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Ah, fall. The air starts to smell sweet with the promise of rain, leaves begin to fall from the trees and we slowly trade our flip-flops in for sweaters.I have three favorite fall loves: my son’s birthday, Halloween and Apple Hill. For those not in the know, Apple Hill is located near Placerville and Pollock Pines, in the foothills above Sacramento and Folsom. There isn’t one sole Apple Hill, but rather it is 50 ranches, including Christmas tree growers, vineyards and lots of other fun stuff to create the quintessential fall day.
Top Five Reasons Why You Need to Visit Apple Hill
- Apples. Well, yeah. I am not a huge apple fan. However, I get my yearly fill at Apple Hill eating apple pie, apple fritters, apple cider and apple anything. I even saw an apple shake. Not sure about that one, but it is probably delicious. I also buy fresh apples and turn them into applesauce for the family to enjoy.
- You can ditch the car. The closer you get to Halloween, the crazier the parking. But there is a shuttle that will whisk you from ranch to ranch so you can enjoy the scenery without fighting for a parking space.
- You get to visit the Honey Bear Ranch. We like Honey Bear quite a bit since it seems less crowded than some of the other places and their pie is divine. They roast a pig each day as well so the BBQ pork sandwiches are yummy. Grab a picnic blanket and sit among the apple trees and enjoy their small pond and waterwheel. And don’t even think of leaving without buying some fudge. It is that good.
- You can do all your fall “stuff” in one swoop. Need a pumpkin? Check. Looking for a pony ride for junior? Done. Need to ride a cute train with the kiddos? All aboard.
- You can stock up. This year we added a trip to Boa Vista on our trek. The place was a zoo but we walked away with great local honey, pumpkin butter and more. And their cider was hands down the best I have ever had.
Before you go:
Cash is king in Apple Hill. We forgot that tidbit this year and were very glad that Boa Vista had an ATM for a nominal fee.
Bathrooms can be very hit or miss. I didn’t see much in the way of changing tables. So prepare yourself and your little one as needed.
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