Sierra Nevada Mountains - Seize the Sierra

The spectacular ‘Unfenced Gold Country'.

Think the best family vacations revolve around theme parks or resorts that take care of the kids? It's time to get outside and hook into some real family time. I guarantee your kids won't miss the roller coasters when faced with the natural wonders of Tuolumne County on the southwestern side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. As one of millions of visitors each year, I felt welcomed by the down-home comforts and the same air of adventure hopeful gold miners felt 150 years ago.

Known as “The Great Unfenced,” Tuolumne County encompasses several thousand square miles of wide-open wilderness, with elevations ranging from 1,400 feet in Jamestown to almost 10,000 feet at Sonora Pass. With fewer than 60,000 residents peppered across the sweeping landscape, it's one of the least populated (and most geographically beautiful) areas in California. Rolling grasslands, rising foothills and, of course, the majestic mountains of Yosemite make breathtaking vistas just another item on your daily agenda. I love that it doesn't matter what season you visit; there's fun for the whole family - for real.

What you will love most about Tuolumne County is that it doesn't fit neatly into one season. Even the most unimaginative can find something to do here year round, and if you're an outdoor adventurist, welcome to a world without limits.

Spring - The best time of year to pan for gold, spring is also one of the prettiest times to explore this part of the country. And since the ice has melted and the weather is stable, it's also the safest.

Summer - Yosemite steals the show in the summer, but don't stop there. Tuolumne has so much more to offer travelers.

Autumn - There's nothing finer than hot apple pie on a crisp autumn day. Throw in a ghost and a living museum, and you have the perfect autumn adventure.

Winter - Instead of flocking to a beach this winter, check out the pristine peaks in Tuolumne. You'll be hooked with your first visit.

Tuolumne County isn't what most people imagine when they think of California, but
it's all about exploring. A simple promise brought prospectors here originally, but that promise still lingers in the air, teasing and tempting. Are there things still worth discovering here? You will think so too, but maybe you should find out for yourself.