Some people remember their first bike or their first baseball glove. Me? I remember my first…read morefavorite park. Pioneer Park in Grass Valley will always hold a special place in my heart because it's the very first park I can remember absolutely loving. Back then, it felt enormous. There was green grass, a little creek, baseball games, families everywhere, and after church or a Little League game, it was the place to be. But the real star of the show was that swing. If you grew up in the '70s or '80s, you might remember it. It looked like something the safety inspectors would have a panic attack over today. It had a long bar across the top with swings on each end, and my dad would grab one side and start running. If he got enough speed, the kid on the outside would lift way up into the air. To me, it wasn't a swing it was a helicopter. I swear I thought I was about to take off for Sacramento. I'm pretty sure they quit making those because someone, somewhere, decided children should survive their childhood. Fair enough... but man, they were fun. As I've gotten older, I've realized something funny. Places don't actually shrink... your perspective changes. I went back recently, and Pioneer Park isn't some giant adventureland anymore. It's a beautiful little park tucked into the corner of Grass Valley. There happened to be a concert going on that evening, music filled the air, and for a moment I wasn't thinking about today I was thinking about being a little kid again. A few years ago I even dropped my phone in the creek. I drove away before my car announced, "Phone disconnected." Nothing like fishing for your phone in the same creek where you used to play as a kid. Apparently, some traditions evolve. Looking back, this park means even more to me because of who brought me there. My dad wasn't perfect. We all have complicated relationships with our parents. But when I think about parks, I don't remember my grandparents taking me. I don't remember my mom taking me. I remember my dad. Maybe he just wanted to get out of the house. Maybe he wanted to cool off. Maybe that's how he showed he cared. Whatever the reason, those afternoons became one of the happiest memories of my childhood. That's the funny thing about places. Sometimes they aren't famous because they're the biggest or the fanciest. They're famous because they're where life happened. So thank you, Pioneer Park, for giving a little kid his first taste of adventure, for the "helicopter" swing I'll never forget, and for reminding me that some of the best memories in life don't get bigger with time... they just become more meaningful. Five stars. Not because it's the biggest park I've ever visited, but because it will always be the biggest one in my memories.

Pioneer Park is in the foothill town of Nevada City, CA. It's a beautiful 16 acre park with…read moregorgeous mature trees. There's a baseball field, basketball courts, tennis courts, bocce ball court, horseshoe pits, little league field, playground, green lawn space, picnic area, and bandshell. The walkways are paved and ADA. In addition, the public swimming pool and Lodge are located here. The park hosts summer concerts and special events. The Lodge is a hop skip n jump next door to the pool, playground, and basketball courts. It's an event building available for rent. It has a kitchen, restrooms, tables, chairs, projector, and seating for 120 for dining. There are picnic area throughout the park as well. The areas have tables, BBQs, and some have electrical hookups. These can be reserved via the parks and recreation website. There is a creek that runs through the park that's makes a beautiful trickling sound when the water flow is high. Peaceful vibes. But as in all public spaces, please be cautious and aware of your surroundings.

Visiting Empire Mine State Historic Park on a Friday afternoon made for a fascinating glimpse into…read morethe area's rich mining history. The various on-site museums do a fantastic job showcasing what daily life was like in an active gold mine. The absolute highlight was touring the historic Cottage on the grounds, which is stunning and full of character. Just be sure to check the tour schedule before you go, as Cottage access runs on a limited timetable.

Absolutely lovely grounds to explore, specifically the cottage house. A fun little glimpse into a…read moredifferent time of long ago. The mine shaft was obviously the highlight, which we were able to go down into without paying for a tour. Very cool with just the right element of spooky as you imagine being a miner at the turn of the century, traveling thousands of feet underground, by candlelight! We also checked out the surrounding buildings which have buttons you press that give you a synopsis of what you're looking at. We popped into the blacksmiths building where a couple blacksmiths were putting on demonstrations of skills required to work this job for the miners. There was also a quaint gift shop in the museum section where we got our kiddo a vile of gold as a fun little souvenir.

The water is so clear. Beautiful. Gorgeous blue water…read more. Truly amazing place A definitely must visit..

Every summer we look forward to coming here! We've been coming here for over twenty years now and…read moreit's been getting more and more populated. It used to be more secluded but it's nice to see to that more people are finding this spot as it is a,"Gem!" There are so many places here to hike and swim along the Yuba and you kind of work your way and find what works best with what you want out of it. The water is pristine...better than any swimming pool or ocean, IMO. You can open your eyes under water and it's never irritated. We usually bring our goggles but it's not necessary. There's endless places to sunbathe, without feeling invaded. Dogs are allowed on leashes but on this visit we did experience a dog taking a poo in the water, which kind of turned us off. Luckily, the owner noticed and he was able to take care of it, minutes later. The Yuba River is beautiful, you can't ask for better swimming conditions, there are a number of spots available if you travel up or down stream. The water is always emerald green and so clear when you dive under. If you're adventurous, there are some great spots to sunbathe nude... if you desire!

Great trail for a fall hike. The steepest part is the downhill from the trailhead. Everything else…read moreis a series of gradual inclines and looping trails. Go left after crossing the swinging bridge and you'll come to the water treatment plant. The trail is well marked. I was able to see where I was on my iPhone map the whole time. The bridge is a great photo op spot.

I wish it a bit longer of a path. But very kid-friendly. Path is well marked. Lots of fun things to…read moresee and interesting parts of the path. An old mine to the right of the trail. A wobbly suspension bridge (gulp). Lots of shade! Which was welcome on a very hot day. The water below looked lovely, but I didn't want to guide my 7-year old down there and get stuck. Definitely will need a shower after this hike! The tree canopy is delightful.

Fantastic new playground structure for the kids with shade and lots of benches and picnic tables…read morenearby. Plenty of parking. Tennis courts and pickle ball courts here are great with new restrooms. The pool is well maintained and there are working showers in the pool area. Softball / baseball fields are well maintained too. Great community park!

Love, love, love this place! Years ago, before I moved to the area, I visited and definitely did…read morenot expect to find a **NUDE BEACH**. Over time, I've met some friendly faces and joined in on activities. For instance, one day I was there hiking with a buddy, and we met an awesome couple who were playing chess outside their van. We ended up staying for hours, mingling and playing games! Anyway, I love showing off this place to folks who are visiting. One thing I noticed not so long ago is that if you type the place into your GPS, it may take you somewhere else. Make sure to type in "Hoyt Trail Parking," and it will direct you to the bridge and trail. There's also a nearby trail called "Independence Trail" that's walkable from the parking area.

This was such an easy but beautiful hike. We went down to the beach and I even saw some crawdad…read moretype fish while sitting on a rock listening to the brook. It was gorgeous. I can't wait to come back and swim in the summer.

It's a small park, but nice and clean…read more It has a pond, picnic tables, and a baseball field. I was surprised we didn't see any human trash around. Not even in the pond. If you're lucky you'll see jays, robins, wood ducks, mallard ducks, swallows, hawks, geese, herons, and hummingbirds. You might also see turtles and fish. My man heard frogs at night, but we didn't see them in the daytime. There are a few mushrooms on the ground. We stayed in a shipping container that was turned into a nice AirBnB across the street from this park. It has a convenient trail to downtown Nevada City. If we brought the kids, I would have them play here. Maybe kick a ball around or chase each other. There's no playground structure, so you'd have to be creative to play here.

I was happy to find this park was kept up! Saw absolutely no litter nor any homeless encampments…read morelike in many parks in the East Bay of California. It felt safe and was enjoyable to walk the trails. Easy parking and the parking lot was free from creepy people at least when I was there (another issue at many parks/rec areas these days). The trails are well maintained and I loved that you could get away from the house and streets in the middle of the park.

This is a beautiful park with large trees all around! They keep this place immaculate!…read moreLocated off of Butler and Brighton in Grass Valley. Many people enjoy the walking trails. They have plenty of benches to either read or enjoy your lunch. I went today to walk and enjoy the sunshine. TOTALLY safe by myself! They have bochii ball, disc park, basketball court, outdoor skating area, fenced dog park, etc. They also have a large covered area with picnic tables and grills. The park has 2 separate fenced areas with slides and other fun things for the kiddos. I noticed there is several public restrooms throughout the park There is also a renovated baseball field inside the park. There is a pond and most of the walking trails are pretty flat and easy to walk. I love to come here and throw a Frisbee or just chill under one of the massive trees that are all around the park. Centrally located. And close to everything. So quiet in the mornings! This is my happy place to relax!

Went tent camping here during the middle of the week. There were only 4 other campers there out of…read morethe 40 sites available - had a quiet peaceful time enjoying the park. Be sure to follow the written driving directions on the website - google maps will take you on dirt roads. Don't count on using your cell phone - poor or no reception. Bring all of your needs - no stores in the park or near by. The Visitor Center does sell ice and wood. They only take cash. Great Visitor Center - a museum of mining and relics from the town. They have brochures and some souvenirs. North Bloomfield is population 7 now. The park rangers are very helpful - Sue was awesome. Lots of trails to hike. Really liked the Slaughterhouse and Blair trails. We'll maintained campground. Grill / fire pits, Bear Lockers, trash bins. The bathrooms were a pleasant surprise - running water, nice toilets, toilet paper, seat covers, paper towels and soap dispensers. No lights.

Get outside. Start…read moreand end point at the Rim Trailhead. Dogs allowed but on leash. We heard a bear, mountain lion, few wild life at the civil hours. The hike not the most comfortable. Even with bug spray, mosquitoes and other flies swarmed my head and many in my eyes; felt like Pig Pen from the Peanuts. Trail was narrow & overgrown brushes, a ton of over and under fallen trees, steep ledges but shaded. A unique highlight is the historic town you run into if passing through the campsites and the beautiful river. The ride up to the trail, dirt roads and uneven. Would suggest sunshades, our pup hiked 8.5 miles of the 14 we did but brought a dog backpack, bells to make noise, trekking poles. Did once, won't hike again.

Some places never leave you. For me, that's the South Yuba River Trail and what I've always…read moreaffectionately called the Old Bridge. I remember coming here as a kid with my dad. Crossing that old bridge felt like the scariest thing in the world. My dad would make us walk on the inside, away from the edge, while my imagination convinced me one wrong step meant certain doom. Funny how a place that once terrified me would become one of my favorite places on Earth. Over the years, I've returned time and time again. I've swum here with friends, spent long summer afternoons jumping off the rocks into those deep emerald pools, and just recently brought my son here so he could experience the same magic. Seeing it through his eyes reminded me why I fell in love with this place in the first place. On a warm summer day, this canyon is nothing short of a postcard. Crystal-clear water winds between massive granite boulders. The iconic canyon walls rise on both sides, and the sunshine pours in, lighting the river until it almost glows. Families spread out on the rocks, friends laugh from every swimming hole, and adventurous souls leap from cliffs into the refreshing water below. I've been to plenty of rivers, but few compare to this one. The deep swimming holes, the towering stone cliffs, the endless places to explore, and the unmistakable beauty of the canyon make it feel like one of California's true treasures. Some places are simply beautiful. Others become part of your story. The South Yuba River is both. It's a place that has followed me from childhood into adulthood, and now into fatherhood. Every visit reminds me that while life changes, some places never lose their magic.

We have been coming her for over 20 years, the water is always beautiful and we have meet some…read morereally great people here. We usually visit 2-3 times a year for 3-4 day weekends. We'll usually get down to purdon crossing around 11am and spend the entire afternoon enjoying the sun, shade where we can find it or make it and swimming. We have meet some really great single guys and couples there to share our picnic with, so if you ever see us on the river don't be shy and say Hi.