The east side of the Sierras is also are favorite area to wander. Here are some places you need to stop:
Either Erick Schats Bakery in Bishop:
http://www.erickschatsbakery.com/
or Paul Schat's Bakery in Mammoth. Get one of their turkey (real turkey!) sandwiches on Sheepherder's bread to go and find a nice place for lunch. Also get some of their pull-apart bread for breakfast. We usually also buy a loaf of Sheepherder's bread to go along with dinner.
Further up the road at the junction with Highway 120, stop of the Whoa Nellie Deli inside the Mobil gas station. I know, it sounds weird but the food is great! We always stop there on the way to Mammoth and get something to go for dinner:
http://www.whoanelliedeli.com/
Virginia City is very touristy but the train is very nice. (Of course, we are train fans.) If it is still open, the mine tour just down the hill a block or so from the main drag is worthwhile and provides a glimpse of what it was like to work underground in nearly pitch darkness...