When is it?
[back to top]The wedding will be on Saturday, June 22nd, 2002. The ceremony itself will start at 4:00 PM, and there will be a reception in the evening from 6:00 PM until 9:00 PM.
Pictures: Best Man and ushers should plan to arrive by 2:00 PM for pictures. Maid of Honor and bridesdmaids should plan to arrive by 3:00 PM for pictures.
Where is it?
[back to top]The wedding will be in Sonora, California. Sonora is a lovely town in the Sierra Nevadas foothills, in that area referred to as "Gold Country". It's about an hour north of Yosemite and about three hours east of San Francisco.
You may want directions to Sonora.
The ceremony itself will take place in the back yard of the bride's parents house. The address is 20892 Old Phoenix Lake Road. Parking may be a bit crowded. People who can carpool should do so. If a few people can meet at and carpool from the Junction Shopping Center that would be really helpful.
You may want directions to the Youngstroms'.
The reception will take place at the Opera Hall in downtown Sonora. Sonora is a Gold Rush era town. Its historic downtown runs north to south along Washington Street, and is bounded on the north by the Red Church and on the south by the Opera Hall. Anyone in Sonora should be able to direct you to the Opera Hall.
What's the schedule?
[back to top]- Friday evening. If you're attending the rehearsal, it will be at 5:00 PM. It will be -- obviously -- at the same location as the ceremony, the Youngstrom residence. Following the rehearsal, there will be a rehearsal dinner at 6:30 at the North Beach Cafe.
- Saturday afternoon. The ceremony itself will take place at 4:00 PM on Saturday at the Youngstrom residence. Pictures for groom, best man and ushers will start at 2:00 PM; pictures for bride, maid of honor, and bridesmaids will start at 3:00 PM. Parking is limited, so please carpool if you can. The Junction Shopping Center makes a good place to meet and carpool. The ceremony itself will take about half an hour. We'll then have a bit of a break before the reception.
- Saturday evening. The reception will take place 6:00 to 9:00 PM on Saturday, at the historic Opera Hall in downtown Sonora. We'll start with a buffet dinner. There is no assigned seating; fend for yourself! After dinner we'll have music and dancing, provided by Fresno's finest 80s cover band, The Mystery Dates.
Where to stay
[back to top]There are basically three hotels to consider. All are on Washington Street in downtown Sonora, and all are within a block of the Opera Hall. They are:
- Day's Inn Sonora. 160 South Washington Street. 209-532-2400.
- The Gunn House. 286 South Washington Street. 209-736-4611.
- Inns of California. 350 South Washington Street. 209-532-3633.
What to do
[back to top]Sonora is in the heart of "Gold Rush Country", a region of the Sierra Nevada foothills running some 250 miles north-south and 70 miles east-west from Oakhurst below Yosemite to Placerville along US 50. This is the land of the 1849 Gold Rush that changed California's place in history forever.
It is also a land of breath-taking scenery, the most spectacular example of which is Yosemite Valley. If Yosemite is too crowded for you, however, there are plenty of other beautiful natural settings. This is, after all, the land that Ansel Adams called home.
So here are a few of the many attractions worth taking in:
- Columbia State Park. About 5 miles north of Sonora on Highway 49, and then a mile or two down Parrot's Ferry Road, this historic park preserves many of the old buildings from the Gold Rush era. You can pan for gold, visit the museum, or see the original Wells Fargo from whence the gold-laden stagecoach departed for San Francisco.
- Jamestown. For those who want a taste of the Old West, follow Highway 108 3 miles west of Sonora to Jamestown. Much of the historic downtown has been preserved, and indeed this was once the setting for many Hollywood westerns, most notably "High Noon". Mock gunfights are staged the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month.
- Yosemite. The park entrance to Yosemite National Park is about an hour south of Sonora on Highway 49. Yosemite is arguably the most spectacular national park in the lower 48, and well worth a day or two for anyone who has time.
- Calaveras Big Trees State Park. Lots of places in the world have soaring mountain vistas. Only California has the redwood forests. You can experience an impressive and serene example of these famed woods at Calaveras Big Trees State Park. Driving time from Sonora is a little under an hour. Take Highway 49 north to Angel's Camp, and then follow Highway 4 east to the park entrance.
- Stevenot Winery. The Sierra foothills are sprinkled with dozens of fine wineries. Close to Calaveras Big Trees and the town of Murphys, Stevenot Winery is a fine example of what local vintners have to offer. Take Highway 49 north to Angel's Camp, and then follow Highway 4 east to Murphys. From Main Street, Murphys, simply follow the signs and take Sheep Ranch Road three miles, past Mercer Caverns, to San Domingo Road.
5/05/02