The best part about the Forge is the community of member artists who ply their crafts in this…read morespace. Virtually everyone I met during the 2+ years I was a member was encouraging and supportive of creative work and process. The Forge also has basic equipment for a very wide range of creative expression. The equipment capacities are designed for entry-level folks. If you want to learn welding, or glass blowing or industrial sewing, this is a great place. Sadly, if you want to grow your skills, this may not be the right place. One of the owners manages what you can and cannot do in the making space. He treats this as his private home with cool toys to which you as a member have been granted admission by your monthly payment. If he doesn't like or want you to play with his toys, you are SOL. Longtime "studio guides" implement the owner's wishes, regardless of what is in the best interest of members. That owner refused to give me access to a fairly simple piece of equipment for over a year. The rationale provided over the course of a year and more never held water. During that time I paid over $1000 in membership fees without ever being granted approval to use the specific equipment, despite the fact that other people had regular access to it. I was not treated as a client, I was treated as a supplicant..and I found that untenable. This is not a "professionally managed space" and you would be happier elsewhere as the owner described it to me in an email when I was "invited to leave." You will be happy if the current provisions meet your needs. If you need any upgrades, fixes, adaptations...forget it. This place is managed on such a tiny margin that there is zero room for improvement.

I'm delighted to say The Curious Forge has become a significant part of my life where I love to go…read moreto make stuff while enjoying the company of bright, thoughtful, creative people. There are endless opportunities to learn the particulars of how to make absolutely anything! Area guides have world-class skills they enthusiastically share. Members seem to be of the same helpful mindset. The two founders are 100% present for brainstorming, feedback as well as being able to accept kudos and hugs. Every time I'm there it's a different experience. Sometimes I'm the only one sawing metal for a piece of jewelry I've dreamed up. Other times I'm in a class with several others who might be honing a skill or learning something entirely new. A weekly text lists what is happening each day that week and a newsletter comes out with exciting upcoming events to attend, volunteer with, or help create. This is a community like none other! Someone can be on their way to the metal fabrication area and stop to see what another person is making in the clay, fiber arts, or any of the 15 other studios. It is fertile ground for cross-pollination of ideas, creativity, support and friendship. We are so lucky to have this resource close to home! I hope you come check it out.

We booked a rafting trip with Mother Lode River Center in June of 2024. None of us had ever done…read moremuch more than easy trips on calm water, so it was a pretty new experience for us. Our guides were Erin and Lauren. We had an absolute blast; it was the most fun I've had in years. My sister-in-law was visiting from the UK and she said it was the highlight of her trip. Yes, the rapids are fast and wild and yes, there's a possibility you might fall out of the boat. If you're not a big adrenaline junkie or you're older and this worries you, don't let that keep you from doing this. I'm also not a big adrenaline junkie. Three of us on the raft were over 50. We all had a fantastic time. I never felt like I was in danger and I was never scared. The guides are great at showing you what to do, easing your fears, keeping you safe, and making sure you have a good time. Highly recommended experience, especially if you have a visitor and you want them to experience the best of Northern CA recreation!

I decided I wanted to take the kids I nanny (11 & 13) to do something fun and unique and thought…read morewhy not finally cross off whitewater rafting from my bucket list?! We were gifted a beautiful day on the river with multiple sightings of wildlife including fish jumping, ducklings, geese, and even a bald eagle! The best part was getting to see the kids do something, get scared, have a blast doing it, and then ask to come back for more intensity next time. I really appreciated the guides for their hospitality, humor, and kindness. However my main piece of feedback would be a friendly reminder that nature and outdoor recreational activities are a form of escape and respite from our every day life, so being more mindful of the topics of conversation brought up during the ride is very important to the atmosphere.

It is an amazing camp and my daughter loved it. They have multiple activities each day whiched…read moreincluded cooking class, go carts, slip and slide, coding, stop motion films and many many others. It is a bit more expensive than others but is worth every dollar.

From the owner: Since 1980, Steve & Kate's Camp has put kids in charge-allowing campers to choose from a variety of…read moreactivities in real-time, including sewing, stop-motion animation, coding & gaming, sports & recreation, maker crafts, water play, baking, and more. As children are empowered to make their own choices at camp, they discover new reserves of confidence, resiliency, and creativity as they learn to make course corrections & trust themselves and as they go. Families can buy any number of days, to use at any time-no weekly reservations required. Or, buy a Summer Pass, which covers the whole season. Either way, any unused Passes are automatically refunded at summer's end.Ages: 4-12 | Lunch, snacks & all hours (8am-6pm) included. Save your spot at Steve & Kate's Camp this summer by registering today.

Best climbing gym I've ever been to. What an amazing place and business to have in Grass Valley…read more It's huge, with plenty of climbing options for all levels to experience. It is also impeccably clean. You can buy chalk and rent shoes at the facility. This business is ran by an amazing, local family as well. I can't wait to go back. Gold Crush Climbing Gym is an Absolute Gem in Grass Valley.

This is a gem of a climbing gym that we are so lucky to have in our area! They change up the…read morebouldering walls often so you don't get bored and the staff is awesome- in particular Shona! My kids go to a charter school of which they are a vendor so we are able to use school funds . There was a mix up where we weren't going and the school was being billed but it was partly a mistake on my part. Shona refunded the money which shows what a stand up business this is and one of the reasons why I highly recommend it!!

We had our end of the season soccer party at le five and the kids just had a blast!…read more The staff were super accommodating and ensured we had everything we needed to have a great time. The fields were all in excellent shape and the kids had a blast playing! We brought our own food but they supplied the beverages. We had a spill (of course), but no worries as they quickly came to clean it up. They provide everything needed to play, balls, ponies, etc. Just come ready to have fun. Warning dress warm because it is chilly in there.

My son had fun playing soccer here for open play. However, why on earth would you not have AC in…read morethe facility?? I get that it's expensive but these poor kids were playing in a sauna. Stop being so cheap or charge less because it's kind of a dump in there. Concept is cool tho.

I have sailed on the bay often and of course taken the ferry many many times. The Matthew Turner is…read moreby far the best, way more interesting. It is amazing to see the work that goes into making sail. It's very impressive how the crew goes aloft to unfurl and furl the sails. The boat is very stable but there is some boat motion and it does heel a little but this adds just a bit of excitement. The crew is super helpful and as glad as everyone else to be on the water sailing. The views of the city, the islands and Alcatraz were great. No matter what the weather is on land it will be cool and windy on the water so bring a windbreaker and a thermal layer.

Food was good. Service was good atmosphere was good. Ambience was nice. Nice scenery of the water…read morethe ocean nice everything.

Shadow Glen Riding Stables was hands down the best field trip we have been on in years!…read moreAs a 3rd-grade teacher, I cannot say enough good things about Terry and the wranglers. They were welcoming, patient, knowledgeable, and made every student feel included. Our students had an incredible opportunity to learn about ranch and farm life, tractors, horses, foals, farm animals, hay, and the daily responsibilities of caring for a ranch. The hands-on experiences were the highlight of the day. Students were able to groom horses, interact with animals, ask questions, and gain a real appreciation for agriculture and animal care. Terry and his team kept the students engaged from beginning to end. What made this experience even more special was Terry Howard's generosity. Shadow Glen donated approximately three hours of their time at no charge to educate three classes of Center Joint Unified School District students. That level of community support is truly appreciated. Our students are still talking about the trip, and the adults had just as much fun as the kids. It was an outstanding experience from start to finish.

I must admit so was a bit anxious about riding, since I hadn't really been on a horse except…read morebriefly as an adult and also as a child. However, the horses were very well behaved and easy to handle. Big shout out to Cheryl, our wrangler, who made it fun with her cheerfulness and experience. My husband and I both enjoyed our rides and wouldn't mind going again. It's so relaxing being out in nature on a horse. Recommend whether it's your first time riding a horse or you are a seasoned rider!

My daughter has been attending EG CDC since the summer before she started Kindergarten. The staff…read moreare very attentive towards the needs of my daughter. The site supervisor, Monica, is excellent. She communicates concerns and praises regarding my daughter's behavior and performance with us often. We receive frequent updates on how she's doing. They engage in many fun activities as well as structured learning groups and events. It's really nice that she gets to interact daily with many of the kids from Elk Grove Elementary throughout all grades. The Summer Camp options are great as well. We are glad to have chosen EGE CDC for our childcare needs and trust that she's in good hands.

I'm so grateful that there's a center on my daughters campus. My daughter is excited every morning…read moreto go there and I was so worried that she would hate before school care. She was going to Kid central before we made the switch and I wish we would've done it sooner. It's a much more controlled environment. We are truly happy and again so grateful for having access to this center.

I have been taking riding lessons from Amanda for 18 months. I've had nothing but positive…read moreexperiences with her and have grown, as a result, to absolutely love horses and the sport of horseback riding. Safety is a primary concern along with an enjoyment of each lesson. I am 65 and had never ridden before my lessons with Amanda. She has never made me feel that I am too old to learn and her teaching style is wonderfully catered to each individual's needs. I highly recommend Amanda and Jarose Training.

Amanda is a very sweet, patient horse owner with a kind, gentle horse named Buckwheat. Buckwheat…read morewas calm and easy for my 3- and 6-year-olds to ride (with Amanda's assistance!). It's a nice way to ease kids into feeling comfortable with a horse. The facility is huge and has a covered area to ride on hot days.