>It’s Apple Hill Time, Again!

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Hey, Sacramento? Can you smell the freshly fried apple donuts at High Hill?  Or maybe you prefer their fritters?  Either way, the scent of cinnamon laden dough is sharply embedded in my memory.

I’ve been going up to Placerville for as an annual fall trip to the farms/orchards since I was 10 years old.  Yes, that’s 26 years of trips.  OK, there were probably a few years I missed out on the crafts and fruit, but mostly I’ve made it a regular trek.

Over the years things have changed.  The type and number of artisans displaying their wares has ranged from the country kitsch that was at home in the kitchen during the late 80s and the handmade pillows my mom bought for her grandkids last year to the cool amber ring I found 10 years ago.  Unfortunately, the number of vendors has been low recently.  The growers were packed with booths in the late 80s and early 90s. Of course, I was too young to fully appreciate the shopping experience.

Remember when High Hill had helicopter rides?  Well, the fishing pond is still there. I always admired it, but never really wanted to try it.  The Fudge Factory always caught my attention instead.

Yes, there are other places to visit in Apple Hill and I try to get to one new place a year.  Boa Vista has a plethora of produce and somewhere amongst the pumpkin patches, we found a train for my then not quite 3 year old nephew to ride with his grandpa.  I think it was at El Dorado Orchards.

Even if you don’t have any kids in tow, the various growers are fun to visit.  It just feels quaint and simple.   And you are supporting small businesses when you buy something, so you should feel good about making the effort to visit.

Of course, there are also wineries in the region that have popped up over the last 5 years or so.  It’s always fun to pick up a freshly baked apple pie and a bottle of Barbera.