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 playground at Minnie Street Park (which is apparently part of the Condon Park area) was the…read moremost amazing playground we have EVER been to. It was clean, safe, had equipment for all abilities and even parents could join in on the fun. The bathrooms were clean and functioning well. There was so much to explore and enjoy and things were spread out well which allowed for lots of families to be present. The paths around the playground were great too; I saw lots of kids riding their scooters around and around. I do wish there was a bit more shade at some of the benches but perhaps the trees will eventually grow more to cover them.

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.

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!

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.

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.

Always fun playing Penn Valley. Lots of trees, some OB water shots. Be careful other than that…read more Lots of fun.

Ideal for a small hike, day getaway for the family or a quick swim. They have disc golf, bocce…read moreball, clean restrooms, live outdoors concerts, grills, 3 playgrounds for kiddos, gated dog park, basketball courts, exercise areas and so much more. Be prepared to enjoy nature. We like to go eat at he pizza place right next to ti after. It's a must, again and again

This was a really fun hike! Most of the trail is flat and the it's easy to follow and well worn. I…read morethink it used to be a loop but the West side is currently closed so it's now a there and back kind of path. There are many wood bridges along the path and while I'm sure they're safe (we're alive) some of them shifted under our feet and there were a few holes as well. Just be careful of where you're stepping. In some parts of the trail there is a higher path you can take alongside the main path that makes it easier to let people pass or just get a great view of everything below. Towards the end of the hike there's a big fork that goes up and down, if you head down you'll get to the water. We saw a bunch of other dogs taking this trail and our pup did a great job, even at the bottom where it was more rocky getting to the water. We would definitely do this hike again!

I went to the right side , beautiful pools, water clear and colorful, there are two spots with sand…read moreand you can relax after a nice swim, the pool is big enough to get a good swim.

Great place to play and float around in the water in the summer. The water is mostly calm and…read moreclear, aside from the occasionally swept up sand and mossy bits floating around. Theres a lot of families and kids here. The water is very shallow and plenty of rocks blocking/diverting each ends of the river so people won't get swept away or down the river. It's helpful to have water shoes on while in the river, the rocks can be very slippery due to the moss on them. There is a good amount of areas to set up tents on the sand, and even some shaded areas under trees. The sand is super dusty though, so anytime people walked by, the dust would get everywhere. The parking lot was already full when we arrived at 9am on a Sunday so we had to park on the side of the road. It wasn't too far of a walk to the river from the road, but was a struggle with all the stuff we had to carry down, especially without a wagon. The parking lot and restroom here is just a short walk to the river. The women's restroom has two stalls, sink, mirror, soap, and paper towels. There are picnic tables around, but no glass, bbq, or alcohol is allowed.

South Yuba River State Park is a fantastic spot for outdoor enthusiasts of all skill levels,…read moreoffering a great mix of accessible and challenging trails. The crystal-clear water makes for stunning views and relaxing stops along the riverbanks. Getting to see the historic Bridgeport Covered Bridge up close adds a wonderful layer of local history to the visit. It is an absolute must-visit for a scenic day trip. Parking is $5.00 for the day.

I have driven by here so many times and never realized that they had a beautiful rose garden!…read more This is located at 410 South church street in Grass Valley. It is by the academy and next to the thrift store. I was dropping off some clothes to donate next door and noticed the gates were open. You walk into this serene place with beautiful roses and water fountains. There is benches to telax and a perfect place to unwind! I like that the place has tall beautiful fencing all around the garden! I sat there for about a half hour enjoying the sun and the sounds of the fountains! This is a bit of a hidden gem in Grass Valley. Just be careful on the walkway ! I will spend more time here when i drop off things for donation! Be sure to see my picture of their hours as they do lock the gate entrance at closing time.

Steven's Trail is about 8 mile out-and-back trail near Colfax, California. The trail will be…read morealong the northwestern slope of the North Fork of the American River Canyon. This trail is well maintained and naturally beautiful but a bit challenging. It took me about 4 hours to complete. Parking is limited, so be patience, especially on the weekends. To get to Stevens Trail: Follow I-80 East towards the town of Colfax and exit at North Canyon Way. Travel along North Canyon Way for about a mile. Go past the Colfax cemetery to the Stevens Trailhead. Parking will be on your left. There's a cool cave! Exploring it and you may find yourself having a blast. Garbage in. Garbage out. Please keep the trail pristinely clean. Enjoy!

It was a great hike, sadly it was raining but we still got to mile 3 before heading back. On the…read morehike I lost my great grandmothers bracelet that I haven't taken off in years. If anyone hiking this trail is willing, I would deeply appreciate if you would look for it and return it to me. I could meet you anywhere within an hour of Sacramento to retrieve it from you. I'll attach a picture of it along with a picture of me on the hike and my email. To the person who finds it, I'll give you a $20 reward, cash (or if you are willing to mail it, that would be even better) My email is duncansophia@icloud.com