Wine Crawl: Forget the gold, the main attraction in downtown Murphys is the grape: we counted no less than twelve tasting rooms in the five blocks of downtown. But to get a true taste of the Gold Country's down-to-earth wine culture, drive to a couple of nearby wineries: Twisted Oak is worth a visit just for the quirky driveway leading up to the place—watch out for the rubber chickens! Just down the road at family-run Irish Vineyards, owner Russell Irish not only knows how to make a delicious bottle of wine, he's also a generous host with a true passion for good grapes. He'll tell you anything you want to know about the wine-making process, and why he makes wine only a certain way, with "just a touch of oak." Cheers to Russ and his family for cultivating their passion (and making a tasty "Blarney Red").

Lunch Break: Peter Speno's il Rifugio Italian deli has all the fixings for a fine picnic, and Peter himself will conjure up a boxed lunch made to your specifications (and the specifications of what he has in the shop that day). His assortment of cheeses and meats is impressive. If you want to stay in town, you can walk behind Peter's shop and picnic in Murphys Park. Murphys River runs right through the middle of it and picnic tables are plentiful.

il Rifugio, 403 Main St., Murphys; 209-728-9200.