Roseville. California

About Roseville

From its origins as a stagecoach stop during gold rush times, Roseville has grown to be the largest city in Placer County, just northeast of Sacramento. Employers including Kaiser Permanente, Hewlett Packard and NEC helped the city grow through the 1980s to its current size of just over 130,000 residents. From the late 80s through today, city officials made revitalization a priority; updates include reworking the historic old town and opening a new Civic Center. Roseville has been ranked in CNN's "Best Places to Live" as one of the top 100 small cities in the U.S.

The Community of Roseville

Roseville has 30 distinct neighborhoods, with almost all incorporating residential areas. The most expensive residential areas tend to be east of Interstate 80, which runs through the city. Most shopping is situated along I-80 and to the north of the city. Industrial areas are to the northwest, while the historic downtown area is in the middle of the city, just west of the interstate.

What to Do in Roseville

Think Roseville history and you may focus on the era of the California Gold Rush, but before that time, native Americans called the Maidu lived in the area. The interesting Maidu Museum and Historic Site, located adjacent to Maidu Regional Park, features art and artifacts inside interactive exhibits that give you a much broader view of the area's original inhabitants. Walk along the outdoor trail to view petroglyphs created by the Maidu people.

Shopping is a key part of life in Roseville, with retail sales that make the city 13th highest in the state. The Westfield Galleria at Roseville, which is the second largest shopping center in northern California, opened in 2000 and was expanded in 2009. The mall includes 214 stores, 30 eateries, play areas for kids, a summer farmer's market and a carousel.

Fans of water parks or miniature golf shouldn't miss Golfland Sunsplash, which admirably combines the two. Go-kart racing, laser tag and a huge arcade ensure everyone in your group will have a good time.

One Place You Shouldn't Miss in Roseville

You may not think you love telephones, but you won't realize just how interesting the history of the phone can be until you've visited the Roseville Telephone Museum. Stuffed full of all kinds of vintage phones, the museum has hands-on exhibits that include antique and rotary phones and real switchboards. Knowledgeable volunteers open the museum one Saturday afternoon each month, so you'll have to be patient to gain admission, but it's entirely free.

Dining in Roseville

Looking for the best breakfast in the area? Four Sisters Cafe serves it up, as well as "home inspired" lunch favorites. If you're not after one of their famed omelettes, try the mango-stuffed French toast.

If you've never sampled traditional Peruvian cuisine, you're in for a treat at La Huaca. Known for its diversity, Peru's dishes incorporate Spanish, French, Italian, African and Asian influences, resulting in dishes like lamb shank braised in cilantro sauce or Pachamanca Tres Carnes -- meats slow cooked in Andean herb sauce with potatoes, beans and homemade Peruvian corn cake. Be sure to sample pisco, a colorless grape brandy, with your meal.