YOUR GUIDE TO APPLE HILL FARMS DURING THE FALL
SEPTEMBER 2016
Fall is truly one of the most magical times of the year. It means cozy sweaters, roaring fires, and all things apple and pumpkin. One of the most autumny activities is a trip to a nearby farm, where you can pick your own apples, go on a hayride, pet farm animals, and pick out the perfect pumpkin for your front porch.
Apple Hill Farms is the ultimate destination for the abovementioned fall rituals, in addition to so much more. And better yet, they have something going on throughout every season! However, fall is their most popular and busy season, so it’s a great time to visit if you haven’t already.
Photo courtesy of Apple Pantry Farm
At Apple Hill Farms, you’ll find a huge variety of apple and fruit farms, bake shops, wineries, a spa, flower gardens, wedding spots, berry farms, and Christmas tree groves. Explore their winding roads and scenic beauty that has been a destination for families for over 50 years!
To make the overwhelming task of visiting Apple Hill during the fall a little less daunting, use our guide to narrow down your desired activities, depending on the specific needs of your family.
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT?
Apple Hill Farms is comprised of a network of over 50 farms spaced out all over the Placerville region. As each farm offers a variety of features, attractions and special produce, you will never run out of things to do at Apple Hill Farms. In fact, the main trouble you’ll have is narrowing down what you can include in a day’s visit, which is exactly why we created this guide!
WHERE CAN I PICK APPLES?
While the farms at Apple Hill provide a number of activities during the fall, apple picking is one of the most popular reasons for a visit, which can be inferred from the name!
There are several apple farms that grow fresh apples, available to purchase or to pick straight from the tree yourself. Either way, you’re guaranteed to get some of the freshest and juiciest apples around, perfect for turning into apple cider, baking an apple pie, or simply sinking your teeth into!
ABEL’S APPLE ACRES
September 2–December 24
Daily 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
APPLE PANTRY FARM
September–November
Friday–Sunday 10 a.m.–4 p.m. (September & November)
Wednesday–Sunday 10 a.m.–4 p.m. (October)
APPLE RIDGE FARMS
August 26–November 14
Saturday & Sunday 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Monday–Friday 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Apple Ridge Farms
ART-N-APPLES
September 24–October 30
Saturday 9 a.m.–3 p.m., Sunday 12:30–3 p.m.
BODHAINE RANCH
September 2–December 11
Daily 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (September 2–November 23)
Saturday–Sunday 11 a.m.–2 p.m. (November 26–December 11)
Photos courtesy of Apple Hill Growers Association
BOLSTER’S HILLTOP RANCH
Weekends Only (September)
Daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m. (October–November 25)
Weekends Only (November 26–December 13)
24CARROT FARM
September 3–November 27
Daily 10 a.m.–5 p.m. September 3–November 27
DENVER DAN’S APPLE PATCH
August 27–December 1
Daily 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Apple Hill Growers Association
FUDGE FACTORY FARM
September–December 18
Daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m. (September & October)
Monday–Friday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. (November)
Friday–Sunday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. (December)
GOLDBUD FARMS
July 15–December 15
Daily 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
GOYETTE’S NORTH CANYON RANCH
September 3–November 4 (Apple Season)
Saturday–Sunday & Holidays 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Apple Hill Growers Association
HARRIS TREE FARM
June–December
Thursday–Sunday 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (June–August)
Daily 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (September–December)
HIGH HILL RANCH
August 27–December 24
Daily 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
KIDS INC./DELFINO FARMS
Labor Day Weekend–December 4
Friday–Monday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. (Daily in October)
Photos courtesy of Kids Inc./Delfino Farms
LARSEN APPLE BARN & BAKESHOP
September 4–December 4
Sunday–Friday 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
MILL VIEW RANCH
Year-Round
Daily 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
O’HALLORAN’S APPLE TRAIL RANCH
Labor Day Weekend–December
Daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Photos courtesy of Apple Hill Growers Association
PINE O’MINE
June 11–October 9
Daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
RAINBOW ORCHARDS
September 12–December 11
Daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m. (September 12–November 27)
Weekends 9 a.m.–5 p.m. (December 3–11)
SLOAN WINTERS MOUNTAIN ORCHARD & GARDEN
Labor Day Weekend–December 4
Friday–Sunday 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Valerie Buell via Sloan Winters Mountain Orchard & Garden
SMOKEY RIDGE FARMSTAND
Friday–Sunday Year-Round 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
Friday–Sunday During Fall 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
WINDMILLER FARM
September 3–November 6
Friday–Sunday 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
WHERE CAN I FIND THE PERFECT PUMPKIN?
There are a myriad of fall activities available at the farms, from drinking farm-fresh apple cider to picking the perfect pumpkin. While several Apple Hill farms grow pumpkins, these are a handful of the best for your pumpkin-pickin’ adventure:
Bluestone Meadow is growing five varieties of pumpkins this year, including their most successful Challenger Pumpkins, which have deep ribbing, a long and thick green sturdy handle and a dark orange color, ranging from 20–26 pounds. Bluestone Meadow can be found here.
Cardinini’s Pumpkin Patch is an authentic pumpkin patch, where you can cut your own pumpkin straight from the vine in their 6-acre field featuring several varieties of carving and specialty pumpkins! Don’t forget a trip through their corn maze for the full fall experience. Cardinini’s Pumpkin Patch can be found here.
Mill View Ranch hosts an enormous pumpkin patch, which grows in size each year (no pun intended). With so many other fall elements on site, like pies, jams, apples, popcorn balls, a live scarecrow and more, this is the perfect destination for picking pumpkins! Mill View Ranch can be found here.
O’Halloran’s Apple Trail Ranch has a 3-acre pumpkin patch featuring pumpkins of all shapes and sizes. All of their pumpkins are ready for you to cut off the vine to turn into a jack-o-lantern or decorate your home with! O’Halloran’s Apple Trail Ranch can be found here.
Looking for more patches filled with pumpkins? Check out all the farms with pumpkins in the Apple Hill Farms region.
HOW DO I FIND THE FARM I’M INTERESTED IN?
Use Apple Hill Farms’ convenient Farm Finder to locate a farm you’re interested in. In fact, you can filter your search by apples, bake shops, Christmas trees, flowers, food, gifts/crafts, kids’ activities, other fruits, pumpkins, spas, u-pick farms, and wineries!
WHAT ACTIVITIES DO THE FARMS HAVE SPECIFICALLY FOR KIDS?
While arguably any destination is suitable for children (besides the wineries and spa), there are several activities specifically geared towards kids. Check out their lengthy collection of farms the kids are sure to enjoy, featuring all sorts of activities from scavenger hunts to gold panning and corn mazes to pony rides!
Photo courtesy of Apple Hill Growers Association
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO GO?
As can be predicted, weekends during the fall are quite busy at the farms. If your schedule allows, consider visiting the farm during the week, especially if you have little ones who aren’t in school yet — or don’t have little ones at all! Otherwise, consider following the farmers’ lead and getting to the farms early in the morning order to beat the mid-day crowds.
It’s also important to keep in mind that each farm follows a different schedule, so make sure you check their hours of operation before your visit!
WHICH WINERIES CAN I VISIT?
If you’re after a relaxing kid-free activity at Apple Hill, want to embark on a romantic date, or simply desire to unwind after an afternoon spent picking apples, a visit to one of the area’s wineries is your answer. And thankfully, they are not in short supply.
Boeger Winery is open daily year-round from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This picture-perfect winery rests on a historic homestead with a breathtaking backdrop. Boeger was founded in 1972, and is the oldest commercial winery in El Dorado! Stop by their intimate tasting room to sample some quality wine in a historic setting.
Fenton Herriott Vineyards is a Placerville winery with a long-standing passion for exceptional wine. Their attention to detail from grape to glass is evident with each sip. Stop by to experience this first-hand from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. any day of the week, year-round.
Sample Lava Cap Winery’s wines in their tasting room then enjoy a picnic in the gardens overlooking their vineyard. Sip on their premium estate bottled wines, including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Petite Sirah, Barbera and Syrah. Lava Cap is daily open all year long from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Need more winery suggestions? Stop by Madrona Vineyards, Wofford Acres Vineyard or Honey Bear Ranch. You can’t go wrong with any wines crafted in this region filled with rich soil and educated winemakers!
DID I HEAR SOMETHING ABOUT A SPA?
You sure did! Time Out Spa and Resort is the perfect place to rejuvenate your body after a long day spent on the farms — or a long week at work! Indulge with a massage, facial, manicure, pedicure, or any of the spa’s additional luxurious pampering services. Book your appointment, keeping in mind that Time Out is closed on Mondays, open on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and open Friday through Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
What did we miss?
With so many farms and fall-loving activities, it’s likely we missed one of your favorite components of Apple Hill. Let us know, and we might just add it to our guide!
Courtesy of Lyon Real Estate 2016
Comments
Post a Comment