Must-see Spots & Hidden Gems
Wineries
This unassuming winery is right in the middle of Apple Hill and is home to the single best white wine in the area (Torrontes, flavors of guava, passion fruit, and peach with an easy finish), as well as the best Barbera in the area (full of spice and fruit, absolutely a standout in an area with tons of good Barbera).
Tell them you’re staying at Larry & Manali’s Dome in the Forest and show them the AirBnB listing on your phone for a free tasting. Say hi to Cara & Matt!
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Lewis Grace Winery
2701 Carson RdThis unassuming winery is right in the middle of Apple Hill and is home to the single best white wine in the area (Torrontes, flavors of guava, passion fruit, and peach with an easy finish), as well as the best Barbera in the area (full of spice and fruit, absolutely a standout in an area with tons of good Barbera).
Tell them you’re staying at Larry & Manali’s Dome in the Forest and show them the AirBnB listing on your phone for a free tasting. Say hi to Cara & Matt!
Open late (6PM weekdays, 8PM weekends)! Come see The Grapefather himself and enjoy wine on the patio at Nello Olivo's Camino location! Gorgeous views, cozy fire pits, and a happening place that shares a patio with Highway 50 Brewery. Get a pizza from the brewery kitchen, pop a bottle of Sangiovese, watch the sun set, and don't forget try the port and Limoncello if you like sweet stuff!
We love this spot so much that Manali took a job pouring wine here in the evenings!
Nello Olivo Winery, Camino Tasting Room
3544 Carson RdOpen late (6PM weekdays, 8PM weekends)! Come see The Grapefather himself and enjoy wine on the patio at Nello Olivo's Camino location! Gorgeous views, cozy fire pits, and a happening place that shares a patio with Highway 50 Brewery. Get a pizza from the brewery kitchen, pop a bottle of Sangiovese, watch the sun set, and don't forget try the port and Limoncello if you like sweet stuff!
We love this spot so much that Manali took a job pouring wine here in the evenings!
Boeger Winery is a picturesque winery with excellent wines and gorgeous picnic grounds. Be sure to try the Negroamaro and Barbera!
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Boeger Winery
1709 Carson RdBoeger Winery is a picturesque winery with excellent wines and gorgeous picnic grounds. Be sure to try the Negroamaro and Barbera!
A local family-owned winery with gorgeous views and delicious wine. Some of the whites have been affected by the Caldor fire smoke, but the reds are delicious!
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Lava Cap Winery
2221 Fruitridge RdA local family-owned winery with gorgeous views and delicious wine. Some of the whites have been affected by the Caldor fire smoke, but the reds are delicious!
They serve lunch and light bites on the patio, have delicious white, rosé, and sparkling wines, and dozens of miles of hiking trails with a small lake, a pond, and gorgeous gardens. Get a reservation ahead of time!
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Starfield Vineyards
2750 Jacquier RdThey serve lunch and light bites on the patio, have delicious white, rosé, and sparkling wines, and dozens of miles of hiking trails with a small lake, a pond, and gorgeous gardens. Get a reservation ahead of time!
A super relaxed winery next to Starfield, no-frills, the staff isn't chill, and they have bocce ball! Get a bottle and relax, maybe pick up lunch and eat it there. Kid and dog friendly!
Fenton Herriott Vineyards
120 Jacquier CtA super relaxed winery next to Starfield, no-frills, the staff isn't chill, and they have bocce ball! Get a bottle and relax, maybe pick up lunch and eat it there. Kid and dog friendly!
Holly's Hill is a cute little winery very close to our house that has excellent wines and stunning views. Well worth the visit!
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Holly's Hill Vineyard
3680 Leisure LnHolly's Hill is a cute little winery very close to our house that has excellent wines and stunning views. Well worth the visit!
Sierra Vista is another cute winery nearby that has excellent wines and gorgeous views. Try their Fume Blanc!
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Sierra Vista Winery and Vineyards
4560 Cabernet WaySierra Vista is another cute winery nearby that has excellent wines and gorgeous views. Try their Fume Blanc!
Miraflores is a hidden gem not far from our house. They have gorgeous grounds and delicious wines, give them a try!
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Miraflores Winery
2120 Four Springs TrailMiraflores is a hidden gem not far from our house. They have gorgeous grounds and delicious wines, give them a try!
Recreation
Kayak, paddleboard, hike, and mountain bike, BBQ, and camp all only 10 minutes away from the dome.
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Sly Park Recreation Area
4771 Sly Park RdKayak, paddleboard, hike, and mountain bike, BBQ, and camp all only 10 minutes away from the dome.
A hidden gem that only locals know about, Happy Valley has tons of swimming holes on Camp Creek. It's a bit of a treacherous hike down to the swimming spots, but well worth it. No fee for parking or day use, but you must make sure you park completely off the road to avoid blocking fire service vehicles!
Happy Valley Cutoff Road
Happy Valley Cutoff RoadA hidden gem that only locals know about, Happy Valley has tons of swimming holes on Camp Creek. It's a bit of a treacherous hike down to the swimming spots, but well worth it. No fee for parking or day use, but you must make sure you park completely off the road to avoid blocking fire service vehicles!
Come see where gold was discovered, triggering the gold rush! Tons of hiking trails nearby, as well as the American River, museums, and little gift shops.
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Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
310 Back StCome see where gold was discovered, triggering the gold rush! Tons of hiking trails nearby, as well as the American River, museums, and little gift shops.
Beautiful hiking near the American River, and home to an old movie set! Also a great place to mountain bike or ride horses. Dog friendly, of course!
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Cronan Ranch Regional Trails Park
Beautiful hiking near the American River, and home to an old movie set! Also a great place to mountain bike or ride horses. Dog friendly, of course!
Apple pie, donuts, cider, beer, and wine in the hills of Camino! An fun place to take the family and enjoy locally made food and spirits.
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Apple Hill
2952 Carson RdApple pie, donuts, cider, beer, and wine in the hills of Camino! An fun place to take the family and enjoy locally made food and spirits.
Beer, cider, apple picking, and a pumpkin patch, this Apple Hill ranch is laid back and usually less busy than Boa Vista and High Hill.
Pine-O-Mine Ranch
2620 Carson RoadBeer, cider, apple picking, and a pumpkin patch, this Apple Hill ranch is laid back and usually less busy than Boa Vista and High Hill.
The Apple Hill experience on steroids. Apple-everything for sale, as well as tons of local vendors selling their crafts. Super kid-friendly, but also super packed!
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Apple Hill | High Hill Ranch
2901 High Hill RdThe Apple Hill experience on steroids. Apple-everything for sale, as well as tons of local vendors selling their crafts. Super kid-friendly, but also super packed!
Open year-round, Boa Vista is the spot for donuts, pies, cider, and local crafts. It's probably one of the bigger Apple Hill orchards and often packed, so go on a weekday or face the traffic!
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Boa Vista Orchards
2952 Carson RdOpen year-round, Boa Vista is the spot for donuts, pies, cider, and local crafts. It's probably one of the bigger Apple Hill orchards and often packed, so go on a weekday or face the traffic!
A very tiny winery with a huge apple orchard! Most of their wines are unremarkable, but their rosé is delicious, and their apple orchard is huge and likely to have very few other guests wandering around, so it's fun to explore (especially if you smuggle a bottle of wine with you). They serve their wine tasting in little test tubes by their cute pond, so it's worth going there just for that.
Smokey Ridge Ranch - Apple Hill #133
2160 Carson RdA very tiny winery with a huge apple orchard! Most of their wines are unremarkable, but their rosé is delicious, and their apple orchard is huge and likely to have very few other guests wandering around, so it's fun to explore (especially if you smuggle a bottle of wine with you). They serve their wine tasting in little test tubes by their cute pond, so it's worth going there just for that.
Neighborhoods
Restaurants, gift shops, concerts, wine tasting rooms, and breweries are abound on Main Street in Placerville. See the oldest hardware store in the west, shop at Violets are Blue and The Lighthouse, and enjoy dinner at Cascada, and a show at The Green Room!
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Main Street
Main StreetRestaurants, gift shops, concerts, wine tasting rooms, and breweries are abound on Main Street in Placerville. See the oldest hardware store in the west, shop at Violets are Blue and The Lighthouse, and enjoy dinner at Cascada, and a show at The Green Room!
Food scene
Great food in an amazing outdoor space that sometimes has live music. Local wines, good people, and plenty of string lights make this a cozy place to have a nice dinner. If you dine indoors, check out the old mine shaft that's located under the building right next to the tables! Dogs are allowed outside, so bring the pup!
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Smith Flat House
2021 Smith Flat RdGreat food in an amazing outdoor space that sometimes has live music. Local wines, good people, and plenty of string lights make this a cozy place to have a nice dinner. If you dine indoors, check out the old mine shaft that's located under the building right next to the tables! Dogs are allowed outside, so bring the pup!
Upscale but cozy dining on Main Street enjoy delicious cocktails, local wines, and a romantic outdoor dining space that's kept warm year-round. Despite the upscale vibe, well-behaved dogs are allowed outside!
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Independent Restaurant & Bar
629 Main StUpscale but cozy dining on Main Street enjoy delicious cocktails, local wines, and a romantic outdoor dining space that's kept warm year-round. Despite the upscale vibe, well-behaved dogs are allowed outside!
A cute, tiny restaurant right on Main Street. Good for dinner, but they also have delicious salads and sandwiches you can pick up go for lunch at a local winery.
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Heyday Café
325 Main StA cute, tiny restaurant right on Main Street. Good for dinner, but they also have delicious salads and sandwiches you can pick up go for lunch at a local winery.
Upscale Mexicali food on Main Street with delicious margaritas. Unfortunately not dog friendly, but a good place to get a meal on Main!
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Cascada
384 Main StUpscale Mexicali food on Main Street with delicious margaritas. Unfortunately not dog friendly, but a good place to get a meal on Main!
Italian food right on Main Street. Good pizzas and huge dishes (you might want to share!). A great place to get dinner after an afternoon of browsing the shops on Main.
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Bene Ristorante Italiano
423 Main StItalian food right on Main Street. Good pizzas and huge dishes (you might want to share!). A great place to get dinner after an afternoon of browsing the shops on Main.
Probably the craziest sandwich shop you'll ever eat at! They have a rotating menu of super unique sandwiches that are great to go!
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Timmy's BROWN BAG
451 Main StProbably the craziest sandwich shop you'll ever eat at! They have a rotating menu of super unique sandwiches that are great to go!
A tiny French cafe and a perfect place to pick up lunch to go for your wine tasting adventures.
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ALLEZ!
4242 Fowler LnA tiny French cafe and a perfect place to pick up lunch to go for your wine tasting adventures.
A super-cute, very hidden Italian restaurant in the middle of nowhere. The outdoor tables are cozy and private with fire pits, and they're dog friendly. Give them a try for a romantic dinner close to the dome!
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The "Little Italian" Place
1772 Pleasant Valley RdA super-cute, very hidden Italian restaurant in the middle of nowhere. The outdoor tables are cozy and private with fire pits, and they're dog friendly. Give them a try for a romantic dinner close to the dome!
A classic Pollock Pines restaurant that's recently been remodeled and re-opened under new ownership. Good cocktails, steaks, as well as local wines and craft beers.
50 Grand Restaurant and Bar
6401 Pony Express TrailA classic Pollock Pines restaurant that's recently been remodeled and re-opened under new ownership. Good cocktails, steaks, as well as local wines and craft beers.
A divey pub that happens to serve delicious German food as well as local wines and beers. A great place to get dinner after a day of wine tasting, and likely to be full of locals.
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The Forester Pub & Grill
4110 Carson RdA divey pub that happens to serve delicious German food as well as local wines and beers. A great place to get dinner after a day of wine tasting, and likely to be full of locals.
Franny's is owned by our neighbors, the Cookson's. We helped them design their wine and beer menu, so in addition to home style comfort food, you'll find plenty of delicious local libations.
Franny's Farm Table
Franny's is owned by our neighbors, the Cookson's. We helped them design their wine and beer menu, so in addition to home style comfort food, you'll find plenty of delicious local libations.
Breweries
Good beer, pizza & fries, live music on the weekends, and a beautiful patio shared with Nello Olivo winery. Stop in and bring the pup, they're dog friendly!
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Hwy 50 Brewery
3544 Carson RdGood beer, pizza & fries, live music on the weekends, and a beautiful patio shared with Nello Olivo winery. Stop in and bring the pup, they're dog friendly!
Definitely some of the best beer in the area, with a nice dog-friendly outdoor patio and a kitchen that serves excellent bar food. They sometimes have live music, but come for the beer and the quaint little Diamond Springs downtown area.
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Solid Ground Brewing
552 Pleasant Valley RdDefinitely some of the best beer in the area, with a nice dog-friendly outdoor patio and a kitchen that serves excellent bar food. They sometimes have live music, but come for the beer and the quaint little Diamond Springs downtown area.
A very dog and kid-friendly brewery in Apple Hill with a large patio and lawn. Most of the beers aren't anything to write home about, but the vibe is good and they do some interesting flavored beers and crazy beer "blends" (tangerine ale and vanilla stout!) that are fun. Don't bother trying the wine ;)
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Jack Russell Farm Brewery
2380 Larsen DrA very dog and kid-friendly brewery in Apple Hill with a large patio and lawn. Most of the beers aren't anything to write home about, but the vibe is good and they do some interesting flavored beers and crazy beer "blends" (tangerine ale and vanilla stout!) that are fun. Don't bother trying the wine ;)