Valerie Moberg is the proprietor of  the Broad Street Inn, an historic bed and breakfast in downtown Nevada City. I wrote this series of 10 articles for her to use as posts on her Website and as information she could print out for tourists looking for something fun to do around town.  Links to the remainder of the articles are listed at the bottom of the page.

Jan wrote several wonderful articles for my business that I have successfully used for blogging and other promotional media.  Her writing is professional and creative.  She takes her time to thoroughly research her content and provides ready to use articles in a timely manner. I will definitely hire Jan again for future projects!  ~ Valerie Moberg

10 Ways to Spend Your Time in Nevada City

By Valerie Moberg

Located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada off of HWY 49, just an hour from Sacramento, California, the former gold rush town Nevada City has something for everyone. Teeming with history and surrounded by inspirational views, Nevada City is rich in fine dining, art, theater, and abundant opportunities to explore the outdoors.

Art. Like to browse galleries and meet local artists? The Mowen Solinsky Gallery hosts contemporary artwork from local, national, and international artists. They carry wall art, jewelry, woodwork, and sculpture. You can also see the work of local artists on the walls of local businesses. The Broad Street Bistro, Matteo’s Public, and J.J. Jackson’s always have local artwork hanging on their walls.

1. Biking. If you’re an enthusiast of riding the dusty trail, there is an abundance of trails throughout Nevada City and the surrounding area. Home of the Nevada City Classic Bicycle Race, which has been held Father’s Day weekend for the past 52 years, Nevada City draws internationally known cyclists, including Lance Armstrong. And in 2011, the Amgen Tour of California started from the top of Broad Street.

2. Fishing. While there is no fishing in the town of Nevada City, the surrounding area has several fishing destinations for all types of anglers. Some of the most popular spots are the Middle Fork of the Yuba River; Carr, Lindsey and Sawmill Lakes in the Grouse Ridge Area; as well as White Rock Lake and Lower Lola Montez lake in the Donner Summit Area. If fly fishing is your passion, you’ll want to check out the classes at Nevada City’s California School of Flyfishing

3. Hiking. There are many hiking trails scattered around Nevada County, including the Deer Creek Tribute Trail that starts in downtown Nevada City. One mile from the heart of downtown Nevada City is Hirschman Trail, the newest opportunity to enjoy nature in Nevada City. The centerpiece of the trail is Hirschman’s Pond, named after brothers who were pioneers and merchants in the area. This 2.4 mile dirt trail has easy terrain and accommodates hikers and bicyclists.
4. History. Nevada City was founded in 1848, just before the Gold Rush. In 1850, there were 10,000 boisterous souls living here, and in the general election of 1856, the 2,082 ballots cast in Nevada City were exceeded in the state only by Sacramento and San Francisco. While many California gold rush towns have disappeared into the pages of history, Nevada City has rebounded time and again to emerge as a unique blend of yesterday and today. If you’re a history buff, you’ll want to be sure your trip to Nevada City includes Firehouse No. 1, the Mining Museum, the Railroad Museum and the Searls Historical Library.

5. Restaurants. Nevada City abounds with excellent restaurants. New Moon Café, South Pine Café, and Ike’s Quarter Café all use organic foods from local farms in all of their dishes. Lefty’s Grill has award-winning pizza on the menu. Las Katarina’s serves fresh, authentic Mexican food and homemade tamales. Enjoy a beer on the outside patio Mateo’s Pub or fresh crepes at the Nevada City Classic Café. A complete list of restaurantsis available at the Nevada City Chamber Website.

6. Shopping. If you like to shop until you drop, Nevada City is for you. The town does not allow franchises, so the stores are unique and one of a kind. Grey Goose has an eclectic collection of gifts and toys. Abstrakt, the newest store in town, carries contemporary clothes. Darbeads sells beautiful homemade artisan beads andhosts classes. There are also antique shops, jewelry stores, clothing boutiques and more–each merchant distinguished by their own exceptional style.

7. Theater. Located at the top of Broad Street is the Nevada Theatre, California’s oldest original-use theater. Established in 1865, the building has seen thousands of presentations over its near-150 year history, including performances from Mark Twain and Emma Nevada to Mötley Crüe and The Second City comedy troupe. Today it is a vital part of the community and is used for live theatre, movies, and special events. A popular option for unique live theatre is the Off Broadstreet where, as locals say, anything is possible.

8. Wineries. Nevada County has over twenty wineries and Nevada City has four tasting rooms right in the downtown area—all within walking distance of one another. Because the altitude is comparable to the Mediterranean, Nevada County is the perfect candidate for high-quality vineyards. Two of the most popular Nevada City tasting rooms are Indian Springs Vineyards and Nevada City Winery.
9. South Yuba River. A highlight of Nevada County is the South Yuba River where visitors can enjoy the wild and scenic beauty while they swim, pan for gold, explore trails leading to historic mining sites and depending on the time of year, see wildflowers or take docent-led history, nature, and gold panning tours. Adventuresome hikers have a choice of trails ranging in difficulty from the easiest (Independence Trail), to other more strenuous trails throughout the park.

Valerie Moberg is the proprietor of the historic Broad Street Inn, and the go-to person for information about Nevada City. Built in 1870, Broad Street Inn is a small, family-owned, eco-friendly green business that prides itself on providing comfortable accommodations at affordable rates. Located in the heart of historic downtown Nevada City, this Victorian inn offers six contemporary rooms and a peaceful garden setting and is just a short walk to downtown Nevada City’s great shops, restaurants, theaters, and wineries. For more information about the Broad Street Inn and the Nevada City area, contact Valerie by phone (530.265.2239) or email (info@broadstreetinn.com) or on the Web: http://www.broadstreetinn.com.

Click on the link to download a PDF of the article.

Nevada City Wineries—An Easy Walk to Some of the Best

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Where to Walk in Nevada City and Nearby Areas: 5 Local Favorites

Grab Your Mountain Bike and Head for Nevada County

Gold Panning in Nevada County: An Insiders Guide

Gourmet Meals and Artisan Cocktails: The Old 5 Mile House

Eating Farm Fresh in Nevada County

Come on In, the Water is Fine—Swimming in Nevada County

Fishing in Nevada County 5 Local Resources