Colfax/Meadow Vista/Gold Run/Emigrant Gap (and that whole I-80 area) questions (Roseville: how much)

[SingleNurseMom]

Colfax/Meadow Vista/Gold Run/Emigrant Gap and all of the surrounding towns....

....like Applegate, Weimar, Shady Glen, Cape Horn, Magra, Gold Run, Chicago Park, Bear River Pines, Dutch Flat, Blue Canyon, Alta, etc (there are tons of small towns up there, I see)....

What is the best of these places to live?

* If you live in any of these areas, what are the pros and cons of each?

* What kind of a drive is it from any of these places to Auburn or Grass Valley (for the hospitals because I am a nurse), especially in the winter?

* Do these cities ever get snow, and how much? (I love the snow!)

* How hot does it get in the summer? (As bad as Sac?)

* What schools do you recommend? Do you know of any Montessori (or charter) elementary schools in the area? Do you know of any charter high schools in this area? What do you know of other high schools in the area?

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

[KidBlue]

I guess the people up Hwy. 50 are more responsive! I'm not an expert on the Grass Valley/Nevada City area, but I can provide some feedback.

Auburn is the largest town in that area. Grass Valley and Nevada City are both growing fast. Most of the schools in the rural areas around Sac are very good. Auburn, Grass Val. and Nev City are all very nice, but pricey.

The towns will all have a large percentage of whites and less minorities. Grass Valley and Nev City have wealthier people moving to the area and housing is getting pretty expensive. The area will be rolling hills with oaks. There will be some snow, but not more than 4 inches at a time, usually. Emmigrant gap is very rural and is in the Sierras. You would get lots of snow but housing might be hard to find. It's really rural and isolated.

The most affordable area that still gets snow is Pollock Pines on Hwy. 50.

[MannyfromCali]

Kidblue, you seem knowledgeable about the area, generally anyway. Would you mind sharing your thoughts about Chicago Park by Lake Rollins? Does it still feel somewhat like country or is it suburbia basically.This area is along the area in question in this thread, I hope I'm not highjacking the post. Thanks.

[GLS]

Originally Posted by MannyfromCali

Kidblue, you seem knowledgeable about the area, generally anyway. Would you mind sharing your thoughts about Chicago Park by Lake Rollins? Does it still feel somewhat like country or is it suburbia basically.This area is along the area in question in this thread, I hope I'm not highjacking the post. Thanks.

I have a friend with 20 acres in a valley in Chicago Park. The property looks out on surrounding hills and has several ponds. You can sit on the porch and watch the Canadian geese ski to a stop on the water. It is definitely rural.
Easy commuting distance to either Colfax or Grass Valley. I think the area closer to Lake Rollins is more densely built up and more expensive. You can also hear I-80 noise from some areas on Rollins Lake.

[MannyfromCali]

Thanks for you response GLS, I appreciate your response. I wonder how long of a drive it takes to get into Roseville from Chicago Park and is it a distance of roughly 25 miles? I'd like to explore the area when I get out there in April. Thanks again.

[GLS]

Originally Posted by MannyfromCali

Thanks for you response GLS, I appreciate your response. I wonder how long of a drive it takes to get into Roseville from Chicago Park and is it a distance of roughly 25 miles? I'd like to explore the area when I get out there in April. Thanks again.

It takes me about 20 minutes from where I get on I80 at Colfax to Auburn, then another 25 minutes from Auburn to Roseville. The trick is where you live in Chicago Park. The roads from Chicago Park to I80 at Colfax are two lane and they wind around. It could take you 5 minutes or 15 if you live on a back road and get behind a truck.

Obviously it depends upon where you are going in Roseville, which is a sprawling suburbia, AND what time of day you are commuting, but I would figure an average of 1 hour from Chicago Park to Roseville. You can corroborate that when you visit. Good luck.

PS When my wife drives it will takes 40 minutes, but I need Ativan and Pepto Bismol.

[MannyfromCali]

Thank you for the info. Funny about your wife's driving!

[LiveInColfax]

SingleNurseMom
If you still are looking for info,
the best place would probably be closest to schools, (Colfax, Chicago Park, Grass Valley) as most Moms I know that live farther out get tired of the daily school drive
Colfax only gets occaisional snow, Grass Valley a bit more
If I were to move again I would choose Chicago Park, nice country area
Live Oak Waldorf school in Applegate to 8th grade, Colfax High is a good school, good sports, music programs, Bear River & Nevada Union are larger
Charter Waldorf School in Grass Valley
From Colfax Auburn is approx 14 miles, Chicago Park add another 4-8 miles, Grass Valley is 18 miles, I would try to avoid commuting on hwy 49
Generally it does not get as hot here as Sac, although we do have 100 degree days sometimes, we usually don't get the fog in winter either
I love living here, hope this helps