Time Magazine has called Grass Valley "one of the top ten best small  towns to live in."  The downtown Grass Valley area is considered by many to be one of the best  preserved historic towns in the United States.

Grass Valley, CA a historic Gold Rush city in Nevada County, California, with a population of 14,016. Located in the western Sierra Nevada foothills at an elevation of 2,500 feet, it sits 57 miles northeast of Sacramento and is known for its rich mining heritage, arts community, and outdoor recreation.