Local Activities:
Especially Good For Kids: This is by no means an inclusive list, just a list to get you started.
Playground: (Just down the street from A Victorian Rose) Behind Hennessey School 225 S. Auburn Street, Grass Valley. Designed by children, built by community volunteers, 14,000 sq. ft. park structure.
Rock Creek Nature Trail: Off Hwy 20, six miles from Nevada City. One-half mile, easy. Theme is ecosystems in area. picnic tables.
Sierra Discovery Trail: Hwy 20 out of Nevada City to Bowman Lake Road. PG&E community service project, less than one-mile loop, interpretive signs, waterfall, restrooms, picnic area with barbecue on Bear River.
Imaginarium Science Museum: 161 Nevada City Hwy, Nevada City. 530/478-6415 Interactive science center with hands-on exhibits including wave machine, garden on smells, distorted room & model of Hubble Telescope lens.
Nevada County Traction Company: Northern Queen Inn, Railroad Avenue, Nevada City. 530/265-0896 Take “train” past historic sites including the Mohawk Gold Mine & a Maidu village, 3 mile round trip, stop at Chinese Cemetry. Make sure to call for dates, times & special events.
Public Parks:
Memorial Park: Colfax Hwy, Grass Valley, 530/274-4350 Veteran’s Memorial Wall, playground, baseball, picnic and barbecue areas, tennis, swimming pool.
Condon Park: Minnie Street off Butler Street, Grass Valley, 530/274-4350 Hiking trails, basketball court, baseball, bocce court, horseshoes, disc golf course, arboretum, playground, pond, skateboard park.
Golf:
Alta Sierra Country Club: 11897 Tammy Way, Grass Valley, 530/273-2010. Semi-private with public play in afternoons, 18 holes, par 72
Nevada County Country Club: 1040 E. Main Street, Grass Valley, 530/273-6436. Semi-private with public play afternoons & weekends, 9 holes, par 34
Quail Valley Golf Course: 1 1/2 miles from Nevada County Fairgrounds at 12594 Auburn Rd., Grass Valley, 530/274-1340. Public golf course, 9 holes, par 29.
Museums:
Firehouse #1 Museum: 214 Main St. Nevada City, 530/265-5468 Firehouse built in 1861. Relics from Donner Party, Chinese temple altars, Indian artifacts, Victorian clothing, toys, tools.
Searls Historical Library: 214 Church Street, Nevada City, 530/265-5910. Law office of Niles Searls, Chief Justice of Ca State Supreme Court, built in 1872. Historic books, photos, manuscripts & research material.
Nevada County Railroad & Transportation Museum: 5 Kidder Court, Nevada City, 530/470-0902. Artifacts & exhibits relating to historic Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad including vintage locomotive & antique railroad cars, 1901 auto, the county’s 1st on display.
North Star Power House & Pelton Wheel Mining Exhibit, Mill St. & McCourtney Road, Grass Valley, 530/273-4255. One of the finest collections of hardrock mining equipment & artifacts in US. Giant Pelton Wheel, picnic area.
Grass Valley Museum, 410 S. Church at Chapel Street, Grass Valley, 530/273-5509. Restored school & orphanage built in 1895. Classroom, parlor, music room, doctor’s office, special exhibits.
State Parks:
Empire Mine State Historic Park, Visitor center & mine, 10791 E. Empire Street, Grass Valley, 530/273-8522. The oldest, richest hardrock gold mine in California. It is one of the areas most popular attractions. You will find restored buildings, exhibits, an illuminated mine shaft & Bourn Cottage with its lovely gardens.
Donner Memorial State Park, 12593 Donner Pass Rd., Truckee, 530/582-7892, Study Sierra Nevada’s geological history, fish, hike; in the winter build snowmen, cross county ski.
Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park, 26 miles from Nevada City via Tyler Foote Crossing Road off Hwy 49. 530/265-2740, picnicking & gold panning.
South Yuba River State Park, 17660 Pleasant Valley Road, Penn Valley, 530/432-2546. Historic Bridgeport is the longest single span covered bridge in the country. Swimming in one of the river’s natural pools, kayak, hiking, picnicking & fishing.
Recreation:
Lakes:
Rollins Lake: Hwy 174 & Rollins Lake Road, Colfax, restaurant, boat rentals, stores, gas dock, water-skiing, swimming, boating, shore fishing--catchable trout planted yearly, bass, catfish, bluegills
Scott’s Flat Lake: Off Hwy 20, Scott’s Flat Road, Nevada City, Playground, swimming, water skiing, hike, fish--catch trout, kokanee salmon, bass, catfish, bluegills & German brown trout.
Tributary Whitewater Tours: 20480 Woodbury Drive, Grass Valley, 1/800/672-3846 Ride nearby rivers, easy to difficult, half-day to four day trips.
Kayaking: Wolf Creek Wilderness, 595 E Main St., Grass Valley, 530/477-2722. World class white-water within a four hour radius of western Nevada County including South & North Forks of the Yuba River. Quiet-water at area lakes, guide book available.
Mountian Biking & hiking: Too many trails to list, but both Chambers have brochures
Tahoe National Forest Trails: Ranger-530/587-3558
Empire Mine State Park & other state parks listed above.
Bullards Bar Reservoir
Remember the above is only a partial list!
