Team: Snap Happy (Jen, Chrissie and Mallory)
Team Member: Jennifer
Location: Columbia, CA
Photo credit: Roy Vogel
Columbia is a former California Gold Rush boom town that lives on as a state-preserved historic park and a National Historic Landmark that preserves the original, gold-rush-town flavor of the town, once dubbed the "Gem of the Southern Mines." Founded in 1850 by Mexican gold miners, it is in Tuolumne County, California, United States.
Today Columbia is unique in California. It's a state park but it's also a living community. Original buildings with their iron doors have been restored. There are guided tours, stage coach rides, live theatre, horseback riding, gold panning, restaurants, shopping and two 1850's era saloons. Because Columbia State Park is also a town, admission is free and it's open 365 days of the year. To pass up Columbia would be to pass up perhaps the best opportunity to see how life really was here in the wild west.
Hubby and I visited on a very hot Friday. It's a pleasant place to visit but I would recommend waiting for a spring or fall day.
