Strike it rich at candy and ice cream shops as you travel California Gold Country with kids.

On a hot day, there’s nothing ice cream sundaes topped with hot fudge or fresh berries. Cold milkshakes, or maybe kids will want to step back in time with a “sarsaparilla” soda.

On the move? Grab some treats from dazzling displays of old fashioned sweets like giant rainbow lollipops, black licorice, pink peppermint sticks, homemade fudge.

Highway 49 runs like a gold vein through the Sierra foothills. Back in the 19th century, every town had a general store stocked with candies and ice cream parlours. Historic towns of the Gold Country never lost this great tradition.

Candy shops sparkle with sweets galore, and names like “licorice starlights,” “butterscotch buttons,” “chocolate pecan turtles,” “watermelon taffy,” “chocolate rocks.”

Also along Highway 49, find soft ice cream cones in swirly flavors and dipped in chocolate or milkshakes so thick your straw stands straight up, creamy rootbeer floats (the “float” is ice cream), and banana splits.

Whether you’re exploring California Gold Country or en route to Lake Tahoe or San Francisco, you’ll be glad you made time for these sweet treats along the way.

 

Northern Gold County

• Nevada City –
• Nevada City Chocolate Shoppe (236 Broad St.) – Step into chocolate heaven, all shapes and sizes. 1lb Nevada Gold looks like the Motherlode.



• Grass Valley –
• Big A Rootbeer Drive In (810 E. Main St.) – Root beer floats and soft ice cream.
• Lazy Dog Chocolateria (111 Mill St.) – Ice cream parlour and candy store, with unusual chocolates such as sea salt and pecan turtles, Jelly Belly jelly beans, red white and blue ice cream.



• Auburn –
• Toomer’s Drugs (100 N. College St.) – Fresh lemonade, ice cream (big scoops), milkshakes, hot fudge and brownie sundaes.
• Bruster’s Real Ice Cream (2172 E. University Dr.) – Ice cream waffle cones (non-dairy, vegan, oat milk flavors available), strawberry shortcake, apple dumpling, kids “dino” sundaes, milkshakes and freezes.



• Coloma –
• Argonaut Cafe (8928 Highway 490) – Fresh lemonade, juices, smoothies, ice cream sodas, root beer float, gelato, candies, sarsaparilla.



• Placerville –
• The Original Mel’s Diner (232 Main St.) – Milkshakes, malts, sodas, sundaes.

 

Southern Gold Country

• Jackson –
• Train Town Candies and Ice Cream Parlor (139 Main St.) – Thick milkshakes, big sundaes, ice cream cones, toffee, old-fashioned caramels, rock candy, jelly beans, fudge, and more.
• Mel & Faye’s Diner (204 N. Highway 49) – Sundaes, milkshakes, floats, banana splits.



• Angels Camp –
• Yummy Ha! Ha! Ice Cream (1225 S. Main St.) – Homemade ice cream (banana oreo, cookies and cream, cherry chip, caramel brownie, chocolate, etc.), hot fudge sundaes, rootbeer floats, milkshakes.
• Frosty (290 S. Main St.) – Soft ice cream, double dip chocolate vanilla, candy toppings, rootbeer floats and freezes, milkshakes, parfait, banana split, sundaes.



• Murphys –
• Nelson’s Gold Rush Candies (380 Main St.) – Chocolates, fudge, handmade lollipops, gum drops, fresh fruit jellies, homemade marshmallow bars.
• JoMa’s Artisan Ice Cream (386 Main St.) – Locally made ice cream with flavors such as Apple Pie, Cookies and Cream, Chocolate Fudge Chip, Caramel Crunch.



• Columbia –
• Nelson’s Columbia Candy Kitchen (22726 Main St.) – Handmade lollipops, vanilla creams, peppermint chews, licorice, orange drops, chocolates galore, rock crystal candy.



• Mariposa –
• Happy Burger Diner (5120 Highway 140 at 12th St. – Milkshakes (large selection of flavors), freezes, floats, fruit smoothies, ice cream sundaes, ice cream cones, vegan flavors available.
• Jantz Bakery and Cafe (5067 Highway 140) – Chocolate sundaes, yogurt parfaits.
• Pony Expresso (5182 Highway 49 N.) – Frozen lemonade, lemonade, smoothies.

 

On Travel for Kids find more detailed information about visiting Gold Country with kids.

You’ll need a fun place to stay. Check out our list of Gold Country family hotels.