Spring in the GVNC Cultural District

Celebrate Spring with brunch at Lika’s Quarter Cafe, where the patio’s massive cherry tree provides a spectacle each spring. From there, set off for a drive into the South Yuba River canyon and up to the San Juan Ridge, where Ananda Village’s Crystal Hermitage welcomes the public each Spring to enjoy the riotous color of 19,000 tulips in bloom. The garden provides a rare view across the wild and scenic Yuba River canyon far below.

Tulips blooming in the Spring at Ananda Villages (photo courtesy of Gold Country photos)

Wildflower enthusiasts will love the Buttermilk Bend Trail, a gently winding accessible path that follows the South Yuba River upstream for about a mile. Stop in for a sandwich at local favorite Blue Cow Deli in Penn Valley before heading to Bridgeport at the South Yuba River State Park for beautiful views of the river from hillsides exploding with colorful wildflowers. Free docent-led walks are available on Saturdays and Sundays in the Spring.

Lovers of literature won’t want to miss the annual Sierra Poetry Festival, a day of readings, workshops, and discussion with some of today’s most exciting local, national, and international poets and performers. Be on the lookout for pop-up poetry events throughout the month of April as the festival’s popular “SPF Fringe” celebrates National Poetry Month.

Spring also heralds the beginning of outdoor farmers markets and festivals, such as Grass Valley’s Thursday Night Market, which brings food and craft vendors, farmers, and entertainers out into the downtown streets to share their talents with locals and visitors alike. Enjoy a delightful iced latte from Cake Bakery & Cafe while enjoying a front row seat of the action on their Mill Street patio.