Me being of Japanese decent, I felt the need to visit Wakamatsu Tea and Silkworm Colony Farm in…read morePlacerville, and to pay my respect to all the courageous men and women whom traveled thousands of miles to a foreign land (America) for a dream of a better life. There are no words that can express my heartfelt gratitude for the sacrifices and hardship the " Isei " (First Generation ) must have gone through ! They paved the way for people like both of my grandfathers whom came to the United States in 1906. On May 20th, 1869 a group of 22 samurais and one women arrived in San Francisco on board the SS China with 50,000 (Mulberry Trees) (Silk worm cocoons) (tea plants and seeds) ( cooking utensils) and (swords). Thus the Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Colony Farm was established on 160 acres in Gold Hill Placerville on June 8th, 1869. The life of the colony was short lived (1869 -1871) due to inadequate funding and a severe drought in 1871. Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Colony was considered to be the first Japanese Settlement in North America. In 1969 Ronald Reagan (governor at the time) proclaimed the colony to be a California Historic Landmark No. 815. The land is currently owned and operated by the American River Conservancy. The farm is on private property, so visitations can only be made by arranging a private tours, attending certain festivals on the property or schdueled events. Next year (2019) marks its 150th anniversary celebration !!! See web site for more details. Thanks for reading !

Have been to a couple of American River Conservancy events at Wakamatsu Farm. Such an historic &…read moreinteresting place. The volunteers & teachers are impressive. It is always an interesting & enjoyable experience in a beautiful setting.

Preston Castle Haunt - what a yearly tradition! My wife, my parents, and I have been making the…read morespooky pilgrimage for years now, and it never disappoints. You just can't beat a haunted house that takes place inside an actual haunted prison. The vibe alone gives you goosebumps before you even step inside. Add in the scare actors (who I'm convinced are local kids living their best creepy dreams), the friendly staff, and the affordable merch, and you've got the full package. This year's haunt felt longer with even more scares tucked around the corners--right up my alley! Preston keeps stepping it up, and I'm here for it. Until next year, Castle... we'll be back.

Came here for the haunted house event about a week ago and I'm not sure if I would come back again…read more Tickets were $35 each (purchased online) and you have to park and walk about 10-15 minutes to the castle or you can take the little van that drives you there which also takes the same amount of time. We took the van to the castle but they don't drop you off directly in front of the castle so you still have to walk down through security and then to the castle. Porte potty's are available right before security and once you walk up the hill to wait in line to enter the castle. There were a couple food trucks when we went, we were expecting a few based on what was said online but not sure if it depends on the time. We waited over an hour in line to enter the haunted house and if you do really believe in ghosts this place is pretty haunted. The event itself wasn't scary, the actors aren't able to touch you but there's obviously loud screaming and they may be a bit too close for comfort to get a reaction out of you. You do have to climb up and down quite a few stairs and then there's a second part lead outside and back in the castle (barely any lighting and it's a dirt road so you have to carefully walk). Many strobing lights as well so do avoid if you are triggered by that. The energy throughout the castle was not pleasant or welcoming, I was very excited for it to be over as the haunted house itself was not very good and I was mostly tired from all the walking. There's a merch truck outside at the end of the castle as well. We also decided to walk back instead of waiting for the shuttle but there absolutely no lighting and many ditches with uneven flooring so you have to be very careful. Overall experience was not my favorite and I wouldn't come back again.

It's a historic house where a female serial killer lived. Definitely worth walking by if you are in…read moreSacramento and into things like this. This story is well known to locals but was also featured on Netflix's "The Worst Roommate Ever" so I'm sure the owners are getting more foot traffic. You can't go inside and it's gated off as it should be considering people live there. I enjoy how the owners embraced the horrible history by adding some signs.

Good overall experience. I am a big horror true crime fan fan so it was a good experience to see…read morethis in person

Chollar Mine Tour - A Glimpse into the Golden Age of Virginia City…read more Recommended by locals, I made my way to the Chollar Mine, once the 5th largest mine during the 19th-century Gold Rush era. In its prime, it yielded an overwhelming amount of gold--worth millions of dollars then and easily billions in today's value. Scattered across the grounds are authentic mining tools, giving visitors a sense of the equipment used back in the day. One highlight was the rock smasher, which the staff explained in detail. From the start, John and Gary gave me a warm welcome and patiently answered all my questions. Before we entered the mine, Gary provided a fascinating introduction to its history and operations--explaining how miners worked in 8-hour shifts, the intense conditions they faced underground, and how they coped with the heat from the geothermal groundwater. Equipped with a helmet, I followed the narrow tunnels where the ceiling is low enough to give you a bump if you're not careful. Along the old rail tracks used for transporting minerals, Gary demonstrated the rope-and-pulley system, drilling tools, and even how miners once relied on rats and candles to test air quality inside the mine. He also pointed out the split line in the rock that marked different mining outputs, giving a vivid sense of how geologists identified the veins. To make the experience more tactile, he even handed me some clay samples from the mine, so I could literally feel the earth that once hid so much gold. Unfortunately, visitors cannot go as deep into the mine as I had hoped--I wanted to experience the underground heat myself--but for safety reasons, the tour is limited. The cave can be slippery, and you'll often need to bend down to avoid injury. After the tour, Gary enthusiastically offered to take photos for guests, adding a personal touch to the visit. Beyond the tour itself, I learned that John now owns the mine, while Gary has written a novel that brings Virginia City's Golden Age to life. --- Final Thoughts The Chollar Mine Tour is more than just a history lesson--it's an immersive journey into the life of 19th-century miners. Thanks to the passion and effort of John and Gary, visitors can better appreciate the challenges, ingenuity, and culture of Virginia City's mining heritage. ---

Had a great time!' Gary was the best tour ever and had so much helpful information. Best part of…read moreour visit to Virginia city!! Thank you from Tommy!!!

We had a blast on the Russian River Railbikes. This was something that I have been wanting to do…read moreand we were so glad that we went this weekend! The railbikes seat up to 4 people. Russian River Railbikes is part of the Golden Gate Railroad Museum, a non-profit organization whose purpose is to maintain, restore and run historically significant railroad equipment from the San Francisco Bay area. The guides are all volunteers from the Golden Gate Railroad Museum. The guides were friendly, helpful, and informative. You will get somewhat of a workout, although this is not strenuous. This is an activity that you can really do at any age and they are kid friendly. One of the guides stated that they have had someone in a car seat before (they have seat belts on them similar to a car) and a couple in their 80's has gone multiple times and they arrange ahead of time to have two guides on the railbike to help with pedaling. This truly is a great adventure for all ages! It's about 1 1/2 or two hours total and you will pass by a vineyard and farm. You will also go through a tunnel and stop half way where you will get out and stretch your legs. You can relax at a shaded table, dip your toes in the Russian River, or view a collapsed tunnel at this half way point. You will also have the option when you book this to purchase lunch ahead of time that you can enjoy at the half way point if you would like. It's recommended that you wear comfortable clothes, wear sunscreen, and bring any water and snacks with you on the railbike. We each brought a water bottle that came in very handy. You will have plenty of time afterwards to explore Cloverdale. An all around great experience that I highly recommend!

Cool experience. Not many places can you ride a rail bike w 3 other people. Views were nice,…read moreweather accommodating and the vineyards were incredible.

Service was terrible, what came to the table was not what was on the menu, twice I was brought the…read morewrong dish, kitchen was sooooo slow and there were only 12 diners and the menu was prix fix. Go figure. I have enjoyed dinner at this place on a few occasions, years ago but I will not be returning. Ghost tour was like a kiddie show.

We had so much fun during our recent ghost tour! The staff are so dedicated and knowledgable about…read morethe hotel, Gold Hill and Virginia City and the history of the Comstock. We did a short tour of the grounds, with the help of the hotel cat, Cloudy, and learned a lot about the area and how it used to be densely populated during silver rush. The guides really brought the mine accident history to life and set the stage for the kinds of spirits who may be lingering around. After the grounds we visited different rooms in the hotel and got a lesson on some of the energy tools they use to understand and communicate with the ghosts. We aren't sure if we encountered any ghosts during our tour but it was fun and we learned a lot. There is a lot of history in Nevada that is worth exploring and this is a great way to do it.

The tour was awesome! So worth the money spent. As a history buff, there's a lot to learn about the…read moreghost stories in Sacramento. This is only the tip of the iceberg. Recommend you purchase the EMF reader along with the tour.

We booked this as a tour for around 9 people on Friday the 13th earlier this year, and…read moreunfortunately did not have a great experience, however I can see how this would be a great experience if the circumstances were different -- so 2 stars for potential. The directions were not clear as to where we were supposed to arrive. There was no address to meet at. After going back and forth with customer service, they eventually gave a landmark, which did not exist in the uber and Lyft apps and was questionable on Google Maps. Everyone in their uber got dropped off to different places. The directions also said to go to "the yellow building" -- but when we arrived, there were several yellow buildings. The tour guide also was not carrying a lantern, which was part of the directions given (look for the person carrying a lantern.) When we finally found her, we asked the tour guide where her lantern was, she said she didn't want to carry it around all night. We also believe the tour guide was late. We were in the area looking for her for about 15 minutes and we passed by the same spot she ended up being at several times and did not see anyone. Finally they called and we went back to the spot and she was there. This was around 5 minutes past the start time. Then she told us we only have until 7:30. So we are ending on time but she didn't start on time? The tour guide took us around to several bars, but the first one she admitted that it was not even haunted, or that she was not sure if the bar was haunted or not as she was not familiar with the bar. So I'm confused why we went there? There was also no indication that this was only going to be an hour and a half. It was fun bar hopping with our friends in some spooky places, but considering I paid almost three hundred dollars for the group I expected a higher quality experience.

My boyfriend and I came here for a drink and stayed for the underground mine tour! This is a…read morecash-only establishment (or at least the mine tour tickets are) so make sure you have your money on you. Otherwise, there is an ATM machine inside. The tour itself was so neat and unique! Our guide was entertaining and well informed. I definitely recommend if you're in the area!

I think the last time I was in this saloon was about 40 years ago. I remember taking a field trip…read morein elementary school in the mid 80's to tour VC. I remember taking the mine tour and being amazed that it is a part of our local history. I met some friends on a chilly Friday evening for drinks and karaoke. There was quite the crowd already at 8pm and I could tell it was a popular local watering hole. All the patrons were singing along with each karaoke guest and having a great time. The bartender was a very nice guy that was doing a great job keeping up with everyone despite being the only one behind the bar that night. We made sure to tip him well. He was slinging fresh cocktails, fresh draft pours, and some ready to drink cocktails. A couple of us put our names and song choices in for karaoke, the DJ had pretty much everything available to him. The songs ranged from classic rock, classic country, modern rock, modern country, 80's chart toppers, and some obscure songs that a number of locals got pumped up to hear! I got up to belt out my raspy rendition of The Promise, it was fun to get to 'perform' in front of a crowd again. A couple others in my group sang their hearts out as well. We will be back soon!

What a wonderful way to spend an evening! Our hostess was so knowledgeable, funny, and shared some…read moregreat ghost stories, as well as a lot of Carson City history with us! The night was perfect, and we did the flashlight tour, which made things a little spooky! If you've never done the Carson City goes to her I highly suggest you give it a try! It was a fun evening out & a fun date nigh!

What a gas! Our "scary tour" was given by the spirited spirit of madam Curry, the founders funny…read moreand most entertaining ghost! It was 90 minutes, an easy walk past many of our most haunted homes and businesses. Take the kids, grandkids or make it a group outing ! Description SUMMER SEASON 2021 SATURDAY EVENING TOURS: 28th season JUNE - OCTOBER 2021 DATES: 6/19, 7/3, 7/10, 8/14, 8/21 TIME: 7 PM DATES: 9/11, 9/18, 9/25, 10/2, 10/9 TIME: 6 PM Ninety Minute Evening Tours Tickets: $15 Advance. $20 @ the Tour All Day October Ghost Walk - Saturday, October 23, 2021 The Carson City Ghost Walk reopens to the public for evening walking tours! Carson City's rich and intriguing history is explored and theatrically re-lived in our seasonal tours, led by Madame Curry, a ghostly and witty community spirit based on the widow of Carson City's founder, Abe Curry. The Carson City Ghost Walks evening walking tours are a delightfully spooky and enjoyable way to experience Carson City's Victorian era and diverse history. Hear about lingering spirits of the long ago centuries, haunted and paranormal stories and gossip from the past. This is a spirit lead, guided walking tour of the downtown district's west side historic homes and businesses. This is an outside tour leaving rain or shine. Please arrive at least 10 minutes before the walk begins. Please dress for weather & walking. Tickets: All tickets $15 in advance with an additional online fee. $20 at the door. Under 3 Free. Tickets in advance available online at: purplepass or by mail. Location: Tours depart from 3rd & Carson Street next to the St. Charles Hotel (Firkin & Fox Pub). Early summer tours leave @ 7:00 PM. September and October Tours leave @ 6:00 PM The Carson City Ghost Walk follows all CDC Guidelines for Covid - 19 and community safety. Items Not Allowed

Don was our tour guide and it was an incredible experience. He was very knowledgeable and answered…read moreevery question we had! It was a pleasure meeting him and I recommend everyone checking this gem of a place out!!

A very Pretty drive out to this cavern Lots of trails to…read morewalkabout around and before the small parking lot with an old yellow fire truck that you can check out too A kids sluice that is pretty cool by the shop and check in for the tour of the cavern. Bathrooms were decent And Faith our tour guide was A+++++++ with her flashlight extra luminescent sight too! Check it out and pack and pick-nick-lunch BooBoo! Get outside