Residents are encouraged to partake in The Heritage Trail this summer, where 21 museums—from Roseville to Tahoe—offer free admission on select Saturdays. What started as a single weekend event has expanded to run all summer long (through September 3). Placer County Museums Administrator Ralph Gibson explains the purpose is "to get people to explore their past and introduce them to museums." The Heritage Trail is kid-friendly and offers many hands-on activities, as well as living history exhibits. Drawings for gift baskets, including a kids’ basket, are also available—but only if you get at least eight stamps on your “Get-Up-And-Go” card, which can be picked up at any of the participating museums. If you can't visit during the free Saturdays, trail-goers can stop by during regular business hours and still receive a stamp. Visit the website to view the trail’s complete calendar and see when museums are offering their free Saturday!

By Emily Peter // photo by Anita Yoder