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Auburn, California: Where Fun is Always in Season – The Best Places to Visit and Things to Do!

The Historic Auburn Courthouse was built right back in 1898 and the whole of it is still standing out there. Old Town Auburn keeps the historic buildings and the shops from the whole of the Gold Rush era out there. The Auburn State Recreation Area out there covers over 42,000 whole acres of the ground. Auburn itself was founded right back in the year 1848. Still here.

Auburn, California sits in Placer County and most of what made it is still standing. History, outdoors, food, art or shopping, Auburn kept a version of each.

A Glimpse Into Auburn’s History. Auburn goes back to the Gold Rush era and the evidence has not been cleared away. Old Town Auburn still holds the historic buildings and the shops and the museums. The Placer County Courthouse was built in 1898 and it now houses a museum on the history of the area.

Exploring the Great Outdoors. Auburn sits inside parks and hiking trails, the Auburn State Recreation Area among them, and that one runs over 100 miles of trail for hiking and biking and horseback riding. Kayaking and rafting run on the American River. The historic Auburn-Folsom Road takes the scenic drive.

Key Takeaways

• Auburn, California offers a wide variety of activities and attractions for visitors of all ages.
• History buffs can explore the town’s past at Old Town Auburn and the Placer County Courthouse museum.
• Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy hiking, biking, kayaking, and more in Auburn’s beautiful parks and trails.

A Glimpse Into Auburn’s History

Auburn, California has a history that stayed put. Here is the short version of what is still here.

Auburn was founded in 1848 during the Gold Rush era. The city was named for the Auburn Ravine, which still runs through the area. The Gold Rush brought people in fast and Auburn became a hub for gold mining in the region.

The Historic Auburn Courthouse is the landmark that outlasted everything around it. Built in 1898, it served as the Placer County Courthouse until 1965. It is now a California Historical Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The neoclassical architecture is worth the walk on its own.

Old Town Auburn is where the history is still standing rather than displayed. The historic buildings and the shops there give you the Gold Rush era as it was lived, and some of the city’s oldest buildings are among them.

Auburn’s history is a real part of California’s past. Gold mining, architecture or the region in general, the town has kept enough of it to answer the question.

Exploring the Great Outdoors

You are in Auburn, California and you want the outdoors. There is plenty of it. A slow walk or something that gets the heart going, both are here.

The American River is the most popular outdoor ground in the area. The water runs clear and the views hold, which is why locals and visitors both end up on it. Swim it, fish it, or take it by raft or kayak. Wear a life jacket.

For a scenic hike, take Lake Clementine. Trails run around the lake with views out to the mountains and forests. The Lake Clementine Trail is the one to walk, and it takes you to the top of a waterfall with the lake below.

For biking, the Auburn State Recreation Area is the place. With over 100 miles of trails there is a route at every skill level. The Quarry Road Trail is the popular one and it is a hard ride with real views off it.

For wildlife, take the Hidden Falls Trail. Deer and foxes turn up along it, and the occasional bear. Keep a safe distance and leave them their space.

Horse trails run through the area as well. Mountain bikers do well here too, and the trails in the Auburn State Recreation Area carry some of the strongest mountain biking in the region.

Whatever you take, take the views and the air with it. Auburn, California holds up for anybody who likes being outside.

Food and Drink Adventures

You are in Auburn, California and you want to eat and drink well. Auburn has the rooms for it.

Start with wine. Auburn holds several wineries and the Placer County Wine and Ale Trail is the way through them, running out across the countryside where the local wine is made. Carpe Vino is the fine-dining room with the long wine list on it.

For beer, Auburn is covered. The Auburn Alehouse pours some of the strongest craft beer in town. Knee Deep Brewing Company is the more adventurous one, known for bold and flavorful beer that does the work.

Now the food. The bacon-wrapped dates at Machado’s are sweet and savory at once and they are the reason people go. For fine dining, Carpe Vino is the room. The menu changes regularly and the ingredients are fresh.

For something casual, the Auburn Alehouse again. The menu runs classic pub fare, burgers and fries among it. A live band turns up often enough to be a possibility.

Auburn, California eats well. Wine, beer or a proper meal, it is all here. Go and work through it.

Art and Culture in Auburn

Art and culture, then. You are in Auburn, California, where both run as thick as the gold once did in these hills.

Museums first. There is the Gold Rush Museum, the Joss House Museum and the Bernhard Museum. All three are full of history and artifacts that make you stop and reconsider how people used to live.

Auburn also runs the Auburn Old Town Gallery, showing the work of local artists, and you can buy a piece and take it home. Time it right and the Auburn Symphony will be performing.

Do not stop at the obvious art and culture stops. Walk the historic walking areas and take the atmosphere. For specialty museums, take the Harriet Tubman House or the William Seward House.

There is more here than one visit will hold. That is fine. Auburn is not going anywhere.

The Auburn State Recreation Area runs over 100 miles of the trail out there for the hiking and the biking. The Quarry Road Trail is the hard ride out there and the views off it hold the whole way. The Lake Clementine Trail climbs right up to the top of a waterfall out there. The ground has not changed.

Shopping Spree in Auburn

Shoppers do well in Auburn, California. The options run from boutiques through to antique stores.

Start in Old Town Auburn, a shopping district that puts contemporary shops alongside historic landmarks. Clothing, jewelry, home decor and the rest are all in there. Stop and eat at one of the restaurants while you are at it.

For something more specific, take the Old Auburn Historic District. Several antique stores run there, with vintage pieces worth the search. Specialty stores sell handmade soaps and artisanal cheeses and organic produce.

For the freshest produce and locally-made goods, take the PlacerGROWN Farmers’ Market. It runs every Saturday morning and it is the place to stock up on fruits and vegetables and locally sourced goods. Handmade crafts and artisanal products, jams and honey and baked goods among them, sit alongside.

A new outfit, an antique or fresh produce, Auburn covers all three. Take the wallet and work through it.

Recreational Activities

Auburn runs plenty for a day out with friends. These are the options.

For skateboarding, the Auburn Skate Park. It is a good place to work on your moves in front of your friends, and it costs nothing to use.

For fishing, the Auburn State Recreation Area. The park runs several lakes and streams to cast into. Carry a valid fishing license.

For camping, the nearby campgrounds. Spend the night out and wake up to the scenery of the western states.

For golf, the Ridge Golf Course runs lessons and a course that tests you. It fills a day with friends and it works on your swing.

For a day trip, rent a boat and take the nearby lakes. Whitewater rafting is the harder version of the same day.

And no trip to Auburn is finished without panning for gold. Take the historic mining towns and see what the gravel gives up.

Whatever the interest, Auburn has a version of it. Take your friends and use the day.

Auburn’s Unique Attractions

Auburn, California keeps attractions you will not get elsewhere. Bird sanctuaries through to wine trails. These are the ones that only exist here.

Park Victorian

Park Victorian is the unusual place to stay. This historic bed and breakfast sits in the heart of Auburn and puts modern amenities inside a Victorian building. The restored rooms and gardens are the reason to book it.

Lone Buffalo Vineyards

Lone Buffalo Vineyards is the one for wine. This family-owned winery works in Rhône-style wines. The tasting room sits in a barn on the property, with the Sierra Foothills out through the doors.

Overlook Park

Overlook Park is where the views over Auburn are. The park sits at the top of a hill looking out over the city and the American River Canyon. It takes a picnic and it takes a sunset.

The California Club

The California Club is the one for history. This private club was established in 1888 and has been a gathering place for the elite of California ever since. Historical artifacts and memorabilia fill it, the flags of all 50 states among them.

Auburn State Recreation Area

The Auburn State Recreation Area is the outdoor one. This park covers over 42,000 acres and runs hiking, biking, camping and fishing. It is where you get away from the noise of a city and into the natural country of the West Coast.

Bird Sanctuary

For the quiet version, the Auburn Bird Sanctuary. This 80-acre park holds over 100 species of birds and it is set up for birdwatching and nature walks. It is where the week slows down.

Auburn, California carries more of its own attractions than towns twice the size. Wine, history or the outdoors, there is a version here. Pack the bags, book a room at the Holiday Inn Auburn, and go.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the scoop on Auburn’s shopping scene?

You will not find high-end designer stores in Auburn, and the shopping is still worth doing. Historic Old Town Auburn is where to start, on the strength of its boutiques and antique shops. For mainstream stores, the Auburn Town Center holds Target and Ross.

Any hidden gems in Auburn’s restaurant scene?

The Auburn Alehouse is the local favorite, for the craft beer and the pub fare. The Monkey Cat Restaurant is the other one, a fine dining room with a menu built on locally sourced ingredients.

Is Auburn’s state recreation area worth a visit?

It is. The Auburn State Recreation Area runs over 30 miles of trails for hiking and biking and horseback riding. The American River takes the water half of it, with swimming and fishing and kayaking.

What are the must-see museums in Auburn?

The Placer County Museum sits in the historic courthouse and covers local history. The Bernhard Museum Complex is the other one, with exhibits on early California life. For something different, the Gold Country Medical History Museum covers the history of medicine in the region.

What are some fun things to do in Auburn for a day trip?

Start with historic Old Town Auburn for the shopping and the sightseeing. Take the Auburn State Recreation Area for the outdoor half of the day. Finish at one of the restaurants or breweries in town.

What’s a quirky fact about Auburn that most people don’t know?

Auburn was once home to a large Chinese population during the Gold Rush era. The historic Chinese Quarter in Old Town Auburn is one of the few remaining Chinese settlements in California from that period.

Frequently asked questions about Auburn, California

What is still standing in Old Town Auburn, California?

Old Town Auburn holds the historic buildings and the shops from the whole of the Gold Rush era out there. The Historic Auburn Courthouse was built in 1898 and it served as the whole Placer County Courthouse until 1965. The historic Chinese Quarter out there is one of the very few left in the whole of California. Walk it.

How many miles of trail are in the Auburn State Recreation Area?

The Auburn State Recreation Area runs over 100 miles of the trail out there for the hiking and the biking. The park itself covers over 42,000 whole acres of the ground right around Auburn out there. Horseback riding and camping and fishing all run inside the whole of it as well. Quarry Road.

Which museums in Auburn cover the Gold Rush history?

The Placer County Museum sits inside the historic courthouse out there and it covers the whole of the local history. The Gold Rush Museum and the Joss House Museum and the Bernhard Museum all sit out there too. The Bernhard Museum Complex runs the exhibits on the whole of early California life. Start right there.

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