The U.S. is home to many towns shaped by the 19th-century gold rush, from Groveland, an underrated gateway to Yosemite National Park , to Nevada City, a perfect alternative to Napa Valley . Many of these towns can be found on Highway 49—the "Mother Lode" route , named after the 49ers, gold hunters who flocked to California in the mid-1800s.

The frenzy of the California Gold Rush began in 1848 after a carpenter discovered gold in Coloma, CA, by chance. The town immediately became a bustling hub for fortune-seekers and miners who worked all day on the nearby riverbanks. Today, Coloma is a quiet town frozen in time and surrounded by natural beauty.

Relics of the gold rush remain well-preserved in Coloma, making it a quaint historic spot. But there's more to this little town. Nestled

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