Food & Drink

This Apple Hill destination is the best, Bee readers say. Is it your favorite?

Apple Hill is Northern California’s gem and Bee readers are well-versed in the best destinations to visit for an uninterrupted day of sweets, hard cider and wine and picture-worthy views.

We asked readers to vote for their best Apple Hill stop affiliated with the Apple Hill Growers Association. After weeks of voting and nearly 200 responses, it’s clear there’s one foothills pit stop that readers believe is worth the visit.

Ordered from most to least votes received, here are the “best” Apple Hill destinations, according to our readers:

High Hill Ranch

High Hill Ranch at 2901 High Hill Road, Placerville, is the one-stop shop for family activities, crafts and desserts. The ranch, which ranked No. 1 on The Bee’s best Apple Hill destinations poll, is open through Dec. 24 for fishing, pony rides and hayrides.

It gained 40 votes or 21%.

Rainbow Orchards

A fresh batch of sugar-coated apple cider doughnuts are fried at Rainbow Orchards on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021 in Camino.
A fresh batch of sugar-coated apple cider doughnuts are fried at Rainbow Orchards on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021 in Camino. Hector Amezcua hamezcua@sacbee.com

If you have an inescapable sweet tooth, Rainbow Orchards situated at 2569 Larsen Drive, Camino, should be on your list of Apple Hill destinations. The second-best Apple Hill stop for Bee readers is stacked with apple cider donuts, pies, cobblers and homemade corn dogs.

Rainbow Orchards is open through Dec 4. It garnered 29 votes or 15%.

Apple Ridge Farms

Hailey Sota places an apple pie on a counter at Apple Ridge farms in Camino in 2018.
Hailey Sota places an apple pie on a counter at Apple Ridge farms in Camino in 2018. Hector Amezcua Sacramento Bee file

Voted the third-best Apple Hill destination by Bee readers, Apple Ridge Farms at 1800 Larsen Drive, Camino, mixes barbecue, sweets and the outdoors. Visitors can pick fresh apples and then head to the pond before trekking its nature trail and hay maze.

Apple Ridge Farms is open through Dec. 5. It gained 21 votes or 11%.

Abel’s Apple Acres

Nick and Donna Roenick of Placerville buy pies at Abel’s Apple Acres, a member of the Apple Hill Growers Association, in 2021.
Nick and Donna Roenick of Placerville buy pies at Abel’s Apple Acres, a member of the Apple Hill Growers Association, in 2021. Paul Kitagaki Jr. pkitagaki@sacbee.com

Abel’s Apple Acers at 2345 Carson Road, Placerville took the fourth spot on The Bee’s best Apple Hill destination poll for its pond and picnic areas and food and desserts. The family ranch is equipped with a candy counter, apple pantry and animal rides.

Abel’s Apple Acres is open through Dec. 23. It received 20 votes or 10%.

Larsen Apple Barn & Bakeshop

Visitors to Apple Hill often pick up some apple pies for friends and family who missed the trip.
Visitors to Apple Hill often pick up some apple pies for friends and family who missed the trip. Lezlie Sterling Sacramento Bee file

Larsen Apple Barn and Bakeshop at 2461 Larsen Drive, Camino, is surrounded by grass, waterfalls, apple trees and arching bridges. Take home a frozen pie after a day filled with sweets and dumplings at Bee readers fifth-best Apple Hill pit stop pick.

Larsen Apple Barn and Bakeshop is open through Nov. 27. It received 13 votes or 7%.

Delfino Farms

Chris Delfino, owner of Delfino Farms and Apple Hill Growers Association president, sorts apples at his farm in Camino in 2021. His parents helped start the growers association in 1964, and he and his four adult kids now run the farm in addition to their winery and bakery.
Chris Delfino, owner of Delfino Farms and Apple Hill Growers Association president, sorts apples at his farm in Camino in 2021. His parents helped start the growers association in 1964, and he and his four adult kids now run the farm in addition to their winery and bakery. Hector Amezcua hamezcua@sacbee.com

Voted the sixth-best Apple Hill destination by Bee readers, Defino Farms, home to Edio Vineyards at 3205 North Canyon Road, is open yearround. Those who visit can expect to be surrounded by sweets, hard cider, animals and nature.

It received 12 votes or 6%.

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This story was originally published October 31, 2022 at 11:31 AM with the headline "This Apple Hill destination is the best, Bee readers say. Is it your favorite?."

BT
Brianna Taylor
The Sacramento Bee
Brianna Taylor was a reporter for The Sacramento Bee.
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