Kid Friendly Activities

Kid friendly activities in Nevada City & Grass Valley, Empire Mine, Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum, arts, events, festivals, County Fair, ice cream, swimming holes.

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Visit Empire Mine State Historic Park
Check out the Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum
Go for a hike along the Independence Trail, Buttermilk Bend or South Yuba Trail
Visit Treats in Nevada City and try an exotic flavor of ice cream
Visit the Pioneer Park swimming pool and playground
Visit The Artist Workshop and make a homemade gift
Visit 49er Fun Park and play mini golf, go karts, batting cages or the arcades.
Summer Movies at the Del Oro for kids or the family friendly outdoor screening of Outdoor Family Films organized by the Nevada City Film Festival.
Check out the Points of Historical Interest walking tour map of Nevada City or the tree tour
Food Love Farm U Picks veggies or Riverhill Farm UPick berries
Check out the local library reading programs and activities
Go geo-caching
Go to the kids climbing session at Gold Crush Climbing Gym

CLIMB ON GINORMOUS ROCKS AND SWIM AT THE RIVER

Water Activities

Paddle Boarding on Scotts Flat Lake
A few great South Yuba River swimming holes: Mountain Dog Swimming Hole, Edwards Crossing, Purdons Crossing, Hoyt’s Crossing, Mothers Beach, 49 Crossing. The most accessible for small children is definitely Bridgeport.
Kayaking on Lower Scotts Flat Lake
Pioneer Park Pool or Memorial Park Pool
Go for a swim in one of the local lakes
Go white water rafting with H20 Adventures

ENJOY MOVIE NIGHT AT THE CAMPGROUND

Friday and Saturday Evenings. Weather Permitting.

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

Great kid friendly hikes include: Independence Trail, Buttermilk Bend, Hoot Trail and Deer Creek Tribute Trail. Or Take the kids for a mountain bike ride at Hirschman Pond.

Jason Auld, owner of Mountain Recreation, loves taking his 3 kids outdoors during the summer season. “There are great flat water kayaking and SUP as a fun family friendly activity. Short distance backpacking is a great way to get kids outside and blow their minds with nature. Just need to focus on keeping it achievable, fun and interesting. Often you don’t need to hike in more than a mile or two to really feel like your way out there. The less taxing and grueling it is the more the kids will enjoy it.” Click here for information about their rental programs if you want to rent a SUP or kayak.

Other Outdoor Activities

SEASONAL SUMMER

The Inn Town Campground hosts kids craft hour for campers every Saturday in the summer season from 2:30-3:30pm, great family activity for all ages.

Perhaps you’re looking for a summer camp, there are still lots of great programs happening, click here for a post from earlier this spring on the Summer Camp Fair, still time to check out the Food Love Farm day camps, Art classes, Fox Walkers or The Center for Arts programs. Perhaps you want to be creative, try stopping by The Artist Workshop, either for a class or their drop in open session and leave with a new art project.

FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENTS

There are a lot of great kid friendly events during the summer season: Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival (June 18 – 21), 4th of July parade, California WorldFest (July 9 – 12), The Children’s Festival (Friday, July 17), The Sierra Storytelling Festival (July 17-19) or the Nevada County Fair (August 12-16), the Miners Picnic at Empire Mine (August 29).

Or try one of the winter events: Wild & Scenic Film Festival, Chinese Lunar New Year Parade, Mardi Gras Parade.

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