Hands on History: Mining the Miners!

It's easy for locals to forget about Sutter's Fort—you know, the massive walled structure in the middle of Midtown, from which a cannon is occasionally fired. Pay homage to your California roots with a visit to the outpost—an integral post during the gold rush—and pan for some gold or participate in “period-appropriate” bowling. Call me sentimental, but when you think that this place was a bustling cradle of gold-dusted dreams just 150 years ago, it's kind of awe-inspiring. $5 to $7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Sutter's Fort State Historic Park, 2701 L Street; www.suttersfort.org.