What to do apple hill

5 of the Best Things to Do at Apple Hill

Apple Hill, in Northern California, is home to much more than apple orchards. Here, you can taste exquisite wines from local vineyards, attend unique seasonal events, enjoy a picnic amidst scenic landscapes, and so much more. Visitors have been exploring this incredible area for over 50 years! With so many things to do at Apple Hill, you may want a little advice on where to get started. We can help! Read on to find suggestions for some of our favorite activities!

All of the fantastic things to do at Apple Hill are just a short drive from Eden Vale Inn in Placerville, CA. We welcome you to explore our entire area for an unforgettable vacation experience. Explore shops and boutiques downtown, dive into our history during the Gold Rush, and discover hiking trails through the Sierra Nevada Foothills. Our guide is your key to the trip of a lifetime; get yours now!

Your Guide to the Most Fun Things to Do at Apple Hill

1. Pick Up Fresh Fruits, Vegetables, and Baked Goods

With cooler temperatures and plenty of activities, fall is one of the best times to visit Apple Hill Growers . It is their most popular time of year for a reason. Of course, you can expect the many farms and orchards to come alive with ripe fruits, treats, and fun for all ages. Hand-pick apples right off the branch, enjoy tasty jams, and grab a warm slice of pie. There’s so much more to experience here, too!

Featured Farm: Boa Vista Orchards

When planning your tour through Apple Hill Growers, we highly recommend saving time for Boa Vista Orchards. This 100-year-old, family-owned farm is open every day year-round and is well worth a visit. Here, you can pick up produce, sip on refreshing apple cider, and enjoy freshly-baked treats. If you have a sweet tooth, it’s hard to resist their caramel apples and sugar-coated apple doughnuts!

To get the full Boa Vista experience, pair the remarkable scenery with a glass of exquisite wine. You can enjoy options from red and dessert varieties to some unique apple wines! There are tastings available as well as full bottles for purchase. Feel free to bring some back and enjoy a drink by the crackling fire pit or serene ponds at Eden Vale Inn. Or, grab some farm-fresh items and plan a romantic picnic in the Sierra Nevada Foothills!

Can’t make it to Boa Vista Orchards, but still want to try some of their products? Order online and choose from salad dressings, jams, wines, and more. If you do plan on making the trip, their hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for more information on upcoming events and mouthwatering pictures of their treats!

2. Tour Vineyards and Wineries

Apple Hill isn’t just for apple orchards. Top-notch wineries and vineyards grow some of the region’s best wine grapes here. While you’re in the area, be sure to check some of them out! It’s a fantastic date idea and a great way to spend an afternoon.

Boeger Winery is the oldest commercial winery in our county and offers excellent tastings and fun events. Feel free to stop by their tasting room year-round from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Another great option is Lava Cap Winery. The grapes from this family-owned farm are grown in high-elevation volcanic soil for exquisite taste. Check out their summer music series for a fun evening!

Local tip: Feel free to plan out your day ahead of time by perusing the map of Apple Hill. It’s a convenient way to see the wide variety of destinations in the area.

For another unforgettable experience, consider our Chauffeured Wine Tour! As our guest at Eden Vale Inn, you can enjoy exclusive tours and tastings at our favorite wineries. Plus, your private chauffeur takes care of the driving and sets you up with a delicious picnic lunch!

3. Attend Unique Events

Make sure you take a look at Apple Hill’s events calendar to plan your trip according to the exciting happenings. Here, find details on upcoming music concerts, produce seasons, festivals, holiday celebrations, and more. There are even hands-on activities and educational lessons, like how to make jams like an expert!

Did you know that several farms stay open through the wintertime? If you decide to visit Apple Hill in December, feel free to attend holiday celebrations at Madrona Vineyards and Fenton Herriott Vineyards! Stay tuned to the calendar for even more options as they are announced.

Featured Event: Apple Hill Harvest Run

If you want to get exercise, support a good cause, and have an overall great time, be sure to sign up for the Apple Hill Harvest Run in early November . Lace up your running shoes and prepare for nine miles of scenic landscapes throughout neighborhoods and farms at Apple Hill. Over two miles of the route brings you through the beautiful Apple Mountain Golf Resort! It may be difficult to continue on the path without stopping to marvel at the breathtaking views!

Are you not up for the full nine-mile trek? Don’t worry! There’s a three-mile walk, and two fun runs for kids available. No matter which one you participate in, you’ll be supporting a good cause with all proceeds benefiting the Camino Union School District. All participants get a custom shirt, a participation medal to remember the occasion, and even a complimentary wine tasting from Lava Cap Winery!

Local tips: For ideal parking at the event, head toward Abel’s Apple Acres near Lava Cap Winery. Locals ages 16 and above can also use a discount code for the Apple Hill Harvest Run. Make sure you enter your zip code when you register online .

For comfortable lodging and a delicious, freshly-made breakfast to start your morning run, we invite you to stay with us at Eden Vale Inn!

4. Grab a Bite to Eat Nearby

If you need to fuel up after your adventures at Apple Hill, enjoy a farm-to-table meal from many excellent restaurants and cafes in the Placerville area. Many of them source their ingredients directly from Apple Hill Growers!

For delicious, American-fusion style food and drinks, grab a table at The Independent Restaurant and Bar. Or, pull up a chair at Smith Flat House for artisan pizzas and Mediterranean-inspired meals. You can even try some signature recipes in Apple Hill’s 50th Anniversary Cookbook ! It’s an excellent way to remember your visit and bring some of our local flavors to your home!

If you have any questions about nearby restaurants or activities, we’re happy to help! You’re welcome to take advantage of our concierge service at Eden Vale Inn for guidance in booking the ultimate Apple Hill trip from start to finish. Call us at 530-621-0901 or book online!

5. Enjoy Fun For the Whole Family

Apple Hill isn’t just the perfect backdrop for a romantic date; there’s also plenty to do for people of all ages! Bring the family and work together to find your way out of corn mazes or take rides on ponies. You may even be able to get up close to a variety of animals at the petting zoo! You can also pack a picnic and enjoy some quality time together in scenic landscapes.

Featured Activity: Check out the Apple Hill Pumpkin Patches!

A visit to Apple Hill is the ideal opportunity to pick up the perfect pumpkin for carving or baking. Enjoy spending some quality time together and even snap some photographs for the scrapbook! When the fall season hits Apple Hill, you’re sure to find several pumpkin patches with an abundance of these orange plants ripe for the picking. Check out Apple Ridge Farms, Bluestone Meadow, 24Carrot Farm, Delfino Farms, Goyette’s North Canyon Ranch, and many more. Whether you make them into a sweet pie or carve them into a spooky Halloween decoration, you’re sure to create lasting memories!

Local tip: Since the fall harvest in October is by far the most popular time here, consider visiting mid-week. If you can’t adjust your trip, don’t worry. Just start your adventure on the east end of the farms and return toward the west so you can avoid some traffic on the weekends.

Stay in Luxury Nearby at Eden Vale Inn

Do you need a place to stay so you can experience the wonders of Apple Hill? Eden Vale Inn provides you with luxurious accommodations on a scenic, 10-acre country estate in Placerville. We are much more than your average bed and breakfast. Just a short drive from the farms, we offer fresh morning meals, elegant spa services, and top-notch amenities to enhance your stay. We invite you to take a walk through our landscape, featuring serene ponds and lush gardens.

Warm decor and natural light fill our Madrone guest room, creating an incredibly welcoming atmosphere. Feel free to relax on your private outdoor deck with a couples deep soaking tub. When you’re not resting in your comfortable king-size bed, feel free to gather around the pond or firepit on the patio. We think you’ll find it hard not to feel relaxed and rejuvenated after a stay with us. Check our availability and book your stay today!

Источник

Apple Hill California: Your Guide to Apple Picking This Fall

On the hunt for the best apple picking in California?

Fall is around the corner & I’m craving all the fall things (apples, pumpkins, fall colors, oh my!) so I grabbed friends to visit the famous Apple Hill California region in the Sierra foothills. There’s not a lot of places to go apple picking in the state and this is arguably the best region to visit to kick off the season!

Keep reading for my favorite Apple Hill California orchards, where to eat and other fun things to do in the area! Consider this your one-stop guide to Apple Hill!

Apple Hill California: Your Guide to Apple Picking, Things To Do & Tasty Desserts!

>> Got a question about Apple Hill that you need answered quickly? DM me on Instagram @thewhimsysoul and I’ll be happy to help!

There are over 50 apple farms, along with countless other stops like wineries and restaurants, so one my first visit, I found it very confusing where to go and where to start off with. I ended up texting all my local-California native friends to get the inside scope but also discovered some gems along the way in person.

But before we go over my favorite orchards, here’s some quick tips to make your experience better.

• cell service is spotty up here but don’t be shy, ask staff members for Apple Hill directions or tips if you can’t pull up maps!
• Bring cash! Many of the farms only take cash or have credit card minimums.
• Bring your own water to stay hydrated (remember, it can get hot!)

Where is Apple Hill California?

Apple Hill is a region, not a town. It is in Camino, California and also part of it stretches to the outskirts of Placerville over near Carson Road. This is in the Sierra Nevada Foothills, about an hour East from Sacramento. If you keep driving an hour into the mountains, you’ll hit South Lake Tahoe!

Want to spend the night and make a weekend getaway out of it? We slept at a friend’s house in Sacramento, but I want to bring my husband back and stay at the Eden Vale Inn, a luxury B&B whose private hot tubs made me SWOON.

What Is Best Time To Go To Apple Hill?

Apple picking season starts on Labor Day Weekend and goes until the end of September. In October there’s pumpkin patches at some of the farms and a few also offer Christmas Tree cutting in December.

The best time to go to Apple Hill is mid-late September. Last year, I went on one of the very last days of the season and many of the apples were picked and/or too ripe for picking. This year, I went at the start of the season. We had fun, but it got to over 95 degrees that day!! Sweating while trying to get into the fall vibes wasn’t exactly my cup of tea.

Also, if you can, Friday will be less crowded than Saturday and Sunday. Most farms and orchards won’t be open Monday-Thursday. Apple hill hours are usually 10am-5pm as well, but always check the orchard’s individual hours first! Farms may be open year-round but they won’t have apples until the fall.

The Best Apple Hill Orchards ( Apple Hill Season 2021)

There are a lot of apple hill farms (over 50!) You can grab an apple hill map from almost any of the orchards and you’ll see just how many family farms are in the area. BUT, these are my recommended farms below.

It’s easy to get around from place to place as most of the farms and ranches are all on the same road or just within a couple of minutes drive from each other. There’s not an “apple hill road” per se, but it’s very similar to Silverado Trail where everything is all next door to each other.

Larsen Apple Barn

Larsen Apple Barn is probably the most popular apple hill farm in the area. Their iconic red barn sits on a corner and it very inviting. In the main barn you can pick up crates of apples or watch machines sort them. In their Bake Shop, find deserts and baked goods. They also sell sandwiches here and are one of the only farms in the Apple Hill region that offers any sort of lunch menu!

Supposedly Larsen has oldest apple tree at age 140+

Goyette’s North Canyon Ranch

This is my favorite place for u-pick apple picking! Many orchards don’t let visitors u-pick, which is the most fun thing to do in Apple Hill! I love Goytette’s (#21 on the map) because it’s cute and the owners are really nice.

This is the farm we visited on my first year to apple hill. We arrived shortly before they closed at 5pm, but the owner still let us pick apples as our leisure. We had the whole place to ourselves! Plus, those apples were dang tasty!

• – This year we went to Denver Dan’s U Pick but the farm isn’t as photogenic as Goytettes.

Delfino Farms

I heard such good things about Delfino, everyone seems to love it here! Sadly, they are one of the farms that is only fully open on the weekends. We stopped by Friday afternoon and the staff was making pies but that was about it. It felt pretty empty so we decided to move on.

When they are fully open, Delfino has animals, a winery and hard cider on top of apples and a nature trail you can walk. I’m told the apple pies here are fantastic (but they are pricey, around $25 for a pie so I decided I would just make my own pie at home with the apples we picked earlier that day.)

Restaurants in Apple Hill California (aka where to eat!)

It’s surprisingly hard to find a meal in Apple Hill. Deserts and apple baked goods? Sure, you can find that almost everywhere. But lunch? A bit harder.

Larsen Baked Goods

As mentioned above, Larsen’s baked good shop has sandwiches for $8.50 each! They weren’t the most amazing sandwiches in the world but were pretty good and were just what we needed to fuel up.

Jack Russell Farm Brewery

OMG I loved this place! Jack Russell Brewery has a brewery, meadery, winery and cider house all on-site. There’s a huge patio with umbrellas so you can sit outside and enjoy the weather while having a drink. (Dogs are allowed, too!) They don’t sell food but you can bring your own, so we jotted down the hill to Larsen and bought back sandwiches.

• Try their fruit beers, like Blueberry Ales and make sure to sip some Mead!

Rainbow Orchards

Rainbow Orchard is famous of their hot apple cider donuts, which I will confirm are delicious. They’re hot, sugary, soft and hit the spot after apple picking. They’re probably the most famous desert in Apple Hill in California.

That being said, we found our experience with the staff to be less than ideal and made us only come for the cider doughnuts and then left. If you come, I would suggest grabbing some donuts to go and then head to a different farm that is more welcoming. Or keep them the car for road snacks!

Abel’s Acres

I haven’t been here personally since they were closed on that Friday, but my friend who has a little daughter says Abel’s is a great stop for kids! They have a maze and animal rides along with standard apple hill baked goods and offerings. Plus, there’s Terri’s Country Cuisine & BBQ if you want to grab a filling lunch.

Boa Vista Orchards

Boa Vista Apple Hill is more like a market rather than a traditional orchard. They have sandwiches, fresh fruits, snacks, wines, ciders and more here. Come for a drink, for lunch or to pick up snacks to fuel your day!

Things To Do in Apple Hill 2021 (Other Than Apple Picking!)

While Apples are the reason to come to apple hill, there are other fun things to do in the area!

Wine Tasting: Did you know Apple Hill has wineries? I had no idea it was a wine region! After we picked apples we quickly found ourselves at the brewery and wineries (hey, we don’t have kids!) Tastings are so cheap here, not at all like the high prices I’m used to in Napa Valley. They average at $5 a tasting for 5 or 6 wines!

We stopped by Lava Cap and Boeger. Lava Cap has a huge patio and good views, plus a cute winery cat named Mr. Kitty! I really loved their Syrah and Sav Blanc. Boeger was also delightful – they make 30+ types of wine so everyone in your party will find something they like to drink! The outdoor area is also beautiful with a little pond and a historic house. I have a whole Apple Hill wine tasting guide here with more tips!

Hiking: Some orchards, like Delfino, offer nature trails for visitors to walk and hike! Bring some comfy shoes and stretch those legs between wine tastings. If you’re going to Apple Hill this weekend, make sure to check the weather and prepare accordingly.

Pumpkin Patch: After apple season, many of the farms part of the growers association open up their pumpkin patches for visitors to come to grab pumpkins in October! Most will also have things like corn mazes and hayrides around this time of year.

Christmas Trees: And of course, after apples and pumpkin seasons are over, the Christmas tree farms are open! Come cut down a tree and soak in all the holiday fun and events in Apple Hill!

I hope this helps you plan a great trip to Apple Hill and the El Dorado County area! Even though it was hot out, I had such a fun time kicking off the fall season by picking apples. I also really loved finding out how adult-friendly with wineries and breweries this places is – it’s not just for kids!

If you have any other tips to add, leave a comment below so everyone can see! Got questions? Leave a comment or DM me on Instagram @thewhimsysoul and I’ll be happy to help!

I’m the founder of Whimsy Soul (this blog you’re reading!) I’m a type 3 enneagram cat lady who lives in San Francisco and loves to find everyday magic to share with others. You can probably find me hunting down hot springs with girlfriends, ranting about diet culture, cooking with my husband, or watching like, all the things on Netflix. Follow me on Instagram for even more inspiration!

Источник