You might wonder why those of us who call the Auburn area home love it here so much. What makes this place on the planet so wonderful? Let me share some of my thoughts as put forth so well by Sue Thompson of my office. She and I have called the Auburn area home for over 30 years, and here are a few words about why we love it here.

Just driving down a country road from home to town makes us think of the snow-capped Sierra, the American and Bear Rivers and their canyons, the rolling hills and valley views. We have an amazing variety of trees, from deciduous to evergreen, and large numbers of native animals that call these forests and valleys home. The proximity and magnitude of these natural wonders provides unlimited recreational opportunities and has put Auburn on the map as the Endurance Capital of the World. Mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, skiing, boating, fishing, camping, horseback riding—and of course gold panning—are some of the outdoor activities available in abundance.

Our community’s appreciation of the arts is evident everywhere—art galleries, art walks, studio tours, live community theater, the Auburn Symphony (which has performs locally and at the Mondavi Center at UC Davis). We are a community that loves to celebrate a wide-range of things from mandarins to Santa to the Fourth of July. We even have a day in October just to celebrate our community! I always want to be here the first Saturday in December so I won’t miss the Festival of Lights Parade that Saturday night. It seems that every weekend provides an ever-growing calendar of family events. The year-round Saturday farmer’s market is even an event, with each season bringing new and fresh choices to our tables and an opportunity to enjoy a casual visit with friends.