Auburn is a quaint little city in California. It offers plenty of places to stay, including Airbnb vacation rentals. It is also an important place, especially in American history, as it rose to prominence during the gold rush in the 1800s. As such, there are a lot of spots around town that are deemed historically significant and even the city itself is designated a “California Historical Landmark”. Auburn is also a great place or those looking to spend a lot of time outdoors as the scenery around the town is absolutely beautiful. There are a ton of walking and hiking trails as well as horse trails for those looking to do a little horseback riding. If you’re planning on spending some time in or near Auburn, here are some of the best things to do in Auburn, California.
1. Tee off at Ridge Golf Course & Events Center
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
California has some of the best golf courses probably in the entire country, so you’d be amiss not to take advantage of hitting up one of Auburn’s best golf courses. The course is nestled among the foothills of Northern California and it is just a short drive away from Sacramento, so not only is the golf course one of the best but the views are fantastic as well. Of course, if you’re a newbie, there are golf lessons offered as well and there is also a great bar/restaurant on site.
Ridge Golf Course & Events Center
Address: 2020 Golf Course Rd, Auburn, CA 95602, USA
Website: Ridge Golf Course & Events Center
Opening hours: 6:30am - 6:30pm (daily)
Price: 5 USD
2. Sample local wine at Lone Buffalo Vineyards
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California is known for having some of the best wine in not only the U.S but around the world. The Lone Buffalo Vineyards is a local wine producer which also grows its own grapes and offers great tours to those looking to sample some of the best wines from the area. Lone Buffalo Vineyards have only been around since 2007, but they already have a great reputation among wine experts as their founder and owner has been a winemaker for over 35 years.
Lone Buffalo Vineyards
Address: 7505 Wise Rd, Auburn, CA 95603, USA
Website: Lone Buffalo Vineyards
Opening hours: Fri - Sun: 12pm - 5pm (closed from Mon - Thu)
Price: 60 USD
3. Check out interesting exhibits at Auburn Old Town Gallery
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The Auburn Old Town Gallery is an artist collective that was established in 1995, and to this day, it still hosts a wide variety of arts and crafts made by local artists. There is a wide variety of media available for visitors to check out, featuring everything from woodcuts to glass blowing and traditional oil paintings. Artists work in the Auburn Old Town Gallery for at least 8 hours a month so visiting the gallery offers a great opportunity to meet and talk to the artists.
Auburn Old Town Gallery
Address: 218 Washington St, Auburn, CA 95603, USA
Website: Auburn Old Town Gallery
Opening hours: 10am - 9pm (daily)
Price: Free
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4. Listen to a symphony orchestra at Auburn Symphony
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In 1996, a local conductor assembled the best regional musicians around and formed the Auburn Symphony. The symphony is a great way to spend an evening and the Auburn Symphony, in particular, is made of some of the best musicians around playing a wide array of music and compositions. During different times of the year, the orchestra plays in different venues so do be sure to visit often.
Auburn Symphony
Address: 222 E Main St, Auburn, WA 98002, USA
Website: Auburn Symphony
Opening hours: Varies depending on concert
Price: 37 USD
5. Hike the Quarry Road Trail
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There are a ton of great hiking opportunities available for people in Auburn. The Quarry Road Trail is one of the nicest around the area, and it is definitely one of the most picturesque. The trail goes along the Middle Fork American River and takes about a half day to walk through the entire things. There are more challenging trails around as well for those who are a little more experienced in hiking, and if you’re looking to take a break during your trek, there are a lot of shady areas as well as picnic tables to stop and have a bite.
Quarry Road Trail
Address: 150 CA-193, Auburn, CA 95603, USA
Website: Quarry Road Trail
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: Free
6. Relax in Ashford Park
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If you’re visiting a new town and want to check out where the locals go, then Ashford Park is a great spot that’s always filled with people enjoying their day, hanging out in the sun and even playing with their dogs. It is also a great place for people to bring their kids as there are a playground and a little pond to feed the ducks.
Ashford Park
Address: 1601 Auburn Ravine Rd, Auburn, CA 95603, USA
Website: Ashford Park
Opening hours: 6am - 8pm (daily)
Price: Free
7. Try skating in Overlook Park's skate park
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Overlook Park is another one of the great parks around Auburn. What sets Overlook Park apart from the rest of the parks around the city is the great skate park. It’s a fun place to bring your gear if you’re into skateboarding or biking, but if you’re not, its also a cool way to pass some time and watch those who are better at going off ramps than you are. Overlook Park is a beautiful park with hiking trails and some great views as well, so there’s no shortage of interesting things to do here.
Overlook Park's Skate Park
Address: 855 Pacific Ave, Auburn, CA 95603, USA
Website: Overlook Park’s Skate Park
Opening hours: 6am - 10pm (daily)
Price: Free
8. Delve into the history of gold mining at The Gold Rush Museum
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The Gold Rush Museum is not only super interesting but it is important to the history of Auburn itself. Auburn essentially owes its existence to the gold rush as it became a town that grew as more and more people came to Califonia to take part in the gold rush and try their hand at making their fortune. There are some pretty displays and dioramas showcasing the life of a gold miner and even a display of a gold mine. Visitors can even try their hand at panning for gold.
The Gold Rush Museum
Address: 601 Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA 95603, USA
Website: The Gold Rush Museum
Opening hours: Thu - Sun: 10:30am - 4pm (closed from Mon - Wed)
Price: Free
9. Go biking in Hidden Falls Regional Park
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Bring a camera and bring some friends and family and explore the best of Hidden Falls Regional Park. Hidden Falls Regional Park is a great spot to spend a day in the sun and among the trees and nature of the foothills of Sacramento. This park is a great place to go mountain biking or horseback riding. There are also beautiful waterfalls on site, forming a gorgeous scenery.
Hidden Falls Regional Park
Address: 7587 Mears Pl, Auburn, CA 95603, USA
Website: Hidden Falls Regional Park
Opening hours: 6am - 10pm (daily)
Price: 8 USD
10. Take your pooch for a walk in Ashley Off Leash Dog Park
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If you’re an Auburn local and you want to explore your city with your pup, then Ashley Off-Leash Dog Park is absolutely the best spot around to bring your dog. The park is large and very green, so you’re dog will love running around and you’ll love the scenery and the relaxation. The park is also fenced-in so you’ll never have to worry about your dog getting lost or wandering off too far away.
Ashley Off Leash Dog Park
Address: 1601 Auburn Ravine Rd, Auburn, CA 95603, USA
Website: Ashley Off Leash Dog Parkn
Opening hours: 6am - 10pm (daily)
Price: Free
11. Check out one of the oldest buildings in Placer County at Bernhard Museum
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Despite being a pretty small city, Auburn has its fair share of history. After the discovery of gold here in the 1800s, Auburn grew as a bigger city as more and more people came to try and get rich. Bernhard Museum is one of the oldest buildings in Auburn and it was once a hotel called the “Traveler’s Inn”. Built in 1851, it was sold to a German immigrant named Bernhard and it subsequently became a winery in 1874. Now it houses displays of things from the era including wagons and winemaking accessories.
Bernhard Museum
Address: 291 Auburn Folsom Rd, Auburn, CA 95603, USA
Website: Bernhard Museum
Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 11am - 4pm (closed on Sun)
Price: Free
12. Try fishing at Auburn State Recreation Area
Auburn State Recreation Area is a great place to spend a day whether you’re doing some hiking, some mountain biking or exploring the local wildlife. The river that goes through the area is a perfect place to do some fishing. The winding river provides lots of great areas to hang out in the sun or the shade and cast your line and try to catch something. It also, coincidentally, is a place where people panning for gold come to try and find some, so if you’re out by the river fishing, you might end up leaving a little richer than when you showed up.
Auburn State Recreation Area
Address: 501 El Dorado St, Auburn, CA 95603, USA
Website: Auburn State Recreation Area
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: Free
13. Go kayaking or canoeing on Lake Clementine
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Also known as North Fork Lake, Lake Clementine is a beautiful picturesque place that’s located 1200 feet (366 meters) above sea level. For the outdoorsy type out there, Lake Clementine is a great place to do a little fishing and it is home to several species of fish, including bass and catfish. Waterskiing and kayaking are also a popular activity out on Lake Clementine, so if you’re looking for a great place to hang out in the sun and get some exercise done on the water, then head to this picturesque lake.
Lake Clementine
Address: Lake Clementine, Auburn, California
Website: Lake Clementine
Opening hours: 6am - 10pm (daily)
Price: Free
14. Indulge in river rafting on the American River
Sure, kayaking and canoeing around Lake Clementine is fun and exploring the hiking trails on a mountain bike or hiking is also fun but sometimes you just want to have a real thrill. Luckily, the American River has some really great river rafting. The American River runs through the Sierra Nevada and into the Sacramento Valley, so on your journey down the river, you’ll be greeted with some amazing views of the valley in the surroundings.
American River
Address: American River, California, U.S.A
Website: American River
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: Free
15. Buy local produce at PlacerGROWN Farmers' Market
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
If you’re staying in Auburn and are there for a long time then you’ll probably want to do a little cooking at some point. Luckily, there’s PlacerGROWN Farmers’ Market ready to sell some of the most delicious fresh food in the city. This farmers’ market has a few locations around town and a few outside of Auburn as well. Of course, since its a farmers market, the food varies from season to season but you’ll be sure to find something delicious no matter the season.
PlacerGROWN Farmers' Market
Address: 150 Auburn Folsom Rd, Auburn, CA 95603, USA
Website: PlacerGROWN Farmers’ Market
Opening hours: Sat: 8am - 12pm (closed from Sun - Fri)
Price: Free
16. Ride across the Foresthill Bridge
Foresthill Bridge is the highest bridge by deck height in the entire state and the fourth highest in the country. The bridge is pretty high so if you’re afraid of heights, this might not be the best activity for you, but it does, without a doubt, provide an amazing view of the valley and the river. The Foresthill Bridge was also featured in a couple of Hollywood movies like “The Ugly Truth” and “XXX” starring Vin Diesel.
Foresthill Bridge
Website: Foresthill Bridge
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: Free
17. Soak in the scenic view from Robie Point
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Robie Point has some of the best views in any of the parks around Auburn. But you’re going to have to work a little to get there. Robie Point is over 2.6 miles (4.2 km) of trail that isn’t too difficult as the trail is rated as “moderate” so the trek isn’t too hard to do. There’s lots of beauty and scenic views on the trail, including tons of wildflowers and birds. The trail loops and dogs are allowed on the trail as well but they must be kept on a leash.
Robie Point
Address: 410 Robie Dr, Auburn, CA 95603, USA
Website: Robie Point
Opening hours: 6am - 10pm (daily)
Price: Free
18. Wander in the Old Auburn Historic District
As previously mentioned, Auburn is a pretty old town with a lot of history tied to it as well as tied to the state of California in general. Why not learn a little local history by exploring the Old Auburn Historic District? The area has a few interesting buildings and museums dating back from the 1800s when Auburn was founded, so check them out and get a little exercise by walking around the Old Auburn Historic District.
Old Auburn Historic District
Address: Auburn, CA 95603, USA
Website: Old Auburn Historic District
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: Free
19. Learn the history of Bloomers Cut
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No, this isn’t about underwear, this is about the history of the railroad. Bloomers Cut was completed in 1864 and was hailed as the “eighth wonder of the world” and has since been unchanged. The reason why this landmark is a historic point in Auburn is because it is one of the points in the transcontinental railroad that has stood the test of time and currently stands practically the same way it did when it was built. Bloomers Cut is a perfect example of the marvel of engineering and overcoming obstacles.
Bloomers Cut
Address: end of Herdal Drive in Auburn, California. No physical address
Website: Bloomers Cut
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: Free
20. Shop at Sierra Elm Shopping Center
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The Sierra Elm Shopping Center is your standard shopping center area with some nice little shops around. If you’re looking for a way to spend an afternoon and take a break from all the hiking and outdoorsy stuff in Auburn, there’s no better way to kill an afternoon than hanging out at the mall.
Sierra Elm Shopping Center
Address: 443 Grass Valley Hwy, Auburn, CA 95603, USA
Website: Sierra Elm Shopping Center
Opening hours: 7am - 10pm (daily)
Price: Free
21. Play a round of disc golf at Regional Park Auburn
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The city of Auburn has some golf courses around it for the public to come and play but if you’re not the type who wants to swing a golf club and still want to take part in a fun “golf-like” experience, try your hand at disc golf! The principle is the same as regular golf but players use a frisbee instead of a gold club and gold ball. Regional Park Auburn has some super fun disc golf facilities with bushes, shrubs, and water working as obstacles, and honestly, disc golf is a great way to spend a sunny afternoon and not break the bank.
Regional Park Auburn
Address: 3770 Richardson Dr, Auburn, CA 95602, USA
Website: Regional Park Auburn
Opening hours: 7am - 9pm (daily)
Price: Free
22. Picnic at Railhead Park
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Railhead Park is the type of place to grab some friends and family and maybe even the dog and pack a picnic to enjoy the day. Railhead Park is one of the more low-key parks in Auburn but there is some fun stuff to do around the park. There are a couple of soccer fields and a playground for kids as well as picnic areas of course.
Railhead Park
Address: 175 Pacific Ave, Auburn, CA 95603, USA
Website: Railhead Park
Opening hours: 6am - 7pm (daily)
Price: Free
23. Discover the history of Chinese immigrants at Joss House Museum
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
This small but equally important museum is home to the story of the Chinese immigrants who lived and worked here. The museum tells the story of the thousands of Chinese immigrants who came to the area to find work, working primarily on the railroad in the 1870s and then stayed in the country, calling it home and opening businesses here, thus contributing to the prosperity and the way of life for Auburn. The museum features artifacts and a scale model of Chinatown from the early 19th and 20th centuries.
Joss House Museum
Address: 200 Sacramento St, Auburn, CA 95603, USA
Website: Joss House Museum
Opening hours: 10am - 4pm (daily)
Price: 20 USD
24. Dine at Carpe Vino Auburn
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Carpe Vino is not only one of Auburn’s best restaurants but it is a historic place in itself. The building which the restaurant now occupies is over 150 years old and essentially part of Auburn history. The building began its life as a place called the “Union Saloon” after which it became a Chinese restaurant then finally the place it is known today as Carpe Vino. Serving some of the best wines from local makers and new American cuisine, Carpe Vino is definitely one of the best spots in town for a good upscale dining experience.
Carpe Vino
Address: 1568 Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA 95603, USA
Website: Carpe Vino
Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 4pm - 10pm (closed on Sun & Mon)
25. Have a few drinks at California Club
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
After dinner at Carpe Vino, head to the California Club and indulge in a few tasty cocktails. The California Club is located in Auburn Old Town and it is a great spot to meet some locals and play a little pool. The bar is locally owned and often plays live music for the patrons, spanning from bands and DJs with the bar always full of friendly people. California Club was also featured in the movie “Phenomenon” starring John Travolta.
California Club
Address: 1580 Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA 95603, USA
Website: California Club
Opening hours: 7am - 1:45am (daily)
26. Watch a movie at Regal Cinemas Auburn 10
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
What’s better than a night out at the movies? Regal Cinemas is a popular chain of movie theaters available throughout the country, and the ones in Auburn are a great place to go to after a nice night out at one of Auburn’s many parks or after dinner at one of Auburn’s tastiest restaurants. There are concession stands for your candy and popcorn needs. Regal Cinemas Auburn all show the latest movies.
Regal Cinemas Auburn 10
Address:
Website: Regal Cinemas Auburn 10
Opening hours: 10am - 11pm (daily)
27. Pamper yourself at StoneHouse Spa
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After a couple of days of walking the beautiful parks and the old historic center of Auburn, you might want to treat yourself to a little relaxation. StoneHouse Spa is a great way to relax and unwind after a day of strenuous activity. They also offer gift cards so you can buy your loved one a massage or facial treatment. They also offer a wide variety of beauty treatments like lashes and tanning as well as chemical treatments and professional makeup.
StoneHouse Spa
Address: 144 Oakwood Dr, Auburn, CA 95603, USA
Website: StoneHouse Spa
Opening hours: Wed - Sat: 9am - 7pm; Mon: 9am - 7pm (closed on Tue & Sun)
28. Taste craft beer at Knee Deep Brewing Company
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Knee Deep Brewing Company has been around since 2010 and it is a local microbrewery that’s already pretty popular in the local community. Knee Deep Brewing Company has been around for only nine years at this point but it has already won a bunch of awards and they sell their beer in neighboring states like Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, and Ohio. Visitors to the brewery don’t have to wait to buy cans or bottles and can bring a growler to buy right on the spot. For those looking to get a taste of this delicious brew, Knee Deep Brewing Company offers tastings so make sure to taste a couple before buying. Alternatively, just try them all!
Knee Deep Brewing Company
Address: 13395 New Airport Rd H, Auburn, CA 95602, USA
Website: Knee Deep Brewing Company
Opening hours: 11am - 9pm (daily)
Price: 20 - 60 USD
29. Visit the Claude Chana Statue
Claude Chana was a French immigrant who came to Auburn for the same reason that many others did; to find gold. Claude Chana was an early settler in the region and worked on a ranch and after hearing about another man who found gold in a nearby area, Claude Chana decided to try his own luck and set off to find some gold. On May 16th, 1848, Claude Chana found gold at the Auburn Ravine, a place which would then become the city of Auburn. The statue commemorating the man is found in the Old Town area of Auburn and it is a great little piece of history.
Claude Chana Statue
Address: Park St, Auburn, CA 95603, USA
Website: Claude Chana Statue
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: Free
30. Enjoy yourself with friends at Foothills Bowling Center
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Nestled in the foothills, Foothills Bowling Center is a place where amateur bowlers and pros alike come together and take part in one of the country’s oldest pastimes, bowling! Foothills Bowling Center has been around since the 1950s and they’re still here in business, so they must be doing something right. There’s a pro-shop on-site if anyone wants to buy some gear and there is even a bar and restaurant on site where you can grab a snack or two while you bowl and have a couple of drinks. Every Saturday night is karaoke night making Foothills Bowling Center a great night out for the whole family.
Foothills Bowling Center
Address: 13489 Bowman Rd, Auburn, CA 95603, USA
Website: Foothills Bowling Center
Opening hours: 11am - 12am (daily)
Lots to do in Auburn
Auburn has so much to see and do that doing everything will probably require you to spend a few days here to truly get a taste of the city. If you’re into the outdoors then Auburn is a great place for you as there are a ton of parks and activities and even if you’re not, Auburn has a wealth of history to discover and things to do with the whole family.
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