empire mine...grass valley...january 2012

we're working really hard on capturing the possibilities of travel,
not just going from point A to point B...
we're now focusing on the everything-in-between-parts.
so on the way home from nevada city where we visited my sister and her family,
we stopped at the empire mine.
it's been twenty years since my last visit,
and my memory had not failed me.
the empire mine has expansive grounds and is kept in pristine condition by the state.
the tours are thorough and warm and personal.
and if you miss one, a kindly gentleman will probably grab his keys and show you the rest.
i cannot recommend it enough.

we're coming back in the spring when all is in bloom,
and the wysteria draped from the tall pines comes back to life.
and there's a miner's picnic to attend as well.
check out all the possibilities here -
HERE.

ps: they have been tunneling a new exhibit for the past twenty years -
a mineshaft exposure that you can actually ride down into.
the promise it will be done in a year - we will be going back for that!