If you live in the greater Sacramento area then visiting Apple Hill is probably one of your traditions every fall. You might even have fond memories of going as a child yourself. A visit down to El Dorado county is definitely something that my kids look forward to every year! Plus, I love stocking up on all the delicious apple goodies and selecting special gifts for loved ones. Make sure that you pin this post for later though because I’ll also be sharing things to do while visiting Apple Hill all year long!

our favorite orchards

Our family prefers to plan our Apple Hill visits for less busy times, such as weekdays or spring and summer seasons. If you’ve been you know how busy those roads can get in the fall! Because of this, not all the farms are open when we typically go so our favorites might be different from yours. Keeping that in mind, some of our favorite farms and orchards while visiting Apple Hill are:

• Boa Vista Orchards– This is our absolute favorite stop at Apple Hill and is sometimes the only place we go. They sell unbaked pies that we love to pick up and save in our freezer for holiday baking. They’re also open year-round so we can go and enjoy minimal crowds while enjoying other harvests like cherries and blueberries. I will be talking more about Boa Vista Orchards later on.
• High Hill Ranch– This location is not open year-round but it is my kiddo’s favorite stop. There is a ton of space for them to run around and get energy out before the long drive home. Plus, their unique apple milkshakes are a family favorite treat that we look forward to all year long! Again, I’ll be sharing more about High Hill ranch in a bit.

| Recipe for Pear Applesauce |

fall activities to enjoy

Apple Hill is a favorite fall bucket list item for Sacramento families for a reason. There are endless pumpkin patches, baked goods, local artisan markets, hay rides, and pick-your-own-apple orchards to be found. One popular farm is Abel’s Apple Acres. Abel’s features fun activities for kids like a maze, mining, and more.

Another crowd favorite at Apple Hill is Delfino Farms. It sits up on a hill overlooking a valley. It’s an ideal spot to pick your own apples or pumpkins, enjoy some baked goods, or get lost in a corn maze. If you’ve been to Apple Hill before you might be more familiar with their previous name of Kids Inc.

| Recipe for Raw Apple Spice Cake |

visiting apple hill all year long

We actually prefer visiting Apple Hill in the spring and summer. You won’t find the typical pumpkin fare the majority of the year. However, visiting outside the fall season means you’ll have lower crowds to deal with. Several of the farms and orchards are only open in the fall though so make sure you check before you go. You want to make sure your desired destination will be open while you’re there! Our favorite stop, Boa Vista Orchards, is open year-round and offers a variety of delicious harvest weekends throughout the year:

• Strawberry Harvest, May
• Watermelon Harvest, May
• Cherry Harvest, June
• Lavender Days, June
• Blueberry Harvest, July
• Peach Harvest, July
• Blackberry Harvest, August
• Pumpkin Patch, September & October
• Christmas Trees, November & December

During these special times Boa Vista Orchards has limited edition baked goods and beverages in the harvest flavors. Be sure to check their website, Facebook, or Instagram accounts for details and specific dates.

| More Homeschool Field Trips in Northern California |

Have you ever been to Apple Hill in El Dorado County? What’s your favorite place to go?