Nevada County Life

Why does this rural area of California have so many Victorian homes? Gold and gold mining. To give you an idea of how rich the area was, the Empire Mine in Grass Valley produced 5.8 million ounces of gold between 1850 and 1956, when it closed. It’s currently on record as the oldest, largest and richest gold mine in the state of California.

Nevada City and Grass Valley were boom towns during this period, and many fine houses were built. Although there were a number of fires in both towns, many Victorian houses survived them, and more importantly survived the redevelopment of the towns in the 20th century. Then the end of mining operations in the 1950s ushered in an economic downturn for the area, with some of the Victorian properties falling into disrepair at this time, but the economic revival that has taken place in Nevada County based on tourism and an influx of high technology companies has been accompanied with a new appreciation for these wonderful properties. Many have been renovated and restored, and in turn they provide visitors with one more thing to appreciate in our local area.

The best way to see the Victorians in Grass Valley and Nevada City is to walk through the neighborhoods surrounding the downtown areas.

Are you a horse enthusiast? Have you ever ridden on the horse trails in the Gold Country? We have miles and miles of trails in Nevada County from the rolling hills and open space in the horse country of Penn Valley to the Bureau of Land Management trails winding amongst the majestic trees outside Nevada City. Empire Mine State Park in Grass Valley has some of the best trails around and it’s right in town! There are also some beautiful ranches in the Chicago Park area east of Grass Valley and out McCourtney Road west of Grass Valley.

Neighboring Placer County emphasizes the endurance rides and runs with the spirited Tevis Cup ride and the UltraMarathon run, one the best of the original trails winding through numerous mining camps and ending near the Auburn Ravine.

If you are a horse lover, but you haven’t been for a ride on our Nevada County trails, it’s time for a visit!

Yuba River at Bridgeport

This week we had a nice stroll on the Buttermilk Bend Trail at Bridgeport, part of the South Yuba State Park system. Each season is different at Bridgeport. In a couple of months, the Buttermilk Bend trail will be the most beautiful place to find wildflowers in Nevada County, and the flowers will bloom in waves throughout the Spring. In Summer, there’s nowhere more relaxing to spend a Summer day than at one of the swimming holes along the South Yuba River. For now, Winter at Bridgeport has its own charm. It is quiet with fewer visitors, and all you hear is the sound of the river flowing by and the gentle sound of the wind. The pools in the river are deep emerald green in the Winter light. And if you’re a dog person, you are only allowed to take dogs to Bridgeport October-April, so now is the time. Our dog loves to walk there and take a dip in the water.

So, if you’re looking for a nice place for a Winter hike, hed down to Bridgeport. It’s at a much lower elevation, so you won’t have to worry about snow making the trekking difficult! See more photographs of Bridgeport at thisisnevadacounty.com.

There are so many people who have chosen their dream town here in Nevada City or Grass Valley and then made their jobs work around it. People say it’s been great and they would never look back since moving here from the Bay Area or other places!

As cost of living and traffic have risen in cities around the country while technology is advancing, more and more people have been looking at working at home as a great option for a healthy work and home life. Many people are enjoying the quiet life here in Nevada County while still making their big-city money from their home office!

You find telecommuters – professionals who have moved here, but kept their jobs by traveling or by working remotely from a home office.

But even better, you find entrepreneurs! It’s amazing the range of small businesses we have here in Nevada County – retailers, web designers, inventors, writers, artists, ranchers, and the list goes on. It makes for great diversity.

In the past, young professionals would look for the the right job and assume they might have to move around the country to find it. These days that’s changing. Many young adults are feeling that where they live and their quality of life is the first priority, and then they’ll worry about a job.

In Nevada County, we have quality of life – one of the best school systems in California, amazing Sierra foothill scenery, a cultural scene including art, wine, and good restaurants, and most of all, friendly people!

This week my son and I went to the Imaginarium in Nevada City for their monthly preschool play day. It was a really fun outing that I highly recommend! It was set up for preschoolers, and we explored magnets, bubbles, gravity exhibits, and did some painting.

The Imaginarium has over 20 different hands on science exhibits, and it’s good for all ages – kids and adults. They have a generator to raise your hair, a Distorted Room where you can shrink, and my personal favorite – a skeleton riding a bicycle. Through June 2009, they are hosting a special exhibit titled “Simple Machines”. 

The preschool play day is once a month, but if you don’t have a preschooler, the Imaginarium is open to the public one Friday or Saturday a month from September to June and for special events. Visit to view the schedule. You’ll find the Imaginarium at the corner of Ridge Road and Nevada City Highway in Nevada City. Phone: 478-6415.