Julie - my family has been up in that area for ages and I was born just over the river from Marysville in Yuba City. I am a *little* familiar with the area ;) The family up there is dwindling though, so we don't go up there as often as we used to.

Anyway - Marysville and Yuba City are sister towns, just across the river from one another so they are taken pretty much as one and the same. Marysville is smaller because it is between 2 rivers - the Feather and the Yuba. Yuba City has more room out to the south and west to expand, so it has.

They are pretty good places to live, although a little provincial - typical small town places. Agriculture is big there although the people in Yuba City and Marysville are mostly "townies" and most of the farmers live outside of town.

Marysville is older than Yuba City, so it has more historic neighborhoods - actually there are some really cute historic houses there. It also has more run-down parts, unforunately. Yuba City is newer and has more in the way of shopping and services.

There isn't a whole lot in the way of high culture and most events center around agriculture - county fairs and that sort of thing. For concerts and things like that, you have to go down to Sac or sometimes they have things up in Chico - since it is a college town. Again, typical smaller town places - not a whole lot going on.

Housing is still very reasonable there, so you can get more for your money than you could even in Sacramento.

Overall, depending on what you are looking for Marysville and Yuba City could be a good fit or not. It's not a bad place to live if you like a smaller town environment but still have shopping other than Walmart.

Good input! Marysville area sounds like an easier transition for us coming from a small town now than Sac, but it will boil down to what position my husband accepts. Appreciate your details. Is weather/fog situation similar in Marysville to Sac? Commuting from outlying areas probably wouldn't be as bad into Marysville either I would think. Our town is in the mountains/high desert so bigger cities are a bit intimidating, but I grew up in So Cal so I'm sure I'd adjust!

Thanks again! Julie

Marysville and Yuba City get the winter fog - any place in the valley will get it. And although the fog is an issue, it isn't like it settles in in November and stays through March ;) It comes and goes. Sometimes the fog will stay for a week and everyone goes batty - LOL. Other times the valley will be so clear you can see for ages.

We went up there in Feb for a funeral and my God it was a magnificent day. So clear, we could see forever. Gorgeous.

Most of the bad weather is just rain.

If you decide to live in the hills, the commute into Marysville will be easy. Since Marysville and Yuba City aren't very big, not a lot of people commute there to work. Most people who work there live close by. There are an increasing number of people who live in Marysville, Yuba City and surrounding towns and commute down to Sac.

East of Yuba City and Marysville, up Hwy 20 about a half hour are the towns of Grass Valley and Nevada City. Both are really great - historic gold rush towns, still pretty small but you've got the basics as far as shopping and services. There are even smaller places further out and the people who live there come into Nevada City and Grass Valley for their shopping so these towns have more choices than you would thing they would based on their small populations. These towns are high enough to get a little snow - not a lot though. Usually just enough to have some fun. Real snow isn't far away though. You can be at Truckee or Lake Tahoe pretty quickly and have all the snow you want, without having to shovel it ;)

Your February trip must've been the one to Gridley with the great views. It sounds like there's a lot of potential in surrounding areas. We're kind of the outdoorsy type -- lots of dog walks, day hikes, car camping, early morning sunrise expeditions, etc. Are there opportunities for such activities close in to Sac or do you have to get pretty far out of the city limits?

Glad to hear the fog doesn't sock in all winter! I was getting worried. Having snow not too far away is an asset also. It sounds like there is a distinct change of seasons in the Sac valley too. So Cal was a bit lacking in that department!

The housing market isn't great, but it's better than San Diego which my husband was also considering. $500,000 for a fixer upper in SD - yikes! You're probably familiar with that phenomenon living in the Bay Area.

Thanks - Julie

Well, the negatives have been posted for Sacramento, so I will try to give you the positives. There is night life here, mainly for your age group, and top-notch restaurants... we have a fabulous Philharmonic, opera and a ballet season. That may not be your cup of tea but I think you will get a lot of info, once you are enrolled in City college. They even have a great theatre there. Midtown is a great place for young people to live. Don't get stuck in the suburbs. I have friends who live in the "burbs" who have absolutely no idea what is going on downtown.

My daughter 29 yrs old will be arriving there on or about Nov 19 - moving from San Diego for a new job opportunity.
Thanks for all the info - as an anxious mother I am really hoping she will like it there - and she will only be a days
drive from me now - I live in Eugene, or.
Elizabethian- if you move there maybe you can get together- same age group-
loves to ski - will need friends

Julie - In Sac there is the American river area, which has good opportunities for outdoors stuff. The Delta is really close too. Within an hour of Sac there are tons of outdoor activities - my gosh, where to even start? LOL. There is so much to see in the foothills and then the Sierras are only a little way further. If you go east and hit Hwy 49, going north or south you will find tons of good stuff.

The seasons aren't as pronounced as in some parts of the country, but there are really 4 seasons. Winter is just rainy rather than snowy, but it gets chilly. Leaves turn and fall of trees in the fall, although you don't get the vibrant colors - more often than not they start to turn, then it rains and they all fall off the trees - LOL.

Housing prices are still ok - probably half what you are looking at in San Diego - LOL. Ok, in Sac maybe not HALF, maybe 60% ;)

Sharon, J COr et all
Should we put you on a list for a future Sacto GTG???

Downtown is coming back IMHO. Esp with all the high rise condos going up.
Locve to have been able to buy the places above Mikuni's/Chaing's.
Stumbling distance to "The Torch".
Everytime we go in, Mrs Kal has to say "It sure would be nice to live down here".

We'll Priceline a room at Hyatt or SherGrand for a Friday or Sat night then taxi it around.

While it still ain't NYC, it will do.

About the fog...it is a pain, but we always refer to it as having a "white Christmas"...

It really is what you make of it. I'm a native of Sacramento, and live just north of there now (spent 11 years in Phoenix during this time). I'm really partial to the area, but I love history and the Gold Rush stuff fascinates me. I think there is PLENTY to do within a 2-hour radius...a lot of it in our own backyard. It really is what you make of it... Friends are easily made if you are friendly. Know what I mean?

Sunbum: I posted some fairly detailed info on your other thread. (Land Park isn't really a viable choice for your daughter - especially since she will be working in Rancho Cordova)

Kal - put me down for a GTG in Sacto. I had posted that suggestion to LoveItaly a while back, but didn't get a response.

Have you been to Tapa's? Or dinner at Lucca's?

I'm older than most of you guys, but if you don't care, I don't care.

OK!
Maybe we can have an informal "Fodor's Housewarming Welcome" for sunbum's dotter on Nov 20th?

Rancho? What insurance co? ;)

JCor-YubaDuba City! Home of the Honkers!
They still have "the water"?

She works for Progressive Ins
You can all come and help unload the truck when she arrives!!
Think I am flying into San Diego to help her and drive her car
Thanks for all your info - I hope she will love Sacramento although I must admit I am going to miss visiting her in
San Diego but am sure we will find LOTS of things to do in Sac and area.We both love hiking and biking etc so look forward to exploring.
May move there myself once she gets settled

Hi Sharon, I just saw your comment about a GTG..I didn't see your original one. I am sorry! I sure hope you don't think I was ignoring you.

Sunbum, I am sure your daughter will enjoy being in Sacramento. A lot of nice people there. And the Sacramento airport is so easy to use. That will be a big plus for here if she likes to travel.

Kal- thanks so much the suggestion of a
housewarming for her - sounds great!
She does not know anyone in the area except for the person who interviewed her for the job - so would be nice for her to meet a few other friendly people.

Yep - Yuba City, or as my husband calls it - Honkerville. :)) He had so much fun when he learned what the high school mascot is.

I don't get "the water" reference though. Maybe because I didn't grow up there?

Sunbum,
No prob.
I'm sure a lot of FFFs would be more than happy to help.

I think we all have been thru the "new city-don't know anybody" 'thang before and any little bit helps.

Ask Mrs Kal circa '79 when I stole her away from her parents.

Let us know. Would be fun to meet you guys.
Hey! Something new to add on the "You know you've been on Fodor's too long"...when you offer to help move a person you've never met when you won't even help your friends move anymore! ;)

J_,
The Honkers were in our sports league when I was a youngin' and it seemed like we'd have to take a shower when we got home after showering at the YC facilities because the water smelled/tasted like sulphur..

Some people joked that YC was the closest the to "H" on Earth so maybe it came straight from the River Styx!

Lotta changes up the Hwy 99/70 corridor and it looks all for the better. ((Y))

I seem to remember hearing something about those sulfer showers at YCH.

LoveItaly - I don't get on here all the time, so I thought you were either busy or travelling.

Maybe we can plan a GTG downtown Sacto?

I'll check back later today.

Keep me notified about Sacrament GTG as I'm sure Kal has taken me off his list unless I show up in shorts :`(