April showers bring May flowers—but there’s plenty of non-rainy moments to be had this month, too! Whether you’re looking for family time, a date idea, or something solo where you can connect with nature, here are a few local ideas to help you celebrate spring.

SOAK IN THE SUN (AND HISTORY)
Step back in time at Folsom’s Pioneer Village, where you can learn trade skills through weekly family craft activities. On the second Saturday of every month, you can also partake in the Sutter Street Walking Tour to learn what’s changed over the years—and what’s stayed exactly the same. folsomhistory.org

 

BOOK A FANCY PICNIC
Picnics are magical, but sometimes the setup and planning aspect feel less-than-ideal. Indulge your bougie side while enjoying some fresh air with some of our area’s luxury picnic planners. A Picnic in the Park (apicnicinthepark.com) offers various packages, from simple (includes everything but the food) to premium (includes grazing boxes, drinks, dessert, Polaroid camera kit, and giant Jenga); Pretty Lil Picnic (prettylilpicnic.com) offers amenities like a custom message board, selfie tripod, and Bluetooth speaker; while Pop-up Picnic Sacramento (popuppicnicsac.com) puts together personalized picnics with a teepee, boho umbrella, basket of games, and optional add-ons like a charcuterie board, dessert tower, and more.

 

WANDER AMONGST WILDFLOWERS
The Sierra Foothills is bursting with beautiful blooms to explore, take photos of, and soak in. Their colors range from purple and orange to yellow and red. The Confluence Trail (visitplacer.com/discover/confluence-trail), located near Auburn and about 3.5 miles round-trip, is the perfect place to take in scenic views; plus, it’s dog-friendly if your furry friend stays on a leash, so they can stop and smell the flowers, too. Other top spots to put a spring in your step? Hidden Falls Regional Park, Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, and Cronan Ranch Regional Trails Park.

 

GO BIRDING
Thanks to the abundance of trees and foliage in our area, we also have an abundance of birds. If you’re new to birding, El Dorado Birds (eldoradobirds.com) has compiled an extensive list of the best bird-watching locales in our area. At the top of it is Brown’s Ravine, which is part of the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area and boasts birds like woodpeckers, songbirds, and raptors. But there are tons of other spots to see our feathered friends, too, from the Dave Moore Nature Area, to the UC Davis Arboretum, Sly Park Recreation Area, and El Dorado Trail.

 

BRUNCH IT UP
Sure, you may have visited a nursery before for some pretty greenage—but have you dined amongst one? Step inside a gorgeous greenhouse in the middle of Loomis’ High-Hand Nursery for brunch at High-Hand Café. Delectable dishes are made from local, farm-fresh ingredients (some of their eggs come from Newcastle’s Maple Rock Gardens). Dining is available six days a week, but if you’re heading there for weekend brunch, look forward to dishes such as house-smoked and cured bacon, smoked brisket hash, and banana bread French toast. highhandnursery.com

 

PLAY A ROUND OF GOLF
It’s time to dust those putters off! With so many public courses in our region, golfing is the perfect outing for a sunny day. Check out The Ridge Golf Course & Events Center (ridgegc.com) in Auburn,  Folsom’s Empire Ranch Golf Club (empireranchgolfclub.com), and Lincoln’s Turkey Creek Golf Club (turkeycreekgc.com). If you prefer less walking with plenty of music, food, and drinks, hit a few shots at Roseville’s TopGolf (topgolf.com).

 

DRINK A COLD ONE  
Newcastle’s Hillenbrand Farmhaus Brewery (hillenbrandbrewery.com) brings a whole new meaning to grabbing a beer and hanging outside. Sitting on 13 acres, the sprawling property grows their own fruit and hops, plus they harvest their beehive honey, bringing you the ultimate farm-to-bottle experience. Visitors can look forward to sips like the lower ABV “Pineapple Express” and a dark ale “French Press,” which is made with Guatemalan coffee beans.

 

GET BACK ON YOUR BIKE
Bust out the bikes! Riding around the neighborhood is perfectly acceptable, but if you’re up for a challenge, you can’t go wrong with the American River Bike Trail (regionalparks.saccounty.gov/parks/pages/jedediahsmith.aspx). Also known as the Jedediah Smith Trail, it runs the span of Beal’s Point in Folsom all the way to Discovery Park in Sacramento and is one of our region’s crown jewels. The entire length is roughly 32 miles, so we won’t blame you for only taking on a portion of it.

 

VISIT APPLE HILL (FOR MORE THAN JUST APPLES!)
This gorgeous area isn't just an activity for fall. Boa Vista Orchards (boavista.com) is open 363 days a year for visitors to sip cider and munch on baked goods among the fresh air. There are also plenty of wineries to check out. Enjoy a vino tasting while taking in some incredible alfresco views seven days a week at Lava Cap Winery (lavacap.com).

 

HEAD OUT FOR A HIKE
Take in nature while getting your steps in. There’s no shortage of hikes around us, but a favorite is Hidden Falls Trail (placer.ca.gov/6106/hidden-falls-regional-park) in Auburn—a three-mile, family-friendly loop where you can hear relaxing water and eventually see a waterfall.