DAY ONE: Elk Grove

In the heart of California, Elk Grove is nestled between wine country and the waterways of the California Delta. A tech-savvy city with a small-town feel, Elk Grove is diverse, inviting, and never too busy for the finer things in life.

Known for intimate ambiance, the Boulevard Bistro offers a  fine dining experience in the heart of Historic Main Street. Guests can also enjoy a curated selection of local Christopher Cellars wines, perfectly paired with each dish.

Chef Marie of Todo Un Poco Bistro fuses Mexican and Italian flavors into inventive dishes like Chicken Mole Tortellini and Punjabi Pizza. Todo Un Poco’s farm-to-fork philosophy is exemplified through their partnership with Cliff’s Garden, just a few miles from the bistro.

McConnell Estates Winery is an award-winning, family-owned and operated winery in Elk Grove. For six generations, the Wackman family has farmed the land just north of the Cosumnes River, with the fifth and sixth generations now producing 20+ estate-grown wines. 

Sheldon Inn Restaurant & Bar pairs historic charm with modern American cuisine. On-site, guests can visit the intimate Adkins Family Winery and uncover the hidden speakeasy, Velvet Martini. 

Dragon Beaux at Sky River Casino serves as a gathering place to enjoy Cantonese roast meats and traditional Chinese cooking.

Local tip: 

Step back in time at the Elk Grove Stage & Shop Museum, a preserved 19th-century stage stop that once served travelers along the historic route. 

DAY TWO: Calaveras County

The Calaveras Wine Region, centered around Murphys, offers more than 30 boutique wineries, most with tasting rooms in a walkable downtown setting. Local chefs lean into what the region grows — olive oil, honey, stone fruit, heirloom vegetables, and grass-fed meats. But there’s more than wine here!

Hinterhaus Distillery is named in honor of the hinterland at its doorstep – the vast Sierra Nevada wilderness that has long beckoned explorers and adventurers to this breathtaking mountain range. 

Posterity Ciderworks is a husband-wife owned cidery based in Mokelumne Hill. Their natural ciders appear on James Beard and Michelin Star award-winning beverage lists throughout California. 

The Watering Hole offers 40 rotating taps and eight retail doors of bottled beer, with emphasis on hard-to-find beers, Belgian styles, and the best of American craft beer. However, if you are looking for a simple, easy-going pint of beer, they will have that too. 

Avellino Italian Bar & Market is a fun and casual gathering spot to meet for a drink, share a bite, and bring home a delicious dinner for the family!  Pop in for a quick gelato & espresso or savor a bottle of Italian wine with a beautiful charcuterie plate!

V Restaurant, Bistro & Bar offers European inspired American cuisine focusing on freshness as well as creativity. As one of the most romantic restaurants in Calaveras, V Restaurant, Bistro & Bar is a top choice for your Ultimate Romantic Winter Getaway itinerary. Bon A-petite!

Local Tip:

The Ironstone Heritage Museum was established as a tribute to the Miwok people who inhabited the area before the mass influx of miners. The centerpiece of the museum is the largest crystalline gold leaf specimen ever found in the Mother Lode. At a massive 44 pounds in size, the “Gold Pocket” is 98% pure gold.

DAY THREE: Tuolumne County

Tuolumne County is an under-the-radar food destination where Sierra adventure meets local flavor. It’s authentic: mountain towns, family farms, creative chefs, and a community that truly cares about what’s on your plate. The county’s food scene connects directly to its land and history — think apple ranches, mountain orchards, and gold-rush-era saloons turned gastropubs.

Get your sugar fix at The Sugar Shack  House made Pastries, delicious coffee and full Espresso Bar. Handmade breakfast and lunch. 

The Branch Twain Harte offers private chef experiences and pop up dining opportunities unlike any other. Using bright flavors with fresh locally sourced ingredients the Branch is an experience for your tastebuds. 

Nestled in the heart of Columbia State Historic Park, The Columbia City Hotel Restaurant first opened in 1856. Today the restaurant features an elevated menu rooted in traditional American cuisine showcasing locally sourced produce. 

The Steam Donkey Restaurant and Bar is the on-site restaurant at Pinecrest Lake Resort and the menu is sure to tempt your taste buds. Featuring items such as Rack of Lamb, Rib Eye Steaks, Filet Mignon, Grilled Salmon, Duck, Teriyaki Chicken, juicy burgers, and sumptuous salads all created in one of the smallest commercial kitchens you’ve ever seen! 

Perch at Chicken Ranch Casino Resort’s unique blend of American fusion and elevated flavors will leave you on cloud nine. Upscale atmosphere with incredible views, tantalizing courses, and a cocktail list that’ll make you fluff your feathers; come find out what all the chirping’s about.

Local Tip:

A fully restored 19th-century theater inside the historic Fallon Hotel in Columbia State Historic Park offers dramas and vaudeville-style performances by the Sierra Repertory Theatre. It’s intimate, atmospheric, and wonderfully old-timey — you can even stay overnight upstairs in the hotel’s period-decorated rooms for the full experience.

DAY FOUR: Mariposa County

Mariposa County, home to much of Yosemite National Park, offers a rich and emerging culinary landscape that blends Gold Rush era roots, Sierra Foothills agriculture, and a dose of modern creativity. The county benefits from its position between the Central Valley’s abundant farmland and the Sierra’s cooler foothills, allowing chefs to access fresh produce, heirloom apples, specialty honey, and other regional ingredients.

The Grove House is a lively gastropub and music venue offering a rotating farm-to-table menu, craft beers and wines, and a vibe that blends local culture with culinary quality. 

A polished fine-dining option in the heart of downtown Mariposa, Fredrick’s of Savourys’ menu features “elevated foothill dining” – steaks, seafood and pasta in an elegant atmosphere.

A family-owned eatery and brewery that’s built around burgers, beer and local ingredients, 1850 Restaurant and Brewery has a creative menu and solid brew list. Their “Bootjack” burger with smoked bacon and onion rings pairs perfectly with one of their house beers. 

The crown jewel of Yosemite dining, the award-winning dining room at the Ahwahnee Hotel is both magnificent and intimate. The 34-foot-high beamed ceiling, floor-to-ceiling windows, chandeliers, linen tablecloths and beautiful heritage table settings create the perfect ambiance for a memorable dining experience. 

Local Tip:

The Yosemite Climbing Association Gallery and Museum to be regaled with stories of boldness and bravery high up on Yosemite’s famous cliffs. Explore climbing gear from the first ascents of El Capitan and other Yosemite big walls. Learn how the pioneers of Yosemite’s vertical terrain invented some of the legendary gear to make those ascents possible.

DAY FIVE: Madera County

Nestled at the southern entrance to Yosemite National Park, Madera County is not only a gateway to natural wonder, but also a destination for food lovers who appreciate fresh, locally sourced cuisine with authentic roots. The region’s deep agricultural heritage means chefs have direct access to farm-fresh figs, almonds, grapes, honey and seasonal produce.

The Madera Wine Trail, one of California’s oldest wine-grape growing regions, is Yosemite’s “best-kept secret” for wine lovers. Madera Wine Country features 10 award-winning, family-owned wineries. One of these establishments, the Idle Hour Winery + Kitchen, features wines produced with sustainably grown grapes, native yeasts, and traditional methods. The winery has been repeatedly honored with medals at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

If wine isn’t for you, Oakhurst Spirits uses premium grains from local farmers to create its small-batch spirits, including brandy, gin, vodka, and smooth whiskeys. The leftover grain mash is returned to the farms for animal feed, a process the owner calls “farm-to-table and back-to-farm again.”

South Gate Brewing Company in Oakhurst serves farm-fresh food and microbrews. Their 1864 Amber Lager is brewed with hops from Yosemite’s Wawona region, making it a truly local beer.

After sampling the region’s wine, spirits and craft beer, dine in style at Château du Sureau. The Elderberry House Restaurant at Château inside the hotel offers sophisticated dishes made with the freshest California produce. The property, which includes a villa and a spa, blends the charm of France’s Provençal region with the beauty of the Sierra Nevada.

Local tip:

Between bites, check out the Fossil Discovery Center of Madera County, one of North America’s most extensive middle-Pleistocene fossil excavations. Visitors can see the fossilized remains of Columbian Mammoths, giant sloths, and saber-toothed cats that lived in the San Joaquin Valley over 780,000 years ago.