Grass Valley was once called both Boston Ravine and Centerville back when the gold rush brought legions of settlers out west to find new ways to prosper. Grass Valley is also unique with regards to its cultural heritage; many of the first miners to arrive during the gold rush were from Cornwall in the United Kingdom, which is evident by the Cornish Christmas celebration the town holds each year during the holidays. Grass Valley also enjoys Cornish food during the Saint Piran’s Day festivities each year; Saint Piran is the patron saint of both Cornwall and tin miners.

Although it started as a mining haven and then became an agricultural hub, Grass Valley is now primarily known as a tourist destination with a rapidly growing wine industry that thrives in the region’s Mediterranean climate. Grass Valley still holds two of California's richest and largest mines, the North Star Mine and the Empire Mine, both of which have since become a memorial park commemorating the gold rush and the town’s rich history.

In the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, this charming town is within reach of many wonderful destinations like Sacramento and Reno, NV which are only about an hour’s drive away. Additionally, San Francisco is about 140 miles away, so many of the lovely cities, as well as national parks and forests, are easily accessed when you book an RV rental in Grass Valley.