7 Things to Do for a Sensational Day in Sonora, CA

Sonora, California is one of the most beautiful towns in all of the Sierra Nevada Foothills, and lies right in the middle of California’s “Gold Country.” And as you might imagine, it is filled with all kinds of amazing outdoor attractions, as well as plenty of great things to do on a rainy day. So if you are looking for great things to do around Sonora then be sure to check out my article below. I’ll be sure to link you to each of their websites, as well as include a Yelp review so you can see what other customers have had to say about them as well. And when I can, I will also provide you with a GiftYa link so you can get yourself a convenient digital gift card.

If you haven’t used GiftYa yet, I’ll take a second to explain them. They are essentially a gift card that exists in an all digital format. And that digital format means they can be bought and sent wirelessly in just seconds. It also means that you never have to worry about keeping track of the value on the card because your phone handles all the math for you.

And if you are planning a trip around Sonora anytime soon, they are also great for planning trips and vacations because they can be used to spend the money in advance and you never even have to worry about forgetting them at home because they exist entirely digitally.

But that’s enough about how great GiftYa are for now, here’s that list of great things you can do in Sonora California that brought you here!

1 - Yosemite Valley

The Most Popular Location In All of Yosemite National Park

Highway 41, Highway 140, Highway 120 W  | yosemite.com/yosemite-valley

Yosemite National Park is one of the most popular of all the national parks. And it’s easy to see why. First of all, it’s in beautiful California which gives it a real edge over some of the competitions. And then there is the fact that it features Yosemite Valley. Which has plenty of great shops and restaurants like Yosemite Lodge, Yosemite Village, and The Ahwahnee.

But on top of the great local business, Yosemite Valley also features some of the most iconic and breathtaking views in the entire park. Which is great for anybody who is new to the area, or who hasn’t been there before. And that is because it only takes up about one percent of the park's total landmass. On top of that, there are plenty of great viewpoints that you can drive right up to. So you don’t have to worry about spending your entire vacation being lost on hiking trails and just hoping you are going the right direction. You can see Tunnel View, Glacier Point, Half Dome, and even Yosemite Falls all in one afternoon really!

And these are some of the most stunning views you can find anywhere, period. But on top of that, Yosemite Falls just so happens to be the highest waterfall in the entire US! So you’ll be sure to make memories that last you a lifetime if you take the drive over to Yosemite Valley.

2 - Moaning Caverns Tour

You Can Step Back Into A Piece of the Country’s History In This Fun Caven Tour!

5350 Moaning Cave Rd | Vallecito | moaningcaverns.com

But hey, if you’ve already been to Yosemite, or you are looking for a different kind of outdoor adventure then you will want to be sure to check out the Moaning Caverns Tour. The Moaning Caverns themselves were first made famous during the American Gold Rush, and in the 1840s and 1850s many miners and explorers came through the area. Today we are lucky enough that the caverns still exist in pristine condition and that you can get a professional tour through them.

I think this makes a really great stop for families where the parents are hoping to sneak some education into their kid’s adventures. It’s hard for anybody not to be taken back when they first descend into these beautiful caverns, and once the initial shock has worn off, your tour guide will be able to educate you and your party with all kinds of fun facts.

The only big downside to this tour is that since you are descending down into the caverns pretty deep, everybody in your party will have to be able to walk down all the stairs

“We really enjoyed the whole tour, and our guide Tyler kept us at ease in those tight tunnels. A fantastic fun adventure!” - Yelp Review

3 - Sonora Tap Room

The Most Popular Beer and Wine Bar in the Area

1 Linoberg St | Sonora| facebook.com/sonorataproom

Sonora Tap Room (as you might have guessed from the name) is one of the area's most popular wine, beer, and kombucha bars. They have over 20 craft beers on tap, and also have kombucha on tap which is something I haven’t seen too many places before. They also feature plenty of great wines and ciders. So if you are looking for something fun to do around Sonora you can always stop in at the Sonora Tap Room any day from 3:00PM - 10:00PM.

But be sure to check out their Facebook page in advance so that way you can see if they have any events going on that night. They do everything from karaoke and open mic nights to zombie walks and Jenga nights.

“New owners are great. Friendly vibe, good selection, comfortable place. Lots of different beers on tap, and wine and kombucha options for non beer drinkers.” - Yelp Review

4 - Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad

You Can Enjoy A Ride Through History On A Genuine Steam Locomotive

56001 Hwy 41 | Fish Camp | ymsprr.com

If you are looking for something more family friendly than a tap room around Sonora, then you should absolutely check out Yosemite Mountain’s Sugar Pine Railroad. You get a one hour narrated travel through four miles of the beautiful Sierra National Forest. You will get a ride through history as the genuine steam powered locomotive pulls you along the railway. There is even a stop along the way so you can soak in some of the natural beauty, as well as see a real train crew service the engine. You can enjoy the ride any day of the week April-October. And on Wednesday and Saturday nights in the summer there is even a Moonlight Special BBQ dinner train that runs. So that way you can also get a fantastic meal while you enjoy your train ride.

This railroad is a California State Historic Landmark which means you are literally on the same rails that have always run through the forest. The Sugar Pine Railroad has been around since 1965 and has quickly grown into one of the best attractions in the Sonora area!

And people genuinely seem to really love it. Be sure to check out some of their glowing reviews yourself if you still aren’t sure.

“This train ride is so AMAZING!!! We sat in the front " caboose"  it was enclosed and we were served beverages and a snack! Very educational and so beautiful! I would Definitely recommend to anyone visiting the Yosemite area!” - Yelp Review

5 - Zephyr Whitewater Expeditions

Enjoy Guided Whitewater Rafting Tours On Some of the Area’s Most Famous RIvers

Grab a digital Zephyr Whitewater Expeditions gift card by following the link!

22517 Parrotts Ferry Rd | Columbia | zrafting.com

If you are looking for an outdoor adventure that is a little bit more thrilling and exhilarating than just backpacking around a park, or riding a train, then be sure to check out Zephyr Whitewater Expeditions! They offer guided whitewater rafting tours on Kings River (near Kings Canyon/Sequoia National Park) as well as on the Merced and Tuolumne Rivers near Yellowstone.

You can pick trips that range anywhere from half a day, to all the way up to three whole days on the water with nights of camping in between. But whatever you choose, you can be sure that you will be in great hands. Zephyr Whitewater Expeditions was first founded in 1973, and in that time they have quickly become one of the area's best rafting tour companies.

They use state of the art self-bailing rafts that are specifically designed for whitewater rafting so you know you are in the safest boats possible. And they make all of their guides complete rigorous whitewater training before they ever get close to setting sail so you can be sure you are in safe, and experienced hands.

“Awesome price ,great time, great food ,nice camping, very experienced guides,thanks guys” - Yelp Review

You can easily budget your trip when you use GiftYa to get a digital Zephyr Whitewater Expeditions gift card!

6 - Ironstone Vineyards

Grab Yourself A Bottle of Authentic Californian Wine at this Beautiful Vineyard!

Grab yourself an Ironstone Vineyards gift card by following the link!

1894 Six Mile Rd | Murphys | ironstonevineyards.com

If a fun and quirky tap room doesn’t sound like your idea of a nice night, then maybe you’ll be interested in Ironstone Vineyards. This exquisite vineyard features a tasting room, a gold leaf deli, and even a museum on site.

They have a wide variety of different offerings featuring wines made from grapes grown in the Lodi and Sierra Mountain foothills. And on top of that, they even strive to operate in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way. They conserve water, build healthy soil, and even help maintain the surrounding wildlife habitat. So not only are you going to be able to get a great bottle of wine, you are also going to be able to feel good about buying it. Which is so rare in the modern world.

“An absolutely must visit if you are in the Murphy or Arnold area. It's also a short road trip from Sacramento. This property is amazing  Well manicured and picturesque. They also have events there ... so go ahead and plan a visit and sign up as a member... there will be no regrets” - Yelp Review

It only takes seconds to get a digital Ironstone Vineyards gift card from GiftYa!

7 - Regal Cinemas

Great for A Rainy Day or Summer Night

Grab a Regal Cinemas gift card by following the link!

901 Sanguinetti Rd | Sonora | regmovies.com

Regal Cinemas, as you might have guessed, is Sonora's movie theater. And what I like about movie theaters is that they make a really great option in case you have planned your visit hoping for sunshine, but find yourself rained out one day. They have comfortable seats, big screens, and ample sound systems.

And they of course show all of the latest releases and big blockbusters. While I can’t promise you’ll enjoy every movie they’re showing at the time, I am sure they will have something for anybody who enjoys movies and cinema.

“Love it, always clean and the employees are nice. I got the movie pass, so i'm there like every week and I love it.” - Yelp Review

Anybody can grab a Regal Cinemas gift card in just a seconds by following this link!

And there you have my list of great things you can find to do around Sonora, California. I hope I was able to help narrow down your options just a little bit at least. But if nothing in this article really stood out to you, don’t worry. I left all the great restaurants in the area off of this list so that way I could feature them in their own article. So if you are still looking for something great around Sonora to do for your upcoming trip, or big date night, then be sure to check out our other article on great places to eat around Sonora!