Visit the Historic Empire Mine, click here Grass Valley was built upon the wealth of gold, agriculture and commerce. Now a bustling community filled with an abundance of history as well as hi-tech businesses. You can delight in browsing the quaint streets of Grass Valley while shopping in a wide variety of unique stores. Antique shops, art galleries, contemporary stores, fine restaurants, surrounded by plush meadows and beautiful countryside. Each season in this popular sierra foothill town is filled with celebration. The spectacular fall colors of Grass Valley will justify your feelings that natures creations were made for our pleasure. Do not miss Cornish Christmas with music, carriage rides, costumed venders selling mistletoe and crafts or the Candlelight Bed and Breakfast Tour of Historic Inns during Winter months. Spring is filled with delightful weather, Classic Car Shows, a Wine and Culinary Festival, and Garden Tours just to name a few events. If outdoor recreation is what you are looking for then Summer in Grass Valley is the place to be. Fishing derbies, hiking events, golf tournaments, horse shows, music festivals, cultural events, yes summer is a great time in Grass Valley. Enjoy Blues and Celtic Festivals, a Triathlon, Gem and Mineral Show, Octoberfest, Duck Race, Chili Cook Off, and many more events. The scenic backdrop of oak and pine covered lush rolling foothills with the past and present combined is what makes Grass Valley a desirable destination any time of year. POINTS OF INTEREST • Alta Sierra Biblical Gardens 16343 Auburn Road, G.V. 530-272-1363 Located on an old wagon trail, settled among oak and pine trees on the slopes of the Sierra Foothills you will find the Bible Gardens, where visitors can view scenes of he life of Christ. John Sommer created most of the stone statuary scenes and wooden hand carvings in the 1970's. This beautiful and stimulating garden was created with the help of donkeys packing in tons of sand and cement. Non denominational. Open daily weather permitting, sunrise to sunset. Winter hours, please call. Admission - donations. Available for weddings, baptisms, memorial services. • Lyman Gilmore School The school fills the site of the first commercial air field in the United States, which opened March 15th, 1907. A large mural of Lyman Gilmore is featured on a school wall. He is California's first aviator and claims to have flown before the Wright Bros. Gilmore, known for his colorful character, died in 1951 at the age of 74. • Gold Quartz Discovery Marker Jenkins Street , G.V. Thismarker commemorates the discovery of gold bearing quartz. There is a legend dating back to 1850 when a cow, owned by George McKnight, strayed off across a meadow. Rushing to retrieve his cow, McKnight stubbed his toe on a rock, saw gold embedded in the quartz and thus hardrock mining came into existence. This is the location of the Gold Hill Mine which is credited with producing $4 million in gold from 1850 to 1857. • Penn Valley Known as the "Pantry of the Northern Mines," and still a rich agricultural area. Visit the Western Gateway Regional Park featuring sporting, picnic and playground areas and a new performing arts pavilion. Nearby is Lake Englebright with 24 miles of shoreline with campsites, two launch ramps and a full service marina. • Bridgeport Covered Bridge South Yuba River near Penn Valley. The longest single span covered bridge in the nation. Built by David I. Wood in 1862, the bridge was 251 feet long (since reduced to 229 ft.) and built of timber, iron bolts and bracing. • Rough and Ready Located west of Grass Valley, on the Rough and Ready Highway The town was named for President Zachary Taylor, old Rough and Ready himself. This small town made history by seceding from the Union when the government imposed a Mining Tax on the town in 1850. Rough and Ready still holds an annual Secession Day celebration complete with a chili cookoff the last Sunday in June. • Self guided walking tour of Grass Valley's historic sites. Pick up map at Chamber of Commerce. 248 Mill Street 800-655-4667 or 530-273-4667 • Self guided tour of Grass Valley's Fall Colors. Pick up map at Chamber of Commerce 248 Mill Street 800-655-4667 or 530-273-4667 Things to Do Many Historical and Cultural attractions, Hiking, Biking, Fishing, Camping, Gold Panning, Whitewater Rafting, Skiing, Snowmobiling, Biblical Gardens, Imaginarium, 49er Family Fun Park, The Maize, Golf, Wineries, Self Guided Walking Tour, Fall Colors Self Guided Tour, Shopping, Antiques, Many Historical Cities Close By, Fine Dining and more. Newspaper Auburn Journal, 530-885-5656 All that's happening in the heart of Gold Country The Union, 530-273-9561 Share Our Unique California Lifestyle Radio Station K-Love, 530-272-3050 K 94.3 FM, 530-272-3424 KNCO Newstalk 83, 530-272-3424 KVMR Community Radio, 530-265-9073 Transportation Auburn Municipal Airport, 530-888-8174 Nevada County Airpark, 530-273-3374 Sacramento International Airport, 916-929-5411 Amtrak. 800-872-7245 Greyhound-Colfax, 530-346-2248 Durhan Transportation, 530-8887217 Gold Country Stage, 530-477-0103 Dial-A-Ride, 530-477-7433 Telecare Transportation. Services for seniors and people with disabilities, 530-272-1710 Road Conditions, 800-427-7623 Facts & Stats Population: 10,000 Elevation: 2,200 ft. County: Nevada County Climate: Winter: 35 - 54 degrees Summer: 54 - 85 degrees Rainfall: 55 inches annually Snowfall: light, approximately 5 times annually