CLICK HERE if you are having trouble viewing these photos on a mobile device
Placerville and Camino’s hillsides turn into pomme central each fall, as 50 orchards open their gates for apple picking, cider sipping and unbridled apple pie, apple fritter and cider-doughnut consumption. It’s certainly delightful, but there are non-apple related things to explore on this hill, too — and you won’t have to wait until September. All three of these spots are open now.
24 Carrot Farms
This charming stand not only offers rainbow carrots and fingerling potatoes, melons, berries, heirloom tomatoes and other fresh produce from the farm. It also sells locally produced fare, such as The Baker and the Cakemaker’s bread, Krissy’s jams and Nolan’s pickled vegetables and preserves. And if you’re an outdoor-yoga kind of person, you’re in luck. On Saturdays at 9 a.m., there’s yoga on the the field near the pond.
Details: Open from 2 to 6 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends from the end of April through November at 2731 Jacquier Road, Placerville. Check out the daily offerings at www.24carrotfarms.com.
Jack Russell Farm Brewery
Perched on a Camino hillside, this brewery and farm are a prime hang-out spot, with a tasting room for Jack Russell’s meads and cysers, another for its wine and a craft beer counter for sampling the brewery’s signature ales. Enjoy them on the deck or out on the grass, where cornhole and other lawn games abound.
Details: Open year round from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekends at 2380 Larsen Drive, Camino; www.facebook.com/jackrussellfarmbrewery.
Chateau Davell
Apple orchards and vineyards happily co-exist in this region, and you could spend an entire day winery-hopping from Lava Cap to Boeger, Madrona and more. But if you’ve got kids in tow, Chateau Davell’s brand new tasting room is a splendid spot, with a huge deck, rolling lawns, an elaborate play structure and all the touches we loved from the old digs, including the Love Shack sign and Hays’ expressive paintings, which also adorn his wine labels. Cheese pairings accompany the tastings, so you can nibble as well as sip.
Details: Open year round from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at 3020 Vista Tierra Drive, Camino; www.chateaudavell.com.
