my rambunctious toddler. Unfortunately, many of the outdoor informational displays are faded and need to be restored. The indoor museum itself was well maintained and air-conditioned which is really nice because this area is pretty hot in the summer. Many picnic tables are available some with grills. There was a beautiful Clydesdale horse giving rides in a carriage. The price was $10 per family or group. The ride was one of the highlights of my toddler's trip to gold country. I have to admit, it was pretty fun. Gold panning and other kid friendly activities are available. Most of the activities close up by three so plan to visit the park in the morning to enjoy all it has to offer.