With summer taking its half-year rest and Sacramento slowly cooling down by the minute, autumn has made its return and winter is coming soon. I’ve found myself choosing to stay home far more often than going out. Still, on the days when I do feel like taking a quick escape out of town, I’m glad that Apple Hill farms ended up being one of the trips I made this year.
This wasn’t my first time visiting the series of farms spread across the Placerville area. My first trip was on Oct. 18, 2021. Yes, I know the exact date; even though I was 19 at the time and probably shouldn’t remember it that clearly. Coming back four years later was almost funny, especially because I still remember visiting Apple Ridge Farms for the first time and falling into a full food-coma after discovering that they sold the best hot chocolate and honey bun combination I had ever tasted. Something about the warm pastry paired with hot cocoa was different that day.
This time around, I went with my two best friends. One of them was with me during my original visit, and our first stop was at Grandpa’s Cellar, trying their custom cider flavors. My favorite was a cider with caramel extract mixed in. Of course, I had to revisit Apple Ridge and purchased the unforgettable honey bun, though this time I skipped the hot cocoa just to avoid repeating the same coma-like fate from before.
Being a full-grown adult also comes with the free will of trying “adult things,” so as we arrived at Hidden Star Camino where the farm included a cider bar pub, my friends sampled custom hard cider as I tried a sparkling cider of my own. Naturally, I ended up tasting their hard ciders too, strictly for the experience. Outside of all the food and drinks, Hidden Star also had an apple-shooting range where you could buy two dozen apples and launch them at a target using a giant slingshot. Sadly, none of us hit the target, but we came extremely close several times.
For a while now, I’ve been wanting a custom-made poncho to wear around the house or even out in public, but everything I found online was only sold in bulk. To my surprise, one of the farms had a vendor who had handmade ponchos for sale, and I finally bought one for about $60. Honestly, I think it was worth every penny.
To be fair, the fact that I felt safer spending time in a different region of Sacramento just to enjoy the season is a little concerning. But honestly, coming back to Apple Hill as an adult felt refreshing in a way I didn’t expect. It reminded me that there are still places where you can breathe, laugh and enjoy yourself without always looking over your shoulder.
Walking around the farms, trying food, taking pictures and just being present gave me a kind of peace I haven’t felt in a while. It almost felt like stepping outside of my everyday life, like the version of me that’s always worrying finally got a break. That feeling alone made the whole trip worth it. It was simple, but still everything I needed in the moment.
By the end of the day, I found myself asking my friends if this could become one of our fall traditions, something we do every year just to pause life for a second and reconnect with each other. With everything that’s been happening lately, I think all of us deserve something consistent, something positive and something we can look forward to when the world feels heavy. And maybe Apple Hill can be that for us.
