About twelve miles "as the crow flies" from Auburn is a small town on the South Fork of the American River called Coloma. It was there on January 24, 1848 that gold was discovered setting in motion the California Gold Rush which would change California forever. It was also responsible for the establishment of a small mining settlement that eventually became the City of Auburn

There are many historic areas to visit in and around Auburn because it was once and still is the “crossroads of the Gold Country”. It is where the old mining trail which is now Highway 49 crosses the old right of way of the Transcontinental Railroad that Interstate 80 now follows.

Take a walk around Old Town or Downtown and you will instantly be transformed to another century and a time long past. If you close your eyes you can almost see the streets crowded with miners and merchants, wagons laden with goods headed for the mines and newcomers getting supplies to go strike it rich. Listen carefully and you can hear the sounds of hammers and saws building a city where nothing had existed before and the shouts of those celebrating their newfound fortunes. These are the sights and sounds one might have heard 150 years ago and if you let your imagination go it will take you back there.

But there is so much more. Auburn is the endurance Capital of the World that annually hosts one of most prestigious endurance rides on the planet. It is the Western States Trail Ride popularly known as the Tevis Cup Ride. The ride follows a hundred mile course from Tahoe to Auburn that is grueling for both horse and rider and has participants from around the world. Auburn also hosts endurance events in mountain biking, running and triathlons.

Or maybe you just want to take a leisurely drive in the Gold Country turning your car onto Highway 49 and heading to the nearby historic towns of Grass Valley or Nevada City. Maybe it’s taking the family to Coloma for a living history lesson at Gold Discovery Park.

And when your day is done, come back to Auburn and rest at one of the six hotels or one of the local bed and breakfast inns before you go out that evening to dine at one of Auburn’s many eclectic restaurants. And you might want to cap the night listening to music at one of many venues.

When you leave Auburn to return home it is almost guaranteed that you will think of something you missed and will want to come again. Because there is so much to see and do you can’t do everything in one trip. So come back when you can and experience again the foothills hospitality of Auburn.