Placerville, CA

After spending a busy Placerville day exploring vineyards and orchards, the Community Observatory invites you to come and explore the heavens using their 14-inch and 17-inch reflecting telescopes. The observatory is located in an isolated area far from the light-pollution of the city and offers you the chance to enjoy an interesting journey around the planets, guided by the observatory staff. You are welcome to visit the free observatory any clear weekend night or on selected Saturday mornings for solar viewing using their safe solar telescopes.

Address: Community Observatory, 6699 Campus Dr, Placerville, CA 95667, Phone: 530-622-7130

At the Gold Bug Park you and the family can step back in time to the infamous gold rush days of the 1800’s and visit two of the original gold mines which were in operation back then. The Gold Bug mine can be toured at your own pace with the aid of an audio guide, while Priest Mine only allows you to visit as part of a guided tour. Both mines will give you an indication of the difficult times faced by the early miners who had little more than rudimentary mining equipment (pick and shovel). After you have toured the two mines you can visit the working Blacksmiths Shop, the historic Stamp Mill and the Mining Museum. Young visitors can enjoy panning for gems at the panning trough at Hangtown’s Gold Bug Park.

Address: Hangtown’s Gold Bug Park, 2635 Gold Bug Lane, Placerville, CA 95667, Phone: 530-642-5207

For wine tasting:

Named for the unique volcanic soil that covers the Apple Hills region in the beautiful Sierra Foothills, Lava Cap Winery has been producing premium wines since 1986, using grapes sourced from some of the highest altitude vineyards in California. The distinct Terroir of the area produces big bold wines with intense aromas and rich fruit flavors. When you visit the estate you will be warmly welcomed to their tasting room where you can sample the latest releases and join their wine club, which offers a host of benefits. You are welcome to bring along a picnic to enjoy in the beautiful gardens, against a back-drop of the beautiful Sierra Mountains.

Address: Lava Cap Winery, 2221 Fruitridge Rd, Placerville, CA 95667, Phone: 530-621-0175

Occupying an enviable hill-top location (at an elevation of 2700 feet) in the heart of the Pleasant Valley region of El Dorado, just south of Placerville, Holly’s Hill Vineyard specializes in producing only Rhone varietal grapes. Visitors are welcomed to their light and airy tasting room where you will be able to taste some of their delightful artisanal small-batch wines while enjoying the outstanding views. Rhine varietals available at the winery include Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Cinsaut, Mourvedre and Syrah. If you love classic-style Rhone wines it would make sense for you to join their wine club which offers up to 20% discounts on purchases and the chance to snap-up popular and limited release wines.

Address: Holly’s Hill Vineyard, 3680 Leisure Lane, Placerville, CA 95667, Phone: 530-344-0227

The Boeger estate has been in existence since the gold rush days. Many years after the Prohibition shut down the original winery, the estate was bought by present owners Greg and Sue Boeger who became the first vintners to produce wine in the El Dorado AVA since the Prohibition. Greg Boeger has a fascination with under-appreciated and under-utilized grape varietals such as Berbera, Refosco and Aglianico and his experimentation has led to some wonderful award-winning Boeger wines. You are welcome to visit their estate tasting room where you can choose from a Signature Wine Tasting and a Select Wine Tasting under the guidance of their enthusiastic wine guides.

Address: Boeger Winery, 1709 Carson Rd, Placerville, CA 995667, Phone: 530-622-8094

If you are a photographer:

The sprawling Eldorado National Forest offers nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts a pristine outdoor playground to explore. You will be able to enjoy a wide variety of outdoor activities including hiking and backpacking, fishing, mountain biking, camping and wild-life watching and boating. There are hundreds of miles of hiking, biking and horse-back riding trails to explore and several boat launching sites. The campgrounds offer mostly basic tent sites (non-electric) and there are some rustic cabins available. All the campground offer picnic tables, fire-rings, vault toilets and some have potable water available. In winter you can enjoy snow shoeing and cross-country skiing.

Address: Eldorado National Forest, 100 Forni Rd, Placerville, CA 95667, Phone: 530-622-5061

Romantic Ideas:

For something a little different during your visit to Placerville you can spend some time flirting with Lady Luck the Red Hawk Casino. The Casino has something to please all gamblers including over 2500 slot machines and more than 60 gaming tables. Non-smokers will be pleased to know that there is an entire floor reserved for non-smokers. The casino offers a child-minding service and there are 5 restaurants to choose from when you are hungry, including their popular buffet, a steak house and a fine-dining venue. The casino is open around the clock and offers a bus service to the Sacramento Bay area.

Address: Red Hawk Casino, Red Hawk Parkway, Placerville, CA 95667, Phone: 888-573-3495

You can spend a fascinating couple of hours at the El Dorado County Historical Museum, located near downtown Placerville, where you can step back in time to see how the early Native American people and the gold rush pioneers of El Dorado County lived. The extensive permanent exhibits include beautifully crafted baskets and tools used by the early Maidu, Miwak and Washoe people, gold mining equipment including pans and stamp mills and many items associated with the farming industry which eventually replaced gold mining in the area. The museum is open from 10am Wednesday to Sunday and docent guided tours are available. Children will particularly enjoy a ride on the El Dorado Western Railroad (only on Sundays) and the museum store, which stocks collectables like train whistles, gold vials and other interesting mementos.

Address: El Dorado County Historical Museum, 104 Placerville Dr, Placerville, CA 95667, Phone: 530-621-5865

After the Gold Rush gold ran out, many former pioneer miners turned their hand to growing crops, mainly apples and grapes. Today you can sample some of the tastiest apples and apple products at the Larsen Apple Ranch and Barn, which was founded back in the 1860’s. You can easily spend a few hours at the ranch which produces over 20 varieties of apples and boasts a wonderful bakery which produces every kind of apple (and other) delicacy you can imagine. If you don’t feel like apple pie you can enjoy a delicious lunch from their deli. Children will enjoy exploring the outdoor Family Park while adults can learn all about the early days of apple production at the Larsen Family Museum.

Address: Larsen Apple Ranch and Barn, 2461 Larsen Drive, Camino, CA 95709, Phone: 530-644-1415