Camino, CA

Apple Hill Ranches to open this Labor Day Weekend.

If you have lived anywhere near the El Dorado County, you have heard of Apple Hill. The Apple Hill area is home to many large apple orchards that will be open to the public beginning this Labor Day Weekend.

September 3^rd through 5^th will be the start of the Apple Hill Season.

What does Apple Hill have to offer? Well, apples of course. What I really mean is ALL things apple: fresh apples of every variety, apple wineries, apple pies, apple jams and jellies, apples on a stick, you name it. This is a local tourist attraction where people come from miles away to experience the Apple Hill experience.

It is conveniently located off of Highway 50, a perfect stop on your way to the Tahoe Region in the Sierras.

Here is the 2011 Apple Hill Calendar of Events

Once you get off the freeway, all of the orchards are nearby. You will benefit from having a map of the area. The maps, addresses are included here.

There are so many orchards the map is divided into two maps; West Map and East Map.

http://www.applehill.com/

Image: 7thsens / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Image: dan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Image: m_bartosch / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Ever had a Walkin' Pie? You have to go to Kids Inc in Apple Hill to find this yumy treat!

If you find yourself driving along Highway 50 between Sacramento and South Lake Tahoe, as you reach Camino (just about 35 miles from my Fair Oaks home and very near Placerville) you will see signs directing you to Apple Hill, which is just right off the freeway. I recommend that you stop there, take one of the roads that runs right along the freeway, and you will find yourself in some wonderful farmland, where each farm has wonderful food to offer, made from their own farm-grown ingredients. It really is a great way to spend a day and is an easy drive from anywhere in the Sacramento area.

You will also find animals who love visitors and welcome some petting, crafts booths of every kind, some great fudge and sandwiches, and other enjoyable experiences for the entire family. You can pick up a map to the farms that will direct you from one to the other, each a bit different.

While you are there, I suggest that you stop by Kids Inc. for some of the best apple pie you have ever tasted!

Kids Inc. started small almost forty years ago when Edio Delfino (the Agricultural Commissioner of El Dorado County) started teaching his children how to care for the young apple trees in the nursery on his ranch. The children planted pumpkins next to the trees, selling the pumpkins they grew. When the trees grew too big for pumpkins to grow under their shade, Ed set aside two acres for the children's new pumpkin patch.

Ed and his wife Joan decided to let the children name the whole ranch. They don't remember which one of the children came up with the name "Kids Inc.," but that's what it's been called ever since. Today the original kids of Kids Inc. are grown, and their children's children (the sixteen Delfino grandchildren) are keeping up the tradition. Now there are seven acres of pumpkins and gourds, and another acre of Indian corn under cultivation. Ed and Joan's son Chris and his wife Robyn are gradually taking the reins.

Chris oversees the "Kids' Kids" as they learn the ins and outs of farming and earn money that will help pay for their college educations (they get to keep a little to spend, too). Kids Inc. has grown in lots of ways. The Pie Shop is a local legend: it's the only place to get a "Walkin' Pie."

The Farmhouse Pie, a whopping five-pound apple specialty, is something else you can't miss, and the apple cider is unbeatable. If you're in the mood for a meal, try the Hill Grill, open weekends, and featuring the tastiest lunch menu around. The Gift Shop has antiques and unique crafts. On the weekend after Thanksgiving, you can come and cut your own Christmas tree, and find out just what "Walkin' Pie" is when you get one free.

You can see why Kids Inc. is my favorite of all the many farms in Apple Hill. They are all great, but Kids Inc. is simply special!

Kids Inc.
3245 N Canyon Road
Camino,California 95709
United States
(530) 622-0184

www.kidsincapples.com

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Full time real estate services in Fair Oaks CA, with friendly professionalism, 20+ years experience. I work hard to give my buyer or seller a low-stress transaction. "Happy clients make me happy."

For all your real estate needs or questions, call me at (916) 705-8951 or visit my website at www.SusanNealFineProperties.com.

For those who want to live in the pines, there are currently 170 active listings. 43 of the homes are priced under $250,000. Price ranges from $126,000 for a 660 Sq Ft 2 bed/1 bath home in Pollock Pines to Bodhaine Ranch in Apple Hill on 15 acres for $1,080,000.

Average days on the market for the 23 pending sales are 97. Average days on the market for the 43 sold listings of the last 90 days have decreased to 58 days on market. List price to sales price increased to 95.7%.

Visit my website, www.annaboyd.com for free MLS Search (no registration required) or call me for more information (916) 813-3534. I'm always happy to answer any questions. Anna

When a Sacramento, CA home that had just been listed for $99,000 sold for $136,500 at a recent REDC auction, I realized that, sadly, some people who bid at real estate auctions do not investigage the sales and listing histories of homes they are bidding on. If you are considering bidding at a real estate auction, call or visit a real estate agent and ask the agent to provide you with any information available regarding recent sales or listing prices for the home in question. You may find that the most recent selling price was much lower than you would have guessed, or that the home had been listed, unsold, at a price lower than that which you were willing to bid. Be careful in relying on some past selling price provided by the auctioneer (which is designed to pump up the bid) or on sites such as Zillow (which can lag behind market conditions).