Things You'll Need:
- Time and money to visit Auburn
- Maps
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Step 1
The town itself was named Auburn in 1849, but had been settled before the California Gold Rush, by hunters and trappers. But few of them stayed past a season or two until gold was discovered nearby. Prior to the hunters and trappers were Nisenan Indians, a southern linguistic group of the Maidu Tribe who built several Nisenan villages in the Auburn area..
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Step 2
Spend some time in Historic Old Town Auburn sight-seeing, shopping, and dining in some of their eateries. On Saturdays in the summer, there is a farmer’s market from 8am to 1pm, and the docents from the Auburn County Museum Docent Guild hold a one-hour tour starting at 10am. It starts at the Courthouse Museum and takes you to places like the Waddles Meat Market, the Claude Chana Statue and Fire House Number II in addition to other interesting places. On Main Street you’ll still see the iron rings imbedded into hand hewn curb stones used to secure the horses of people coming to town to shop and run errands. You’ll stop at the oldest post office in California and discover that it’s still in use. One local storyteller claims the façade still holds bullets shot at “Rattlesnake Dick,” a local outlaw.
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Step 3
Find current activities and events are going on in Old Town Auburn during your visit. In addition to the weekly farmer’s market held from spring to fall, there is a St. Patrick’s Day Parade in March, a Cinco de Mayo Celebration and the annual Antiques Street Fair every May. The 4th of July means a pancake breakfast and kid’s games and activities and every August is their sidewalk sale. October brings a one day Fall Antique Street Fair and in December there are two dates for the annual Country Christmas. Carpe Vino also holds several special winemaker dinners throughout the year. (See below)
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Step 4
Be sure to stop in at the Auburn Old Town Gallery where over 50 local artists display and sells works in various medias. Each artist is expected to work a certain amount of time every month, so you’ll have the opportunity to meet some of them while you’re there. They’re usually open until 9pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights but check their website at www.auburnoldtowngallery.com for details.
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Step 5
Make sure you visit the local candy stores. Box Office Candies features licorice, the old fashioned kind and delicious, and so are the hand-made chocolates which are available by the pound or individual pieces. They’re inside Serendipity on Sacramento Street. If you’re a cat lover like me, you’ll want to visit Catterfly – they carry purr-fectly adorable gift items and treats for your feline friends. Their website is www.catterfly.com.
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Step 6
Do a bit of wine-tasting while you in the area. Sample wines at Carpe Vino on Lincoln Street. The name means “to seize the wine.” It’s located at the original site of the Union Saloon in a building 150 years old. In 1932, the period bar from the saloon was purchased the American’s Sweetheart, Mary Pickford, as a gift for her husband, Douglas Fairbanks. The mahogany bar, complete with a brass rail on the top and another as the foot rail, was dissembled, shipped to their home, Pickfair, and set up in the basement. It was a Christmas gift for Douglas Fairbanks. For more details on their 400+ wines and tasting hours, visit www.carpevinoauburn.com.
Check out the Green Family Winery also. They offer fine wines made from locally grown Syrah and Barbera grapes. Look for their wines in local restaurants. The tasting room is usually open Thursdays to Sundays but check their website at www.greenfamilywinery.com to be sure. -
Step 7
Make time for other activities also. There is a lot to do in and around Auburn. World class rafting, kayaking, and fishing on the American River are a mere 30-minute drive away. There are several golf courses nearby, facilities for horse back riding, and trails for hiking and mountain biking. You can also go gold panning in the area. Thundervalley Casino is about 15 minutes away.
