Daffodil Hill

Enjoy 4 acres of daffodils with over 300,00 bulbs at this beautiful private farm in Volcano . The season opens Mid-March through Mid-April (weather dependent). The hours are 9-5 daily when open. To visit call the Chamber of Commerce at 209-223-0350 to verify opening and closing dates.

Wine Tasting and Picnics

Amador County is home to more than 20 wineries. The fertile Shenandoah Valley and the Sierra foothills have the ideal soil and climate for growing many varietals. Zinfandels are particularly noteworthy here. The scenic rural country roads and the winery tasting rooms are, for the most part, uncrowded and peaceful, providing a relaxing unhurried atmosphere where you often meet the winemakers personally. Many of the wineries have picnic areas with vistas of the vineyards and rolling hills. The Amador Vintner's Association has maps and details on each winery. More wineries are a short drive away in El Dorado and Calaveras County.

Gold Fever

Try your hand at gold panning in the heart of the Mother Lode. Recently opened for above and below ground mining tours - the Sutter Gold Mine, located on Highway 49 between Amador City and Sutter Creek. Ride one of their boss buggies right into the mine! Only 1/4 mile from Amador City. Call for hours. Visit the historic Kennedy Gold Mine in Jackson for self-guided surface tours. Season is mid-March through October, weekends only. For information and tour reservations call 209-223-9542.

Feeling lucky

Open 24 hours a day the Jackson Rancheria features a deluxe Hotel, Casino and Cabaret. (209) 223-1677

Enjoy a variety of exciting regional acts on the Cabaret Stage. Relax at the Jackson Rancheria Hotel which offers four luxurious suites as well as 40 Deluxe Guest Rooms and 58 Standard Rooms. If gaming is your pleasure, you'll be certain to find excitement in the Jackson Rancheria's fabulous casino.

History

Many of the cities in Amador County have maps to self-guided historic Walking Tours. Several museums are of interest: Amador County Museum in Jackson (209) 223-6386; Amador Whitney Museum about women and their contribution to the Mother Lode in Amador City  (open weekends 12-4); the Chew Kee store in Fiddletown, a Chinese rammed earth building (209) 223-4131; Monteverde General Store in Sutter Creek, a turn of the century country store (209) 267-5647; and the Shenandoah Valley Museum at Sobon Winery in Plymouth, open 10-5 daily. Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park has a Miwok village, trails and a museum - call (209) 296-7488.

Recreation

Kirkwood Ski Resort, offering some of the finest downhill and cross country skiing in the Lake Tahoe Area, is at the north end of Amador County, an easy drive "up-country", (209-258-6000).

There are many lakes in the area - Lake Amador, Lake Camanche, Pardee Lake are noted for fishing. Gently rolling hills and country roads provide many opportunities for hiking and biking.

For tee times, there are two golf courses- Castle Oaks in Ione (209-274-0167) and Mace Meadows in Pioneer (209-295-7020).

Live Theater

Enjoy plays, movies and varied entertainment at the nearby Sutter Creek Theatre. The Volcano Theater Company plays on selected Fri-Sat-Sundays April through November in the Cobblestone Theatre or their outdoor amphitheater (a great spot for pre-performance picnics!). For tickets call Home Sweet Home at (209) 223-4663; info call 296-2525.

After nine very successful years based at Sutter Creek Theatre, award-winning MAIN STREET THEATRE WORKS now performs dinner theatre at Daffodils restaurant in Sutter Creek, while they work to build a summer production amphitheater in co-operation with the Kennedy Mine Foundation. Planning to open July 2004. For info, call Susan McCandless, Artistic Director, at (209)-295-4499.