Sonora’s Barretta Gardens Inn

Perched on a hill above Sonora’s historic downtown, the charming, antique-filled Barretta Gardens Inn offers a serene balance of past and present, without the ruffle-uponruffle ambience one sees in so many bed-and-breakfasts. The eight bedrooms and suites in this restored Victorian farmhouse, built in 1903, are individually decorated and outfitted with thoughtful touches, including wineglasses and a corkscrew, guides to local restaurants and activities and a small library in the hall.

Zzzz’s: Antique furnishings and modern comforts — including air conditioning — fill the bedrooms, which are named after grape varietals. The cozy Barbera room, for example, has a king-size brass bedstead done up in soft linens and rose-sprigged quilt. The Sangiovese suite sleeps four and has its own private entrance.

Splashes: Bathroom amenities vary from room to room. The Sangiovese has a soaking tub and rainwater

shower. The Barbera’s shower is in the bathtub. And the Zinfandel room has a private bathroom across the hall.

Extras: Breakfast — fresh fruit, coddled eggs, sausages, addictive potato cakes and excellent coffee, when we were there — is served on

the porch, where you can hear the gentle splashing of the fountain in the terraced gardens.

Details: Rooms run from $139 to $380. 700 S. Barretta St. Sonora; www.barrettagardens.com

DAN HONDA — BAY AREA NEWS GROUP Main Street in historic Jamestown, a Gold Rush town in the Sierra Nevada foothills, is home to buildings dating back to the mid-19th century.

JACKIE BURRELL — BAY AREA NEWS GROUP The Sierra No. 3 locomotive still steams past the “Petticoat Junction” water tower at Railtown 1897 State Historic Park in Jamestown. Scores of movies and TV series have been filmed at the park.

JACKIE BURRELL — BAY AREA NEWS GROUP Perched on a hill above town, Sonora’s Barretta Gardens Inn bed-andbreakfast offers charming guest lodgings and a terrific hot breakfast.