Field Trips   

In 1930s New York, gamblers and evangelists roll the dice on love and life in this iconic American musical. Overflowing with songbook classics such as Lucky be a Lady, If I Were a Bell, and Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Boat, Guys and Dolls is a rollicking celebration of mismatched lovers and small-time hucksters. We will have lunch at the Nevada City Roadhouse at noon with a 2 pm matinee at the oldest playhouse in the West. A homemade scoop of ice cream after the play finishes our afternoon together. Members will provide their own transportation.

Join us on this fantastic field trip to understand and explore the engineering marvel of the 1868 Transcontinental Railroad which successfully traversed the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This trip starts at Bloomer’s Cut in Auburn and proceeds to Donner Summit and ends at Big Bend back in Colfax. You are required to provide your own transportation. Carpooling can be arranged. Bring a flashlight. Wear sturdy shoes and brings a bag lunch and drink.

This is a fun day of taking four separate, and easy 1/2-mile walks. The first will be along the newly completed Wolf Creek Trail in Grass Valley with a short tour of the Northstar Mine Powerhouse Museum. Our second 1/2-mile walk is a walk in downtown Grass Valley to discover the history of this gold mining town. We will lunch together at the Thirsty Barrel Restaurant. Next, it is off to Nevada City for a beautiful 1/2 mile walk along the Nisenan Tribute Trail to the fun suspension bridge which spans Deer Creek. We will finish the day with a 1/2 mile walk through beautiful Nevada City and complete the day with a scoop of homemade ice cream. Price includes museum admission, lunch, and ice cream.

Our first stop is the Historic hydraulic mine at Malakoff State Park where we will visit the abandoned town of North Bloomfield. Bring a bag lunch for outdoor dining. Our next stop is a secret, small and local Nevada County winery to discuss their incredibly unique and tasty wines. Finally, we head to the one and only Willo Steakhouse for a delicious dinner in this funky local hangout (continually voted the “best steaks” in Nevada County). Transportation, park admission, winery tastings and steak dinner included, except bar tab at The Willo.

2 days, 1 night: Do you need to commune with nature and just get away? If so, I want to take you to a magical and undiscovered gem of California— Sierra County (just north of Nevada County. We will travel via a Sierra College bus to the tiny mining town of Downieville, enjoy a picnic lunch, wander its few streets and see the infamous gallows which adorn the courthouse (the site of the only woman hanged in California). It is then off to Sierra City (population: 99) to tour the historic Kentucky Mine, a perfectly preserved gold mine and mill. This is the best spots to fully understand the entire gold mining process— mining to ingot. We will stay at the rustic Sierra Pines Lodge overlooking the North Fork of the Yuba River in Sierra City. It is a special spot you are bound to return to! The day is capped-off with waterfront cocktails and a five-star dinner at the magnificent Sardine Lake Lodge set amongst the Sierra Buttes high in the Sierras. The next morning, following a hearty breakfast at Sierra Pines (you can catch your fresh trout in their pond and they’ll cook it up), we will drive and tour the quaint red and white colored mill town of Graeagle then drive through the spectacular Sierra Valley on our way to Hobart Mills - the remote Donner Party encampment. A picnic lunch will be provided to enjoy in this beautiful meadow. Minimal walking over the two days. Note: Because the lodge is small (it is the largest lodging in Sierra County), we can only accommodate double occupancy, so if single— find a friend to share a room or let us know and hopefully there is someone else that needs a roommate. (All meals, transportation and accommodations included; except bar costs at Sardine Lodge).  26 openings at $260 per person double occupancy. Group leader: Terry McAteer Sierra College bus will pick up registered members at 9:00am in Rocklin and then head to Colfax Train Station to pick up members at 9:45am. You will be dropped off at each location on the way home.

The Grass Valley Museum depicts the rich history from the Gold Rush days to 1930 with displays of furniture, art, objects d’art, clothing, musical instruments and artifacts of the Victorian era. The Museum also features large Old California Style paintings, a Victorian bedroom, Lola Montez’s bathtub, a table used for the signing of the United Nations Charter in San Francisco in 1945 and many instruments and medicine from Dr. Jones the first doctor in Grass Valley . Today you can almost hear the echoes of children reciting their lessons as you stand behind the teacher’s desk in the restored classroom. These tours are limited to six people. There are ten steps to the second floor where the Museum is located. Tours are estimated to last 90 minutes. The Grass Valley Museum is located at 410 South Church Street, Grass Valley, two blocks from the historic downtown. Sessions: 1