Best Local Guide To Apple Hill in Placerville, California
High Hill Ranch has an amazing variety of delicious apples.
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Outing For The Whole Family To Enjoy
Looking for the perfect autumn excursion to go with the family? Then Apple Hill in Placerville, California, is the place to go! Located east of Sacramento, this is a must-do trip, especially if you want to have family fun! The Apple Hill area has over 55 growers, including Christmas tree farms, breweries, and wineries. Located in the foothills, you can experience the peaceful countryside, autumn colors, and incredible apple cider doughnuts (famous here!).
Helpful Tips To Know Before You Go
I have a few recommendations to help you make your trip unforgettable and easy:
Bring a cooler-there are so many beautiful desserts, cider, wine, and you name it here. It would be a shame to go wrong while you enjoy your day. This way, your items will make it home in the condition (hopefully) that you purchased them in!
Check out the Apple Hill Map to help plan out where you want to stop. I highly suggest you either save it on your phone or print out a copy to get around. It's a good idea to verify hours of operation-not all locations have the same business hours.
Check the weather before you go. This area is in the foothills, it can get chilly in the morning and evening hours.
The most important recommendation is to try and head here on a weekday. It can get crazy busy, especially in October. Leave the frustration to other people who aren't in the know like you!
Ann’s Angle
Even though this area is a fun place to go in October, the secret is that the growers, wineries, and breweries are open (for the most part) the rest of the year as well.
Now Let's Talk About The Fun Stuff To Do
Kids Activities
The farms host unique activities each fall to with fun things to do with kids. Kids will have fun at the farms that offer u pick apples and blueberries. With fall in the air, experience a hayride to a pumpkin patch and choose your own pumpkin. Kids will love scouting for the perfect pumpkin to carve! Other kids activities such as face painting and arts and craft booths are available at some locations.
For The Food Lover
If things to do aren't enough to get you to Apple Hill, then the tasty baked goods, apple cider, and barbeque should! If you prefer to try something other than their famous apple cider doughnuts, fear not. The bakeries have assortments of pies, fritters, and turnovers to feed your craving for fall goodies. They have take and bake pies if you want to enjoy delicious treats at home. Candy apples, a fall favorite, are the perfect treat and check out the delectable versions to chose from. If a picnic lunch appeals more to you, enjoy a lunch of barbeque in the great outdoors at one of the many farms with dining options and outdoor seating.
Here are a few top stops that you will be sure to enjoy:
High Hill Ranch
High Hill Ranch is a top destination in the area. With that being said, it can get very crowded, especially on the weekends. Go early to get a parking spot. This stop has various activities, such as wine tasting, craft booths, pumpkin patch, a fishing pond, train, pony, and hayrides.
Abel’s Acres
Abel's Acres is another local favorite spot. If you haven't tried the local apple cider doughnuts, then I would give those a try. Here you can enjoy a large variety of apple desserts and fruit pies. Most of the growers have take and bake items ff you want to enjoy the Apple Hill experience at home. For the kids, they boast a maze, horse, and pony rides that kids will enjoy. If that's not enough, enjoy a barbeque lunch, craft booths, bakery, and caramel apples.
Boa Vista
Boa Vista offers a variety of locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables. The bakery has delicious apple cider doughnuts, turnovers, and pies. If you are looking for lunch, they have a grill offering burgers and hot dogs. The pumpkin patch is a fun excursion for the kids and a prime photo op. For wine enthusiasts, they offer wine tasting as well.
Adult Day Trip, You Say? Wineries and Breweries
Well then, I have a few ideas that you will most certainly enjoy. There are several (gold medal-winning) wineries and breweries in this area with amazingly gorgeous grounds.
Boeger Winery is the oldest commercial winery and a pioneer of Barbara in California. A beautiful spot to enjoy an afternoon under the gorgeous trees.
Lava Cap Winery is a beautiful spot to sample the wines in the tasting room and enjoy a picnic in the gardens overlooking the vineyards.
Edio Vineyards at Delfino Farms makes a hard cider from apples grown entirely on the farm. Enjoy a variety of wines and give a try of the delicious apple pies. Just visited there, and the grounds are absolutely gorgeous - check out the pics!
Jack Russell Farm Brewery is a fun place to enjoy one of the beers, ciders, meads, and wines in the open patio. With plenty of space to spread out, the patio overlooks the farm and llamas (yup, llamas), offering corn hole and picnic tables.
Need More Ideas Of Things To Do?
Here are a few more ideas of things to try while you are in Apple Hill:
Stop at a u pick fruit ranch.
Pick fresh blueberries
Try a new apple variety (there are so many yummy ones to chose from here!).
Taste test pears and peaches.
Try fresh-pressed apple cider.
Enjoy a hot mulled apple cider.
Participate in the Apple Harvest Run.
Stop at a Christmas tree farm.
Take the best family pic with the vineyards or trees as a backdrop.
Pick up a cookbook filled with local recipes to try them at home.
Let's pumpkin spice things up and head to Apple Hill for the best fall adventure!
