Yo, Fall lovers...Where you at?

Just a 50 minute drive from Sacramento is basically my heaven an agricultural area known as Apple Hill. Apple Hill is home to over 50 local family farms, ranches, orchards, pumpkin patches, Christmas tree farms, and wineries — mainly spread throughout the town of Camino. The second the Northern Californian air gets a little bit colder, I start planning my fall day trip to Apple Hill! The area is open for the fall season from Labor Day Weekend through Thanksgiving.

If you're planning a visit to this fall wonderland, here are some tips to make your trip run smoothly :

♦ Make sure you've checked the opening hours and days for any stops you want to make. You'd be surprised by which ones are only open on certain days and which ones close early.

♦ Dress in layers, pack your sunnies, and (dare I say) get a fall-scented air freshener for your car to get you in the spirit!

♦ Many visitors pack a cooler of food they can eat between all the Apple Hill fall treats (or on the ride home at the end of the day). There are plenty of places to find substantial food in the area, but packing a cooler will save you money...to buy more sweets with! Bring some water as well, especially if you'll be wine and cider tasting.

♦ If you plan on apple or pumpkin picking, bring along some wet wipes or hand sanitizer. You also might want a cute basket for apple picking photo opps and a towel to put down in your car for any giant dirty pumpkins rolling around.

♦ Some Apple Hill stops are dog-friendly and some are not, so be sure to look that up first! If a farm is dog-friendly, the general rule of thumb is to keep it leashed and an owner must be with the dog at all times. These are working farms and can also get very crowded and chaotic.

♦ Hit the road early to get there before all the traffic and crowds! Seriously — I've seen an insanely long line of stopped traffic, all trying to inch closer to the main road of farms on a busy October weekend.

♦ Don't feel like finding parking at each stop? There's a free shuttle bus service on October weekends!

♦ Bookmark this post or screenshot the names of your favorites stops I've written about, and use it as a guide to plan your own visit! You can also download the Apple Hill App!

↙ Click the map for a printable version! ↘

My Top 5 Foodie Stops

High Hill Ranch

High Hill Ranch is Apple Hill's largest and most visited farm. They offer the largest selection of family activities and some of the best fall treats. They also host the largest craft fair in Northern California! High Hill is most notorious for their famous apple cider milkshake and caramel apple milkshake. The blueberry donuts are also really good. And don't miss the drizzle donuts  as well — cider donuts with chocolate or maple drizzle on top! Your sweet tooth is probably at maximum capacity, but don't forget to buy their homemade caramel sauce from the gift shop!

Fudge Factory Farm

The Fudge Factory Farm is on the same property as High Hill Ranch. They hand make over 75 fudge flavors (not all available at the same time), and an array of chocolates, candies, caramel apples, and caramel corn. As far as the fudge, I'd personally go for the pumpkin pie or chocolate caramel flavors. Also, be sure to pick up a few of the many peanut-butter-cup treats like an Apple Pie Fudge Cup or Dark Salted Caramel Cups! I'm drooling just thinking about how this place smells.

Rainbow Orchards

Rainbow Orchards labels itself as being the "Home of the Hot Apple Cider Donut". So if there's only one stop you make for cider donuts, let it be this one. They also won an award this year for having the best apple pie!

Abel's Apple Acres

Abel's Apple Acres is known for their candies, caramel apples, and "caramellows" (coated marshmallow pops). They also have an espresso bar!

Mill View Ranch

Mill View Ranch has the best apple fritters I've tried! This family-friendly stop has a lot for the kids (more on that later). But the adults will leave happy too, if they pick up some extra fritters for the coming work week. If you're starting to need "real" food, Mill View has pizza, ribs, chicken, and other lunch foods as well.

HONORABLE MENTION : You already know how hard it was for me to narrow down my favorite foods! But I just had to add the famous Walkin' Pies from Delfino Farms (formerly called Kids, Inc).

My Top 5 Boozy Stops

Boa Vista Orchards

I simply cannot leave Apple Hill without a visit to Boa Vista Orchards. Their hard cider flight is what keeps me coming back each fall. Last year, I paid just $10 for a sampler of 6! My favorite samples were the Apple Beer, Pomegranate Cider, and Blackberry Cider. You can also do a free apple wine tasting and sample sangria if they've got it out!

Jack Russell Farm Brewery

The Jack Russell Farm Brewery sadly isn't filled with jack russell's. But it does sit on 11 acres right near a llama field, and leashed dogs are ok to bring! There's a large umbrella-filled patio area, with picnic tables to gather around. A few tasting rooms are inside. The brewery offers year-round and seasonal craft beer, wines, ciders, and meads (yes, there's a meadery)! You can find food trucks here on certain days, so if you'd like to make it a lunch stop, call ahead to see if food will be there.

North Canyon Cider Co.

The North Canyon Cider Co. has been making freshly pressed apple cider for nearly 40 years! If you're looking to try some award-winning hard ciders, this is your place. They won Best of Show at the 2017 World Beverage Competition!

Lava Cap Winery

Head to the Lava Cap Winery for award-winning and gold-medaled wines! This winery was started by an acclaimed geologist who discovered prime volcanic soil on this land, and deemed it perfect for growing high-quality wine grapes. Sip on these world-class wines in the tasting room, and grab a bottle or two to gift as holiday presents! The packaging has got to be one of my favorites too — each bottle has a bright blue Steller's Jay on the label!

Bumgarner Winery

The Bumgarner Winery produces delicious wines, but is unique for its unusual hard cider flavors. Sample the dry-hopped cider and the popular ginger cider. The tasting room is in a cute rustic barn surrounded by fig trees, and tastings are just $5/person. There's also a deli case with charcuterie, cheeses, and crackers.

HONORABLE MENTION : I have yet to visit, but the Boeger Winery estate was homesteaded during the Gold Rush, and is the oldest winery in El Dorado. They were also the recipient of the 2018 Wine Lifetime Achievement Award by the CA State Fair. Signature wine tasting in the rustic farmhouse is $5/person or Select wine tasting is $20/person.

The Best Activities For Kids

Everything at High Hill Ranch

Again, High Hill Ranch has the largest selection of family activities and is the most visited farm in Apple Hill. Keep your kiddos occupied with pony rides, a large craft fair, a tractor hay ride, and even a large pond you can rent poles and go fishing in!

Miniature Town at Mill View Ranch

The Mill View Ranch has the cutest little old-western town for kids to play in! Mini buildings like a jail, a post office, a restaurant, and houses are set up like a town square. There's also a little wooden fence maze, and kid's crafts you can purchase in the shop.

Gemstone Mining at Apple Ridge Farms

Apple Ridge Farms has a lot to offer families as well. From nature trails to a hay maze to face painting. But the best activity here is the gemstone mining and gold panning! Buy a baggie of sand for your kids to sift out in the water trough and watch them get excited when colorful gems appear! This makes a fun memory and it's a pretty unique souvenir to bring home from Apple Hill!

Train Rides at El Dorado Orchards

El Dorado Orchards claims to have Apple Hill's only train ride — and it's the perfect activity for kids! Chug along the countryside and past two pretty ponds on this mini train (keep an eye out for ducks and geese). Tickets are only $3.50/person, and you can visit the craft fair when you're done.

Animal Shows & Cooking Classes at Denver Dan's

Denver Dan's Apple Patch has more than just U-Pick apples. On Saturdays, you can watch Sara's interactive presentation of friendly farm animals! It's both fun and educational, and your kiddos will get to see unique farm animals like Soay sheep, South American alpacas, and Nigerian goats. They can feed the animals for 50¢ and toddlers can go on a pony ride.

Denver Dan's also offers a 2-3 hour cooking class for kids ages 5 and up. The minimum class size is 5 kids and you'll need to call ahead for pricing and reservations. Your kiddo will get to learn how to roll their own dough, fill it, and crimp the edges. They can also make cookies with decorations on top, and their treats will be baked so they can take them home!

The Best Activities For Adults

Shop the Craft Fairs

Apple Hill offers a lot more than just wine and cider tastings for adults. Make sure to check out the largest arts and crafts fair in Northern California at High Hill Ranch. It's a great spot to pick up holiday presents for your friends and family back home. You can find handmade jewelry, leather items, paintings and prints, knitted goods, candles, and more. One of my favorite vendors was a guy who custom makes shaped wooden cutting boards. He had a bunch of neat boards already crafted for sale — California shaped cutting boards, apple ones, bison ones, etc.

Another great craft fair is at El Dorado Orchards. This extensive arts and crafts fair has handmade items such as wooden furniture, jewelry, garden sculptures, puppets, and more.

Yoga & Bluegrass Jams

Boeger Winery offers a fall WOGA class (Wine & Yoga) once a month where you can connect with the outdoors and receive a complimentary glass of wine. The next 2018 classes are September 16th (Easy Flow) and October 14th (Vinyasa Flow), and each are $25/person. You just need to bring your own yoga mat and reserve your space online before they sell out.

Boeger Winery will also be hosting an open Bluegrass Jam Session on October 7th from 12:30pm-3:30pm. Gather on the picnic grounds to listen to the music, or bring your own bluegrass instrument and join in!

24Carrot Farm also offers Yoga on the farm. These classes are held every Saturday at 9am, and are simply donation-based. It's one hour long and for all levels. Listen to the bullfrogs by the pond as you do your downward dog (or whatever you yogis do, haha).

Giant Adult's Corn Maze at Delfino Farms

Delfino Farms has a kids maze, but also a giant corn maze for the adults to have fun in! Call me a child, but I love fall activities like this! I don't think running through a maze, trying to find my way out before my friends do, will ever get old.

Scenic Picnic at Wofford Acres Vineyards

Get out of the main hustle-and-bustle of Apple Hill to visit the scenic grounds of the Wofford Acres Vineyards. Grab a bottle of wine or hard cider here (or bring one you've picked up along the way) and enjoy one of the best views of El Dorado county. There are picnic areas or you can lay out a blanket and get all romantical.

*If you'd rather picnic closer to the beaten Apple Hill trail, head to Larsen Apple Barn! They've got a bake shop and a great deli with other goods, that you can purchase right on-site and eat at their picnic tables. No cooler of food necessary!

Have a Spa Day at Time Out

Who knew there was a spa in Apple Hill?! Unfortunately, the Time Out Resort & Spa had a bad water pipe break and is still under construction. But they're hoping to re-open again soon and will be posting notifications to their site! Once they do re-open, it'd be a really nice treat to pop in for a massage after all that wine tasting apple picking you did.

U-Pick Apples & Pumpkins

Apple season in mainly in September, while pumpkin season is in October. There are loads of farms in Apple Hill that offer pre-picked apples, each variety piled nicely in bins and crates. Pre-picked pumpkins, already off the vine, are carefully displayed on hay bales. But for those of you who are looking to make an experience out of picking your own, finding a farm can be a bit more difficult.

Apples

The best U-Pick apple spot is Denver Dan's Apple Patch. Buckets and tools are provided for you and you can check out their old fashioned apple peeler on-site. There's also a gift shop and small bake shop.

A smaller and more quiet U-Pick apple spot is Hangtown Kid Apple Orchard. This is the only place written about in this post that's not actually affiliated with the Apple Hill Grower's Association. It's just a tiny family-run orchard that is often a "help yourself & pay your cash in good faith" type of place.

Pumpkins

My favorite U-Pick pumpkin patch is O'Halloran's Apple Trail Ranch. Over 3 acres of pumpkins, on the vine, are waiting for you to come along and pick one. They come in all sizes, from tabletop harvest decor to big rotund jack-o-lanterns!

Bluestone Meadow is also a nice place to pick your own pumpkins. They grow about 8 different varieties — some for decoration, some for carving, and some for cooking with. Take note they are only open on October weekends.

♦  24Carrot Farm is a certified organic farmstand that offers both U-Pick apple and pumpkin picking, as well as U-Pick flower bouquets and other produce. Check out this U-Pick Farm Guide for even more ideas!

Shop Fall Apple Hill Styles & Products

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Where's your favorite place to go in the Fall?
And tell me in the comments if you've been to Apple Hill before!

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