October 15-17, 2025
This October, we welcome you to Harvest Gold: A Gold Country Field Trip, a three-day, two-night hosted experience pairing the charm of two grande dame hotels, The National Exchange Hotel in Nevada City and the Holbrooke Hotel in Grass Valley, with chef-driven dining, historic exploration, and the golden glow of harvest season.
The Holbrooke Hotel and The National Exchange Hotel were recently announced among the winners of Sunset Magazine’s 2025 Travel Awards Historic Hotels.
Arrive Wednesday, October 15 and depart Friday, October 17.
Guests will stay one night in each beautifully restored 1850s landmark, just four miles apart, yet each with its own personality, storied past, and celebrated restaurant. Both hotels sit in the heart of their historic town centers, making it easy to step out your front door and explore streets lined with boutique shops, galleries, tasting rooms, and charming cafes.
Hosted by author and bon vivant Trisha Cole, and alongside a small group of fellow travelers, you will explore Gold Rush lore, sip cocktails in storied bars, enjoy fall-inspired tasting menus from Chef Alan Gosker at Lola Dining and Chef Robb Wyss at The Golden Gate Saloon, and connect with the vibrant spirit of California’s Gold Country.
Package rate includes two nights’ accommodation, continental breakfast each morning and chef’s tasting menu dinners each evening. A welcome cocktail from each historic bar and tour tickets are also included.
Guests must provide their own transportation to and from the hotel and on excursions and cover all incidental charges not included in the package. Package components are voluntary, so take advantage of as much or as little as you choose.
PRICING:
From $800 + tax for standard room, single occupancy. Double occupancy from $950 + tax.
Prices include all resort fees. Higher-category rooms are available at an additional rate.
*Example: 1 person for the full package in a standard room is $800 + tax total; 2 people sharing a standard room would be $950 + tax total. It is a package price, not per night.
Harvest Gold Package Includes:
From $800 + tax (based on single occupancy)
Trisha Cole
Trisha Cole is a natural host and connector. She loves bringing people together and crafting experiences that feel both welcoming and memorable. Over the years she has guided guests toward the best places to eat, stay, and explore, while sharing her own sense of adventure and curiosity.
Her book, Life at the Dumpling, affectionately named after her family home, is a playful “guidebook for good living.” Filled with recipes, musings, and travel tips, it grew out of her well-loved newsletter that she continues to send out several times a year. Whether she’s leading a group on a walking tour, setting the scene for a special dinner, or simply sharing a favorite local spot, Trisha has a gift for helping guests feel right at home.
Day 1 – Wednesday
3:30 p.m.
Check in at the National Exchange Hotel
5 p.m.
“Haunted by History” Tour with Anthony Roumanis (Meet in lobby)
6 p.m.
Meet Ashley Hollister and enjoy a vermouth tasting experience + cocktails made with California Gold(en) T.W. Hollister Vermouth
7 p.m.
Chef’s Tasting Dinner created by Chef Alan Gosker at LOLA Dining
9 p.m.
Drag Queen Bingo at the historic National Bar (Optional. Tickets available on hotel website.)
*ITINERARY SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Day 2 – Thursday
7 a.m.
Hike the Deer Creek Tribute Trail with Trisha (optional)
9 a.m.
Breakfast at LOLA
10:15 a.m.
Tour of the Nevada Theatre
Lunch on own in Nevada City
11:30 a.m.
Empire Mine Tours (Estate 11:30, Mineyard 12:30)
3 p.m.
Check in to Holbrooke Hotel
5 p.m.
“Haunted by History” Tour with Anthony Roumanis (Meet in lobby)
6 p.m.
Have a welcome drink at the historic Golden Gate Saloon
7 p.m.
Chef’s Tasting Dinner by Chef Robb Wyss at Golden Gate Saloon
Day 3 – Friday
8 a.m.
Light continental breakfast in the Empire Room
9 a.m.
Enjoy a final stroll through historic downtown Grass Valley
11 a.m.
Check out and departure
Ashley W Hollister, Distiller, Entrepreneur
Grounded in my love for wild rugged California coastal botanicals, having spent my childhood in Malibu and a shared commitment with my husband to his family’s over century history agriculture in CA, I embraced the challenge of creating a winery focused on products that highlight the native botanicals of the Gaviota Coast, and so was born T.W. Hollister & Co. aperitifs. Guided by our philosophy of using natural and native ingredients, we craft products that echo our values of environmental stewardship.
Our products are distinctly American made, leveraging superior ingredients grown on our legacy lands to offer not just a drink, but an experience steeped in authenticity and quality.
At our heart, through T.W. Hollister & Co., we are not just preserving a legacy but building a future where each bottle curates a beautiful story worth sharing, a celebration of the past and a toast to the bright future.
Anthony Roumanis, Resident Expert
Anthony is both a gifted singer and a devoted steward of history. Known for his evocative performances in the darkwave and electronic music scene, Anthony brings the same sense of drama and storytelling to the stage as he does to his work in hospitality.
He played an instrumental role in the remodel and reopening of the Holbrooke Hotel and the The National Exchange Hotel, two of California’s most iconic Gold Rush landmarks. Today, he leads the popular “Haunted by History” tours, celebrating the colorful past and enduring spirit of two hotels very dear to his heart. Through music and history alike, Anthony connects people to experiences that are as memorable as they are meaningful.
Grass Valley and Nevada City, only four miles apart, are surprisingly easy to reach. From Sacramento International Airport (SMF) it is just about a one-hour drive. The rental car terminal is only minutes from luggage claim, so you can be on the road almost immediately.
From the San Francisco Bay Area, the drive is about three hours, straight through rolling hills into the Sierra Foothills. Reno-Tahoe International Airport is also an option at just under two hours away, offering a scenic drive over the Sierra. However you arrive, the journey is simple, and once you are here, you can park your car and enjoy historic downtowns that are best explored on foot
Lunden Desmond
General Manager, Holbrooke Hotel
Robb Wyss
Executive Chef, Holbrooke Hotel
Kate Snyder
General Manager, The National Exchange Hotel
Alan Gosker
Executive Chef, The National Exchange Hotel
