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Nestled in California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range, Tuolumne County might just be the Golden State’s best-kept secret

Getty Images/Gallo Images
Getty Images/Gallo Images

What to see

(Alamy Stock Photo)
(Alamy Stock Photo)

Swing by Sonora, a pretty and bustling Gold Rush-era town, on Saturday for the farmers’ market, then go for a tour and tasting at nearby Indigeny Reserve, where hand-crafted cider is made. Jamestown — a 15 minute drive from Twain Harte, five from Sonora — is also a must, thanks to the Railtown 1897 State Historic Park, where you can ride on a turn-of-the-century steam locomotive. Kitsch-lovers might also consider a visit to the 1859 Historic National Hotel, where very little has changed since, you guessed it, 1859.

Where to day trip

(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

The northern half of Yosemite National Park lies within eastern Tuolumne. If you don’t fancy navigating the mountain roads, there’s a Yarts bus between Jamestown and the Yosemite Visitor Center, a great base for tackling famous hikes including the Half Dome Trail and the Yosemite Falls Trail. Yes, the park is crowded but the vastness of the landscape is magical. Get the earliest bus to allow for maximum hiking time.

Getting there

(Getty Images/imageBROKER RM)
(Getty Images/imageBROKER RM)

Alice-Azania flew with Aer Lingus. One-way fares from London to San Francisco from £229. She was a guest of McCaffrey House Bed & Breakfast Inn (rooms from £120; mccaffreyhouse.com) and 1859 Historic National Hotel (rooms from £107; national-hotel.com). Car hire was provided by Hertz. Seven days’ one-way car hire from San Francisco to LA from £327 (hertz.co.uk).

Where to visit

Tuolumne (pronounced ‘too-ah-lum-ee’) is a picturesque drive from San Francisco — think golden plains followed by deep forests. Still, it’s worth spending a night or two in San Fran (or nearby Sausalito) to recover after the flight. Both are accessible from the airport by taxi, so you can return to pick up your hire car (a mid-size SUV is recommended) on the day you’re hitting the road.

Where to stay

Michael and Stephanie McCaffrey are Tuolumne celebrities — and after visiting their B&B, just outside Twain Harte, you will see why. It isn’t only the charming property — a kind of giant chalet in the forest — or the indulgent breakfasts. What makes McCaffrey House Bed & Breakfast special is the warmth of Michael and Stephanie. It’s brilliantly located — a 15-minute drive from Sonora, and two hours from Yosemite. Michael is an authority on the latter.

Where to eat

A Friday night tucking into ribs on the deck of Twain Harte’s The Rock pub while a band plays Americana is the stuff of dreams. The Standard Pour in Sonora serves delicious classics. And don’t miss taking a picnic to Eproson Park.