HotelTonight – Sonora, CA Hotels Are Available
There are some communities out there that have such a direct line to the past and to our nation's history that people who have any interest at all in what life used to be like for folks need to see them. I've spent time in quite a few of those places, and these include cities large and small. In recent months, I've been driving through Northern California a lot because of my job, and as I've passed signs for Sonora, the name rang a bell for some reason. I wasn't quite sure why, but it always intrigued me. Unfortunately, I was always on my way to one meeting from another and never had any time to stop and see it for myself. That all changed on my last trip there. Early one morning, I got a call telling me that all of my meetings that day were canceled. I happened to be somewhat near Sonora, so I made up my mind that I would see it that day. I wasn't concerned about finding a place to stay, either, as I travel with my HotelTonight app. I'd book a Sonora, CA hotel room, as soon as I needed one.
The History
The history of Sonora is all about the Gold Rush that was humming along in the 19th century. The city earned its name, because the first settlers were from that part of Mexico, arriving in the middle of the 19th century. Afterward, Sonora became known as the "Queen of the Southern Gold Mines" given its informal status as the center of everything for settlers from that era. As I walked around downtown, I could still see a lot of the historical facades and architecture that made it famous in the first place. I could feel the past in the present.
The Railtown Historic Park
One of the reasons the Gold Rush developed as it did was because it was about that time in American history that this part of the country became accessible to most people. The reason for this newfound access was railroads. Without railroads, Sonora may not exist, and the town has commemorated that development with the Railtown Historic Park. I walked through it and wound up spending a couple of hours there, as it was an incredible window into a time when trains were the main form of transportation for more than a few miles.
The Dining
Given its history of settlement, I was in the mood for a nice Mexican food dinner. I heard about a place that had been doing business for generations, so that's where I went. It was not a fancy place by any means, but that's often a good sign. They clearly put their resources into their food, as my carne asada burrito was tremendous and the rice and beans were loaded with flavor and nice texture. I ate happily and spoke to a few of the other patrons, all of whom were local and loyal to the establishment.
HotelTonight – Sonora, CA Hotels Just for You
After such a filling dinner, I was ready to get some sleep. I opened my HotelTonight app and booked a Sonora, CA hotel room almost instantly. It was just up the road, so soon I'd be fast asleep, happy that I had finally gotten to see this historic place.
