Derek & Kaitlyn
Things To Do
Tahoe National Forest
A bit about Tahoe National Forest: Tahoe National Forest is a United States National Forest located in California, northwest of Lake Tahoe. It includes the 8,587-foot (2,617 m) peak of Sierra Buttes, near Sierra City, which has views of Mount Lassen and Mount Shasta. It is located in parts of six counties: Sierra, Placer, Nevada, Yuba, Plumas and El Dorado. The forest has a total area of 871,495 acres (1,362 sq mi; 3,527 km2). Its headquarters is in Nevada City, California. There are local ranger district offices in Camptonville, Foresthill, Sierraville and Truckee. In the summer, an extensive array of hiking trails (including a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail) , OHV, equestrian and mountain biking trails provide access to many lakes, rivers, and mountain tops. The venue is just inside the forest—this is the Nevada City side of the park. Actual Lake Tahoe is about 2 hours east of the venue. Time: next to venue (although recreation may be farther away).
Knee Deep Brewing Company
If you really know Kaitlyn and Derek, you know they enjoy a good beer! We recommend Knee Deep Brewing in Auburn, CA🍻 From their website: Knee Deep Brewing Company is a family owned and family friendly Microbrewery that is 11 years deep in producing world renowned Craft Beers. Our beers can be found throughout the U.S. along with a handful of other Countries. Our pet friendly and kid friendly tasting room is open 7 days a week from 11:00 – 8:00 where you can experience first-hand the amazing beers we produce. Time: about 30 minutes from venue (there are 3 total breweries in Auburn, CA that we recommend for a little bar crawl; drink responsibly 😘).
Empire Mine State Park
About the former mine turned state park: Empire Mine State Historic Park is the site of one of the oldest, deepest, and richest gold mines in California. The park is in Grass Valley at 10791 East Empire Street. In operation for more than 100 years, the mine extracted 5.8 million ounces of gold before it closed in 1956. The park contains many of the mine’s buildings, the owner’s home and restored gardens, as well as the entrance to 367 miles of abandoned and flooded mine shafts. The park encompasses 856 acres of forested backcountry and fourteen miles of trails - including easy hikes (for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding) - in the park. P.S. This is where Kaitlyn and Derek had their engagement photos taken! Time: about 15 minutes from venue.
Moonraker Brewing Co.
Another brewery! 🍻 Recommended by one of our guys at Sierra Nevada Brewery, Moonraker: Earth Day 22, 2016 opening day. This day was important to us because we not only wanted to a create quality beer for consumers to enjoy, but we wanted to find a way to minimize our carbon footprint. Because of our environmental efforts, we are recognized as a sustainable business in the Sacramento region. We are committed to quality because we believe in using only the finest ingredients and we are not afraid to go hop-crazy. Our brewers strive for innovation and creativity, they are always creating new recipes to keep your palate thirsty. Our creativity and commitment to quality brought some amazing accolades during our first year in business. We were named as Best New Brewery in California and #9 in the World by Rate Beer (visit our awards page). Time: about 30 minutes from venue (there are 3 total breweries in Auburn, CA that we recommend for a little bar crawl; drink responsibly 😘).
Grass Valley
A bit about the cute town of Grass Valley: Grass Valley, which was originally known as Boston Ravine and later named Centerville, dates from the California Gold Rush, as does nearby Nevada City. Gold was discovered at Gold Hill in October 1850 and population grew around the mine. When a post office was established in 1851, it was renamed Grass Valley the next year for unknown reasons. The town incorporated in 1860. Grass Valley has the Empire Mine and North Star Mine, two of California's richest mines. George Starr, manager of the Empire Mine, and William Bowers Bourn II, the owner, donated mine property which became Memorial Park. Time: 12 minutes from venue exactly (we drove straight from our venue tour to the park for our engagement photos 😂).
Crooked Lane Brewing Company
One last brewery 🍻 Crooked Lane Brewing Company is a 15-barrel craft beer brewing company specializing in a variety of traditional English ales, German lagers, and West Coast style IPAs. The brewery designed spaces that offer variety to suit your mood on any given day. Relax outside on the covered patio, meet up with friends in the community beer garden, or join us indoors in a setting flanked by sunset-facing windows on one side, and, on the other, the massive stainless steel vats brewing your beer. Honestly, we haven’t tried this one yet, but see it all over the Sacramento area. Check it out and let us know what you think! Time: about 30 minutes from venue (there are 3 total breweries in Auburn, CA that we recommend for a little bar crawl; drink responsibly 😘).
Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum
Located in Nevada City, California, the Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum is dedicated to the preservation of local transportation history and artifacts from the narrow gauge railroad era. Visitors are offered a docent-led historical tour of the museum, rail yard, and restoration shop. The museum offers a collection of railroad artifacts, photographs, and documents related to the Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad, the 3 ft narrow gauge railroad that operated in Nevada and Placer Counties from 1876 until 1942. Exhibits include Engine 5 which appeared in many movies, and various pieces of restored rolling stock. Short excursions on board a variety of railroad equipment are offered in the museum's rail yard. The county's first steam automobile and displays of local aviation history are also presented. Admission is free. Time: 10 minutes from venue
Crystal Hermitage Gardens
Crystal Hermitage is the spiritual heart of Ananda Village, and the home of the Moksha Mandir, Swami Kriyananda’s final resting place. Beautiful terraced gardens, expansive vistas, and peace of mind await all those who visit Crystal Hermitage. Find solitude in the lovely Chapel which was inspired by the Porziuncola of Saint Francis, or in Shrine of the Masters, which houses relics of our gurus and other great saints of Self-realization. Shop in the Crystal Hermitage Gift Shop for friends or yourself. Stay overnight in our Guest House overlooking the Yuba River Canyon. — Or, simply enjoy some time in the gardens. Time: 30 minutes from venue
Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park
Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park is nestled amongst the pine-studded chaparral forest of the Sierra Nevada Foothills and is home to California’s largest hydraulic gold mine. The 3,000-acre park encompasses the town of North Bloomfield and the historic Diggins site, which allows visitors to step back in time and experience the boom and bust of the CA Gold Rush. Visitors can see huge cliffs carved by mighty jets of water, results of the gold-mining technique of washing away entire mountains to find gold. Legal battles between mine companies and downstream agricultural towns of Marysville and Yuba City ended this method of mining, and was the first environmental lawsuit in the U.S. The park Visitor Center features displays on mining and pioneer life in the old mining town of North Bloomfield, as well as a short video on hydraulic mining. The park also offers unparalleled hiking, camping, and fishing opportunities, and, in winter, snowshoeing. Time: 1 hour 15 minutes from venue is
Quarry Trail
PLACER COUNTY, Calif. -- If you've never been on the Quarry Trail along the American River in the Auburn State Recreation Area, don't let the signs warning of rattlesnakes, mountain lions and poison oak deter you if you're seeking a family-friendly hike to a cave that once held evidence of a prehistoric past. Walk along the river where the historic railway once traveled and end up at a stunning amphitheater of carved limestone This great hike along the Middle Fork of the American River ends in a spectacular amphitheater of sheer limestone walls rising around you. Enjoy the natural beauty of the American river canyon and also pass by an enormous cave that was the site of both paleontologic excavations and more mining activities. Learn about the plants and animals present today in the canyon environment as well as the mining history of the region. Time: about 40 minutes