Hotel at a Glance: City Hotel in Columbia State Historic Park

City Hotel is a bit of a misnomer since the 19th-century hotel is actually at the gateway to Yosemite National Park. Surrounded by the natural beauty of the Sierra Nevadas and Stanislaus National Forest, you’ll find plenty of adventure right out the hotel’s front door. It’s also surrounded by history: the hotel is part of the Columbia State Historic Park, which is dedicated to preserving the history of the gold rush.

• Period decor includes floral wallpaper, elegant cabriole sofas, and tall, dark-wood headboards that are intricately carved.
• On a rainy day, play a board game or peruse the bookshelves in the parlor.
• Enjoy your morning coffee on the shared balcony.
• Sip local vintages while beefing up your cooking skills at the Yankee Hill Winery and Cooking School (3 min. drive away).

Columbia, California: Historic Gold-Rush Town and Gateway to Yosemite

The California Gold Rush put Columbia on the map—literally. From the 1850s to the 1870s, the mines nearby produced more than $87 million in gold and turned the town from a swath of wilderness to a booming community. Thanks to the preservation efforts of Columbia State Historic Park, it still looks much as it did in the old days. Cars aren’t allowed on Main Street; you’ll have to take a stroll or catch a ride on a stagecoach. Preserved wooden storefronts house shops where you can buy cowboy boots and old-fashioned candies, pan for gold, or don period costumes to take an old-timey photo.

Columbia’s location in the Sierra Nevada foothills makes it a great home base for adventure. Drive about 70 minutes to reach the hiking trails and waterfalls of Yosemite National Park or about 40 minutes to walk in the shadows of giant sequoias in Calaveras Big Trees State Park. To up the octane, book a whitewater rafting trip along the thundering Merced River.

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