Home Care In Placerville, CA

Apple Hill — a collection of roughly 50 farms in the Sierra Nevada foothills — is a go-to place to experience the transition of seasons and everything associated with the fall. Each of the farms in the area has unique offerings, some specializing in apple cider doughnuts, others in pumpkin pie (and a few have both).

There are wineries, breweries and hard apple cider gardens tucked into the El Dorado County hills near Placerville. There are also Christmas tree farms, apple orchards, berry patches and play areas for children. What they all have in common are the scenic surroundings of Northern California nature.

And, during the busy months of September through November, they share another commonality: big crowds, which can be good for business, but also stress the local farms that are still adjusting.

“This region was never created or developed with the ideation of (agricultural) ecotourism,” said Johann Smit, owner of Hidden Star Orchards in Apple Hill, which specializes in hard cider. “You’ve got small plots of land, you’ve got windy and twisty roads, you’ve got an infrastructure that is not built or suited, or developed for an influx of tourists over the years.”

Apple Hill has been attracting tourists for 50 years, but its popularity is spiking since the COVID-19 pandemic, like many other outdoor industries. Although exact numbers weren’t available, this season has been among the busiest in years, said Apple Hill Growers Association president Pam Harris.

Crowds have been bigger after frost impacted the start of growing season in 2022, along with the nearby Mosquito fire that lasted from early September through mid October. This year, the crop yields have been robust following last winter’s historic rainfall, wildfire season did not harm the region and sales are expected to surpass last season.

The rise of social media has also helped Apple Hill go from hidden gem to tourism boom. Instagram and TikTok feeds have been flooded with the colorful leaves and slices of dutch apple pie dolloped with vanilla ice cream.

“Are there times when there are just too many people? Absolutely,” Smit said. “There isn’t a farm — as efficient as we are — that can ever squelch those lines that wait for hard cider.”

Apple Hill’s 50-year-old infrastructure is often bent by the weight of crowds, particularly on the weekends. Some roadways become congested and popular farms run out of parking, which is why officials suggest planning ahead of time and utilizing the less popular roads off Highway 50.

“Our farms are in a rural area. The roads are two-lane roads,” Harris said. “That’s part of the problem with people navigating on the weekends. If they stick to the real busy corridor on Carson Rd., there’s going to be a lot of traffic and a lot backups.

“My message to everybody is we have 50 farms in the Apple Hill Growers Association, and many of those farms are not on the main corridor. They’re on the little back roads.”

Harris said the first thing she would recommend for visitors is visiting AppleHill.com and using the map to plan a trip rather than winging it. She also suggested trying to come during the week if possible and using the website to see which farms are open as some are only open Friday through Sunday.

There are also multiple exits off Highway 50 to take beyond the popular Schnell School exit No. 48. Visitors can continue traveling east as far as Pollock Pines Exit No. 57, which provides access to the farms on the eastern side of Apple Hill. The most popular area is on the Carson Rd. on the western side.

“So I would just encourage (visitors) to get look at the whole area and get into the whole, and not just focus on that main corridor at Carson Rd.,” Harris said. “We have a couple of really big farms on Carson Rd. and I realize people want to go but if you’re going to sit in traffic for an hour, go explore, see what else is out there on a side road.”

Harris said Apple Hill is limited with its say over what happens with the roads in the area because it doesn’t have jurisdiction. The association collaborates with the El Dorado County Department of Transportation, but the price of major renovations would likely be too steep given the complex topography of the area.

Harris said El Dorado County received federal money to run a shuttle in the area before the start of the pandemic, but it didn’t last.

“It didn’t work as well as we would have hoped,” she said. “There’s always opportunities for other kinds of things that might get the number of cars reduced that are on the road, which would be great.”

In the meantime, it’s largely up to the individual farms to do what they can with crowds. Ideas such as having plans for heavy traffic, including traffic and parking attendants, should be considered. Many farms have also added third-party vendors, like food trucks, to increase options for visitors and spread crowds out to shorten lines.

“We’re not Disneyland up here,” said Jericho Kelsey of Grandpa’s Cellar, which specialize in baked good and has an assortment of apple pies. “But we try to get people in and out as fast as we can.”

This story was originally published November 2, 2023, 5:30 AM.

PLACERVILLE — More questions than answers were left after a woman was found dead inside her Northern California home on Thursday just before a man was found in a nearby home with stab wounds.

The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office officially ruled the incident a homicide Friday evening, but also said no outstanding persons of interest remain.

It happened at Prado Vista Lane in Placerville in El Dorado County.

El Dorado County sheriff's deputies were called out to a stabbing, and when they got there, they found the woman dead and the man with serious injuries in different homes.

That woman was identified Friday evening as Cristina Lee Humlick, 36. The man was taken to a hospital and was stable at last check. He has not yet been identified.

The sheriff's office could not confirm if the man and Humlick knew each other. It remains unclear exactly what happened that resulted in Humlick's death and the man's injuries.

The situation left neighbors shocked.

"It's pretty disturbing, just frightening," one neighbor told CBS13.

As they described, this neighborhood on Prado Vista Lane is usually safe and relatively quiet.

Deputies were called out to a stabbing, and when they got there, they found the woman dead inside a home. Then they found a man inside a different home with serious injuries. He was taken to a hospital.

Neighbors who did not want to be identified said they felt safe in the area but occasionally heard yelling and screaming.

"I've actually witnessed and heard things," one resident said. "The same area."

So far, no arrests have been made.

"At this point, there is no danger to the public and there's no reason to think that any persons of interests are outstanding," a spokesperson for the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office said on Zoom.

PLACERVILLE, Calif. —

Months after a plan in the Placerville area of El Dorado County was tested to ease traffic, officials are now considering a permanent version of that plan.

The Trip to Green pilot program was tested last summer, which kept traffic lights on Highway 50 in the city green from 7 a.m. to 8 p .m.

The idea was to alleviate traffic in downtown Placerville during peak traffic times and ski or Apple Hill seasons. An average of 46,000 cars drive through Placerville daily and about 93% of drivers are non-Placerville residents.

Now, Placerville officials, along with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the El Dorado County Transportation Commission, see some possible benefits in continuing something similar.

Rebecca Neves, a city engineer, said a temporary or permanent project could potentially increase public safety during major events.

"Labor Day weekend, we actually had a fire break out at a homeless camp on the east end of town and what marked on my mind as an important piece of information is that it was the fastest response time our fire district was able to make to a local fire," Neves said. "They were ecstatic. It was potentially a fire that could have been a huge issue for us in a wooded area and the fire district was able to get there within a matter of minutes."

Neves recalled that on Aug. 17, 2021, Trip to Green was implemented for the first time. At the same time, evacuation orders were issued for the communities of Camino and Pollock Pines due to the Caldor Fire.

Previous coverage | Pollock Pines woman talks about evacuation as Caldor Fire burns

But not everyone is on board. Some business owners on Main Street who rely on tourism said that the pilot program was a disaster for them as they lost potential customers.

"Sundays, we really got hit from the Tahoe traffic coming down the hill and there really wasn't a proper signage to pull over and they bypassed us and it really hurt this town," said Gregory Recak, owner of Placerville Antiques and Collectibles.

Recak's fear is that Placerville could become a ghost town and impact the future of his business.

Neves said the city held community and merchant surveys with the majority of the respondents supporting Trip to Green. Out of the 559 community responses, 60% were in favor of a temporary or permanent change. The merchant survey was up for eight weeks and 77% of the respondents potentially supported Trip to Green.

City officials are still collecting data and hosting community workshops before moving with a plan and/or seeking funding for the project.

If a permanent Trip to Green were to be approved, $16 million would be needed. That includes a pedestrian overcrossing at Canal street.

While California is known for attracting tourists during its sweltering summers, only made bearable due to its proximity to ocean waters, the autumn season, with its milder weather, smaller crowds, festive ambiance, and gorgeous foliage, makes the prospect of visiting California, and particularly Northern California, during the fall season, a tempting prospect. With harvest and Halloween celebrations, crisp evening air, and a cozy atmosphere, Northern California is made to be visited in the fall.

As the middle of September rolls around, the many small communities of Northern California switch from the exhausting summer heat into the lively autumn season. From Pacific Ocean coastal villages to High Sierra communities, how different locals celebrate this season varies from place to place. While having so many options is undoubtedly a good thing, it can also make choosing where to visit challenging. To help narrow your choices, we have put together our favorite fall towns in Northern California. But, if the town you were considering does not appear, have no fear, it only means there are too many exciting options for them all to fit onto this list.

More in NorCalExplore 12 of the best small towns to visit in Northern California.

McKinleyville

In McKinleyville, California, a range of fall celebrations bring this Northern California community to life in the autumn. ‘The Thing Festival,’ which celebrates the fall season through various musical events, including live music performances and music learning workshops, is a great way to open the season, and, for those who can never get enough of live music, there is also the Annual Fall Into Music Festival, held a week for so before the ‘The Thing Festival’ most years. And while it is a 95 mile drive west of McKinleyville, it is worth the drive for music festival aficionados. A little closer to homem and just 7 miles south of McKinleyville, there is the Thanksgiving Day Walk at the Arcata Marsh, a fantastic way to close out the fall season. To experience the fall colors near McKinleyville, visit Hiller Park or Pierson Park in town, or Azalea State Natural Reserve, which, in the fall, is a spectacular delight for the senses.

Ferndale

Ferndale, California, with its stunning Victorian buildings and coastal redwoods, offers a unique autumnal charm. Nestled in the Northern California landscape, this town is a mosaic of rich history and natural wonders. Each October, Ferndale is aglow with the spirited Pumpkin Festival, capturing the essence of the season and community. Not to be overlooked, Francis Creek Inn is renowned for its pumpkin spice lattes and delectable pumpkin pies, relished by locals and visitors alike. For those keen on immersing themselves in nature, Russ Park provides trails awash in fall colors, becoming a serene retreat. As the sun dips, the Ferndale Repertory Theatre becomes a hub of cultural activity, with performances that echo the town's artistic legacy.

Crescent City

Popular amongst Oregonians, who live just miles north above the California-Oregon border, for celebrating the fall season, the Crescent City Fall Fest is of particular note as it draws visitors from across the United States and from across all of North America. Put on by the Crescent City Downtown Partnership, this festival is also an annual highlight for locals. For those looking to explore the natural fall beauty of the region Brother Jonathan Park is a great place to enjoy the mild weather and lovely colors in town. On a grander scale, a visit to Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, 5 miles south of town, or a trek along the trail out to Fern Waterfall are both wonderful options that will certainly be highlights of your visit to Crescent City during the autumn season.

Mammoth Lakes

Of all the towns in Northern California, Mammoth Lakes is one of the first to see its leaves turn to the autumnal colors we all know and love. Because of its altitude, at 7,880 feet above sea level, the fall season arrives comparatively early in mid-September and lasts through the first two weeks of October. As the majestic forests around Twin Lakes and Lake Mary, the closest bodies of water to Mammoth Lakes, and the entire Mammoth Lakes Basin transform into their autumnal colors, this region becomes nothing less than magical. A great way to enjoy the leaves as they change colors in the Mammoth Lakes region is to take the Panorama Gondola up Mammoth Mountain to get a panoramic view of the foliage canopy of California’s Sierra Nevada. In town, Mammoth Lakes also celebrates the fall season with a range of events, including Mammoth Lakes’s Oktoberfest and the Leaves in the Loop multi-day festival, put on in conjunction with the town of June Lake, attracting many visitors.

Placerville

Are you looking for a memorable fall vacation for the entire family? If so, you should check out Placerville, California. Placerville is the hub of the Apple Hills region, which annually draws visitors from far and wide looking to participate in this region’s annual apple harvest. Of all the local orchards, nearly 40 just around Apple Hill alone, High Hill Ranch is the pièce de résistance, with a range of apple varieties growing on site. So, if you plan on being in the area between mid-September and the first few days of November, do some apple picking.

After spending a long day on ladders and in apple trees, enjoy the fruits of your labor, so to speak, and try some of the famed local hot apple cider and/or fresh apple pie at one of the local restaurants or coffee shops. And, if you are visiting without children, check out some of the nearby hard apple cider makers, which offer tastings during the fall season.

June Lake

Once more, we head to the Eastern Sierra Nevada, finding June Lake at an elevation of 7,621 feet above sea level. Like Mammoth Lakes, the foliage in the region of June Lake changes earlier than most of California. While its name may suggest that June is the best time to visit this community, rest assured it is the autumn in June Lake when this town comes alive. Most would guess that this region's forests are primarily pine tree forests, which do not change color in the fall, where there is access to flat ground and fresh water, as there is around June Lake and the many valleys of the Sierra Nevada, you will find a healthy population of aspen, willow, and cottonwood trees, each known for having lovely fall foliage.

One of the fall highlights in June Lakes is the June Lake Leaves in the Loop joint festival with Mammoth Lakes, held annually in mid-October. Held in Gull Lake Park, this festival celebrates the art inspired by autumn in the Eastern Sierra Nevada, with photography hikes, landscape painting, and guided historical walks being some of the planned events. For those looking to explore this region's fall colors, look no further than Horsetail Falls Trail, Minaret Falls Trail, or Twin Falls Trail, each with a relatively easy hike through breathtakingly beautiful deciduous forests.

Mendocino

Known for the Redwood trees found just outside of its border, Mendocino, California, is the closest community to some of the tallest Redwood trees in the world, Mendocino, California, has a unique appearance during the fall season. Because Redwood trees do not change color, the forests around town turn into a multi-tiered canopy, with the trees at the bottom sporting golden yellows, oranges, and red, with the taller redwoods towering above in all their deep green glory. For those wanting to experience this unique fall aesthetic, great excursions take you on a passenger train along the California coast, with the ocean on one side of the train and this striking autumnal foliage on the other. Take the Mendocino County: Skunk Train Wolf Tree Turn Train Ride for an unforgettable experience. Visiting Russian Gulch State Park or Cypress Grove will provide a lovely view of the local fall foliage for those not fans of trains. During the fall season, Mendocino also hosts a range of fall festivities, the most popular being the Paul Bunyan Days Celebration in September and the Harvest Festival in November.

Half Moon Bay

As the pumpkin capital of the world, Half Moon Bay is all about the autumnal aesthetic. Throughout the fall season, in Half Moon Bay, you will find musical performances in Mac Dutra Park an Shakespeare performances in Carter Park. The season's pinnacle event in Half Moon Bay is their world-famous annual Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival, held in mid-October. During this multi-day festival, there is the biggest pumpkin competition, drawing entries that often rival the size of a small car. This event concludes with the Great Pumpkin Parade, where the winning and runner-up pumpkins parade, with their owners, through the Half Moon Bay townsite. This festival also attracts artisan vendors from across the United States, usually around 250 booths worth, selling their high-quality, hand-crafted, unique wares. This event also sees many food trucks and bakery booths with delectable, pumpkin-infused treats for the entire family (there are even pumpkin dog treats).

Get to know Half Moon Bay history while also reveling in the beauty of the fall season at Burleigh H. Murray Ranch State Park, or wander the Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve, where you will experience the unique phenomena of a deciduous conifer that turns golden orange and fire red during the autumn.

Next UpDiscover 11 of the most underrated towns in Northern California.

The Take Home

As the days become shorter and the temperatures drop, the knowledge that the cold of winter gets closer and closer with every new day can be pretty disheartening. But remember, for many towns in Northern California, fall is the most spectacular season to visit. From the autumnal aesthetic that pops up all around the region, as well as inside local small towns, and the associated cross-cultural festivities celebrated during this part of the year, this season brings Northern California and its communities to life in the best way possible. With food, family, and fun all in the fall, who could ask for more?

Three of the five children hospitalized after being struck by a van Wednesday morning in a Pollock Pines crosswalk suffered major injuries, authorities said, as the tragic collision remains under investigation.

The victims were students of a nearby Montessori preschool, according to the school, El Dorado County community leaders and a family member.

Three of the five juvenile victims were taken to hospitals with major injuries, Sgt. Adam Croxton of the California Highway Patrol’s Placerville office said Thursday, and the other two had minor injuries. No updates on their conditions were available as of Thursday morning, Croxton said.

CHP officials said an appliance repair van driven by a 21-year-old man hit five children who were within a crosswalk on Pony Express Trail near Willow Street.

The children were students of Pine Top Montessori School, the school confirmed in a statement to KCRA. The school is on Pony Express Trail about two blocks east of the scene.

“Our hearts and prayers are with all our families, and we are sending our prayers for their speedy recovery,” the school’s statement read, in part. “We remain in close communication with authorities and parents to address the issue. To ensure the safety of all children, we respectfully ask that only parents and their children visit our facility.”

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. The driver stopped at the scene and cooperated with law enforcement; CHP Placerville spokesman Lt. Rick Hatfield on Wednesday said speed, drugs and alcohol did not appear to be factors.

A verified GoFundMe page was set up Thursday for a 4-year-old victim who was hospitalized with “significant head trauma,” family members said.

Jillian Leach wrote that her 4-year-old niece, Juniper, was going for a field trip across the street to a park when she and her preschool classmates were hit by a van.

Juniper was airlifted to a hospital and is in a pediatric intensive care unit, Leach wrote on the crowdfunding page.

“She has significant head trauma and has been intubated and placed on a ventilator,” Leach wrote. “My sister and brother-in-law have been bedside with her since she arrived.”

The GoFundMe page had raised more than $10,000 as of midday Thursday.

El Dorado County Supervisor Brooke Laine, who represents Pollock Pines, in a Facebook post Wednesday called the incident “a tragic accident that involved preschool children.”

Pine Top Montessori serves children up to age 6, with programs for infants, toddlers and preschoolers, according to its website.

The El Dorado Community Foundation, a Placerville-based nonprofit that raises funds for dozens of organizations, causes and for disaster relief in El Dorado County, established a fund within its community resource fund Thursday to aid victims of what it called the “Pine Top Montessori Tragedy.”

“While we don’t yet know the full extent of the tragedy, we do know that there will be monetary needs for those affected,” the foundation wrote in a news release.