WHITEWATER
RAFTING
Adventure
Connection Voted 2004 Best River Rafting Company. Raft trips
on the South Fork of the American River. Chose a 13-mile one-day
trip with barbecue lunch or a more intense 21-mile one-day trip
with a lunch along the river. You can also choose a half-day
trip or a Lickity-split 1.5-hour trip. P.O. Box 475, Coloma.
530- 626-7385 or 800-556-6060
EarthTrek
Expeditions One-day trips on the South Fork of the American
River, a 13 mile Lower Gorge Run ends at Folsom Lake with a
van or bus shuttle back to the starting place. The Upper Chili
Bar Run is a thrilling 8-mile run and includes a tasty barbecue
lunch. P.O. Box 1010, Lotus. 530-642-1900 or 800-229-8735
Mother
Lode River Trips Whitewater trips on the South Fork of the
American River include an express trip (1/2 day); one-day trips
with Class III rapids of 10 miles--Chili Bar to Mother Lode
or Mother Lode to Salmon Falls; or a one-day action-packed Double
Run of 20 miles with both the Chili Bar Run and the Gorge Run.
P.O. Box 456, Coloma. 530-626-4187 or 800-427-2387
RECREATION
Marshall
Gold Discovery State Historic Park The Gold Rush began right
here in 1849 when a nugget glittered in the millrace. Learn
the history of the Gold Rush at the museum, see a replica of
the sawmill and a number of historic buildings. Pan for gold.
Enjoy a picnic under the trees. Highway 49, Coloma. Open daily
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 530-622-3470
Gold
Bug Park and Mine. Tour Gold Bug Mine. Pan for gold. Visit
the Hattie Museum and Gift Shop. Enter the Joshua Hendy Stamp
Mill where you will learn about ore extraction from quartz.
Enjoy 2 miles of hiking trails. Open March 26 to October daily
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Gold Bug Mine open weekends November to March
12 noon to 4 p.m. 1 mile north of Hwy. 50 on Bedford Ave. 530-642-5207
Bridalveil
Picnic Area. A beautiful swimming area on the American River.
30 picnic tables, piped water, grills, vault toilets. 17 miles
east of Placerville. Hwy 50 on the South Fork of the American
River at 3,200'. 530-644-2324
Wagon
Train Days The last two weeks in June, the Wagon Train starts
its journey in Nevada and ends in Placerville. The community
celebration in Pollock Pines includes crafters, live music and
dancing, children's activities, food, and much more. Old Hangtown
celebrates the arrival of the Wagon Train with a parade and
a Saturday Nite Party with BBQ and live entertainment.
Sly
Park Recreation Area This wonderful recreation area in the
Sierra foothills offers boating, hiking, fishing, swimming,
picnicking, biking, boat rentals, museum, general store, coffee
shop and more. 17 miles east of Placerville at 4771 Sly Park
Road, Pollock Pines. 530-644-2545
SKIING
AND SNOW SPORTS
Sierra
at Tahoe Ski Resort South Lake Tahoe's family snowsport
resort since 1946 with 2,000 skiable acres, ten chairlifts,
and three express quads. Activities include downhill skiing,
snowboarding, snowshoeing, lessons, clinics, equipment rentals,
day care and an awesome Tube Park. US Highway 50 east at 1111
Sierra-at-Tahoe Road, Twin Bridges 530-659-7453. About 45 minutes
driving time from Placerville
Kirkwood
Mountain Resort An alpine ski resort offering downhill skiing,
snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, instruction,
clinics, equipment rentals, restaurants, Slide Mountain Tube
Park, sleigh rides and dog sled rides. Located on Highway 88
about an hour's drive from Placerville. 1501 Kirkwood Meadows
Drive, Kirkwood. 209-258-6000
Echo
Summit Sno-Park Snow play area on Highway 50 at Echo Summit.
Extensive sledding hill. Some cross country skiing. About 30
minutes driving time from Placerville. 530-659-0744
Cross-Country
Skiing Strawberry Canyon Your closest cross country skiing
to Placerville. Restrooms, trailhead information sign, limited
public parking. Two mile loop, four mile loop, and a gentle
1 ½ mile trail for the novice skier. Hwy 50 ¼
mile west of Strawberry at 42-Mile Recreation Site. 530-622-5061
Cross-Country
Skiing Echo Lakes Basin Johnson Pass Three miles of posted
trail including 3 loop trails and one trail that leads to Echo
Lakes Sno-Park. Requires a $5 Sno-Park permit obtained at Echo
Summit Sno-Park or Strawberry Lodge. Located off Hwy. 50 at
Echo Summit, 1 ½ miles past Sierra-At-Tahoe sign, left
onto Johnson Pass Road. 530-622-5061
GOLF
Apple
Mountain Golf Resort, 3455 Carson Road, Camino. A championship
course offering breathtaking views and a unique mountain golfing
experience. Five miles from Placerville. 530-647-7400
Bass
Lake Golf Course . Originally designed with nine holes by
architect Gene Thorne, Bass Lake Golf Course has been enlarged
to 18 holes in 1999-tight, tricky and requires accuracy and
the use of every club in the bag. Driving range, practice greens
and a pro shop. 3000 Alexandrite Dr., Rescue. 530-677-5216.
Cold Springs
Golf and Country Club, 6500 Clubhouse Drive, Placerville 530-622-7642.
A private club with a course cut through a forest of oak and
pine. Two of the par fives were chosen by Sacramento magazine
as among the top 18 holes in the Sacramento area. A full service
Golf Shop, driving range, two putting greens and a practice
bunker for chipping. The clubhouse includes a bar and dining
room.
Camino Heights
Golf Course, 3020 Vista Tierra Drive, Camino. 530-644-0190.
Public course. 9 holes.
RELAXATION
Time
Out Private Resort & Day Spa Nestled discretely in the
beautiful Sierra Foothills, cradled in privacy by colorful gardens
and apple orchards, Time Out Spa has created the ideal sanctuary
for rest, relaxation, and self-renewal. Spa services. 2452 Apple
Vista Lane, Camino 530-644-0314
Waterfall
Salon and Day Spa Treat yourself at this boutique salon
to an aroma massage, a facial treatment, waxing, body scrub,
manicure, pedicure, hair cut, color or style. Just a few minutes
from the Deck House at 2716 Coloma Road off Hwy. 49. Call ahead
for appointment. 530-626-1571
WINE
AND FOOD AND CHRISTMAS TREES
El
Dorado County Wineries . Converse with owners and winemakers
in tasting rooms throughout the region in twenty small, family-owned
and operated wineries offering outstanding selections of hand
crafted wines. El
Dorado County Wine Grape Growers Association has locations
and descriptions of wineries with links
Fairplay
Wineries Your visit would not be complete without a trip
to these 10 family-owned wineries and a taste of their award
winning wines. 2,500' elevation. 20 miles from Placerville within
a five-mile radius, Fairplay.
Apple
Hill Enjoy rural hospitality Labor Day Weekend through the
holiday season.. Visit Apple Hill orchards and discover bake
shops, cider mills, arts and crafts, picnic areas, nature walks,
farm animals, lunch, BBQ, flower gardens, u-pick orchards, u-pick
pumpkin patch, country fudge, and of course fresh picked apples
of all varieties and description. 530-644-7692
Apple
Hill Christmas Tree Farms Choose and cut your Christmas
tree in the beautiful foothills of El Dorado County. Make a
day of it with hot cider and a stop at one of the Apple Hill
bakeries and pastry centers. Pick up picnic supplies at an Apple
Hill orchard.
Farm
Trails Buy local fruit from El Dorado County's small, independent
farms. U-Pick Berries, Boysenberries, Raspberries, Olallie,
Marion, Blackberries, and Logans June to November; cherries
in May and June; peaches, plums and nectarines in summer; pumpkins,
pears, Asian pears and apples in the fall; citrus, oranges,
Pummelos, Pink Grapefruit, Tangelos in winter and early spring
Gold
Hill Olive Oil Co. , 5601 Gold Hill Rd., Placerville. offers
tastings of their best olive oils, extra-virgin or blended.
Their store has sales of Olive Trees, as well as Olive related
gifts, Vinegars and Health and Beauty aids such as olive oil
soap, oils and shampoos. 530-621-7073. Weekends 10 a.m. to 4
p.m.
ART
Gold
Country Artist's Gallery. Local artists display their paintings,
photography, pottery, jewelry, sculptures and greeting cards
in this historical Gold Rush era building in downtown Placerville.
Mon. to Sat. 10 to 5. Sunday 11 to 5. 379 Main St., Placerville.
530-642-2944.
Bennett
Gallery You will see the world-famous Bennett Sculpture
here along with paintings, prints, glasswork, ceramic art and
jewelry of a diverse group of artists. 440 Main Street, downtown
Placerville. 530-621-1164
Sandidge
Fine Art Gallery Don't miss this wonderful gallery with
California landscape paintings by Robert Sandidge. Besides California
landscapes, you will find much more in this gallery located
in the historic 1856 stone building "Louis LePetit".
Friday to Sunday 10 to 5 p.m. 517 Main Street in Diamond Springs.
530-621-3936
Third
Saturday Art Walk . Art galleries and merchants in downtown
Placerville stay open late to host a casual art show. Wine,
hors d'oeuvres, demonstrations and entertainment. The third
Saturday of every month from 6 to 9 p.m. 530-626-4149
Thomas
Kinkade Gallery. Thomas Kinkade spent his youth growing
up in Placerville and this gallery is the world's largest distributor
of his art. Many Kinkade originals on display, complete collection
of canvas and paper prints, plates and calendars. Open Mon.
to Sat. 9:30 to 5:30, Sun. Noon to 5. 262 Main St., Placerville
530-621-4453
FLOWERS
AND NURSERIES
Daffodil
Hill Mid March through mid April, Daffodil Hill explodes
with thousands
of Daffodil blooms.
Lotus Bonsai
Nursery & Gardens [link to www.lotusbonsai.com]. A 5-acre
full service Bonsai nursery for the master and enthusiast. Over
150 varieties of stock plants; trees grown in Asia, trees gathered
in nature and trees created at the nursery. Over 2,500 pots
from mame and shohin to large clay pots from Japan, China and
Korea. 1435 Lower Lake Drive, Placerville. 530-622-9681.
Blue
Bird Haven Iris Garden An acre of landscaped iris, daffodils,
wildflowers, shrubs and trees; park benches, paths for viewing,
a Victorian gazebo, and picnic tables for a leisurely lunch.
6940 Fairplay Rd. in Somerset. ½ hour driving time from
Placerville. April through May. 530-620-5017
High
Sierra Iris Gardens Hisllsides of iris sway in the breeze
with 1500 varieties of hybrid iris and day lilies at these Iris
Gardens located in the heart of Apple Hill. Open May to June,
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wed. to Sunday. 3170 Hassler Road, Camino.
530-642-1222
