Sierra Nevada Adventures / Quincy Stables, Quincy

The Howard Family Ranch, the HQ of Sierra Nevada Adventures, has been a family-owned treasure since 1939. As such, it's replete with the rich history of generations-old traditions. True to these traditions, horse-pack trips embrace old-school modes of transportation and camping—except with better (much better) food. More intensive four-day excursions whisk adventurers out into the local landscape on horseback; highlights of these trips include a French cooking class, a barbecue by the riverside, and a seance with the ghost of Old Man McGurvy. Another popular adventure is the cattle-driving excursion, during which participants drive cattle through the Sierra Nevadas, enjoy cowboy-style coffee by the fire, and tend to horses throughout.