Apple Hill: The best place to catch a case of fall

by Jasmine Rose

My friends and I decided to kick off the fall season with a trip to Apple Hill. Aside from the usual hunting for fresh apples in the orchards, running through the trees, and consuming mass amounts of quality apple pies, there are many other ways to experience and enjoy Apple Hill.
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First on the list is this little scenic area where my friends and I like to go. The space is a wide open field with a wooden table and bench placed by a watermill, making it perfectly and naturally photogenic. This is a great place to escape the crowds for picnicking in peace with your apple filled meals.

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One thing that my friends and I love to do when at Apple Hill, which a lot of people don't think about, is helping ourselves to a little bit of thrift shopping. There are a few hidden thrift and antique shops (including a Snowline Hospice) that have a ton of hidden gems to be found, adding to the almost nostalgic, vintage-like Apple Hill atmosphere. Another place you won’t want to miss is  the teddy bear tent. This is a little tent (which is only out sometimes) where you can pick up one of these “abandoned buddies;” an adorable keepsake in my opinion!

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​Aside from the trademarks that make Apple Hill what it is, like the signature Caramel Apples, the family fun, and the BBQs, my favorite part happens to be driving up to it. Arriving at Apple Hill is the epitome of autumn. The moment Apple Hill starts to appear into view, I get that elated feeling of anticipation for how many photo opportunities are about to occur. My friend described it to me like this “There’s a point where you realize the difference between just heading up to El Dorado Hills and the point where you need to start taking pictures; because it’s like you've entered this fall wonderland.” As you climb up the winding hills in your car, the scattered, multicolored leaves start to become more frequent, and the light that filters in through the trees makes you truly feel that autumn is in the air.

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