Fall Bucket List: The 10 Spot
Ahh, fall. The leaves start to change, the weather begins to cool down, and the holidays are right around the corner. Celebrate this special season with a few (or all!) of the activities below.
HEAD TO APPLE HILL
There’s no shortage of spots (or snacks) to choose from in this must-see region that draws ample visitors every year. Wondering where to go? Savor a variety of apple donuts (think walnut-covered, chocolate, and maple glazed) at High Hill Ranch (highhillranch.com); enjoy a hard cider flight at Boa Vista (boavista.com); indulge in a seasonal coffee flight and gluten-free treats at Grandpa’s Cellar (grandpacellar.com); or dig into a hot apple cider donut alongside fresh apple cider at Rainbow Orchards (rainboworchards.net). We recommend arriving early and visiting on a weekday to avoid the traffic and long lines. Find a full list of options and things to do (beyond just bake shops!) at applehill.com.
GO LEAF PEEPING (& CRUNCHING!)
If you didn’t get enough fall foliage in Apple Hill, we have a few other ideas. Lake Natoma provides a relaxing water setting to take in autumn hues and other pretty views. East Sacramento—though a bit out of our suburban bubble—boasts breathtaking leaves and a plethora of leaf piles lining jaw-dropping homes. Or, keep it really close to home by taking a stroll through your neighborhood sans phone. Stay up to date on leaf spottings and happenings—or share your own outdoor fall adventure with others—at californiafallcolor.com.
SIP ON MULLED CIDER
You don’t have to leave the house for a warm autumn drink! Grab the apple cider you purchased from Apple Hill or the grocery store (Barsotti Juice Co. sells theirs at lots of local markets like Whole Foods and Raley’s) along with a saucepan or crockpot; add in spices like star anise, cinnamon sticks, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves, then let things heat up. To really get warmed up, add some splashes of brandy or rum. If you find yourself at Camino's Drew Bean Farms (drewbeanfarms.com), their Toastee Mosa (mulled hot cider with cinnamon and spices; topped with champagne and hard cider from North Canyon Cider Co.) is a must!
There’s no shortage of spots (or snacks) to choose from in this must-see region that draws ample visitors every year. Wondering where to go? Savor a variety of apple donuts (think walnut-covered, chocolate, and maple glazed) at High Hill Ranch (highhillranch.com); enjoy a hard cider flight at Boa Vista (boavista.com); indulge in a seasonal coffee flight and gluten-free treats at Grandpa’s Cellar (grandpacellar.com); or dig into a hot apple cider donut alongside fresh apple cider at Rainbow Orchards (rainboworchards.net). We recommend arriving early and visiting on a weekday to avoid the traffic and long lines. Find a full list of options and things to do (beyond just bake shops!) at applehill.com.
Boa Vista
GO LEAF PEEPING (& CRUNCHING!)
If you didn’t get enough fall foliage in Apple Hill, we have a few other ideas. Lake Natoma provides a relaxing water setting to take in autumn hues and other pretty views. East Sacramento—though a bit out of our suburban bubble—boasts breathtaking leaves and a plethora of leaf piles lining jaw-dropping homes. Or, keep it really close to home by taking a stroll through your neighborhood sans phone. Stay up to date on leaf spottings and happenings—or share your own outdoor fall adventure with others—at californiafallcolor.com.
Apple Hill
SIP ON MULLED CIDER
You don’t have to leave the house for a warm autumn drink! Grab the apple cider you purchased from Apple Hill or the grocery store (Barsotti Juice Co. sells theirs at lots of local markets like Whole Foods and Raley’s) along with a saucepan or crockpot; add in spices like star anise, cinnamon sticks, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves, then let things heat up. To really get warmed up, add some splashes of brandy or rum. If you find yourself at Camino's Drew Bean Farms (drewbeanfarms.com), their Toastee Mosa (mulled hot cider with cinnamon and spices; topped with champagne and hard cider from North Canyon Cider Co.) is a must!
Rainbow Orchards
High Hill Ranch
DIY AUTUMN DÉCOR
Gather Studio & Events (gatherstudioandevents.com) will help you master your autumn décor! Fall wreath workshops are available September 10 at The Flower Farm and September 12 at Goose Port Public House; succulent pumpkin workshops are available in October at various local locations. Private workshops can also be booked for bridal showers, birthday parties, book clubs, or just because!
ORDER ALL THE SEASONAL LATTES
Pumpkin spice and everything nice! Grab a traditional PSL (sorry, but big-box coffee shops don’t count!) or go for something with a twist by sipping on a pumpkin spice chai at World Traveler Coffee Roasters (worldtravelercoffee.com). The Bean Barn (@the_beanbarn) and Cuppa Coffee & More (cuppacoffeeandmore.com) offer their pumpkin spice lattes year-round, so you won’t have to stop drinking them anytime soon. If you happen to find yourself in the non-pumpkin spice gang, Roseville’s MoJoe’s Café (mojoesroseville.com) has vanilla bean maple and cinnamon dolce lattes with your name on them. Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters (chocolatefishcoffee.com) takes their seasonal sips up a notch with offerings like a fall-spiced flat white, caramel oat cider, and pumpkin pie chai.
BRING THE SCENT OF THE SEASON HOME
Rocklin Candle Company (@rocklincandlecompany) offers seasonal scents—like hazelnut coffee, cranberry apple, and pumpkin spice—so you can bring the aroma of autumn into your home. Purchase them online at etsy.com/shop/rocklincandlestore or smell the goods before you buy them at Apple Hill’s Boa Vista, Rocklin’s Lavender Salon & Blow Out Bar, and the Historic Folsom Farmers’ Market on Saturdays.
PICK THE PERFECT PUMPKIN
Folsom’s Zittel Farms (zittelfarms.com) has been around since 1976 and boasts an impressive array of the colorful squash, in addition to offering hayrides, educational fall farm tours, autumn décor, and more. Granite Bay’s Rickey Ranch Pumpkin Farm (visitplacer.com/rickey-ranch-pumpkin-farm) offers hay and horse rides, plus pigs, chickens, goats, and sheep; while Little Field Farms (loomislittlefieldfarms.com) boasts 10 varieties of pumpkins, tractor rides, horse rides, and a corn maze. Dora Dain Wines (doradainwines.com), beloved for their buttery chardonnay and other vinos, sets up a patch for their beautifully plump, farm-grown pumpkins at Dueling Dogs Brewing Co. (duelingdogsbrewing.com) Check each farms’ respective website for more info and opening dates.
ROAST PUMPKIN SEEDS
After you’ve completed your jack-o-lantern carving, don’t let those delicious, nutritious seeds go to waste! Once they're thoroughly rinsed and dried, generously season them (for savory, we like butter, Worcestershire sauce, garlic salt, and onion powder; for sweet, cinnamon and sugar can’t be beat), and bake on a cookie sheet at 300 for about 40-50 minutes, occasionally stirring and checking their level of crispness. Let cool and enjoy!
ATTEND A HARVEST FESTIVAL
Bring on the treats, live music, handcrafted goods, and crisp autumn air! There’s no shortage of fall festivals in our area. Save the date for two of our favorites: the Hands4Hope Fall Festival (hands4hopeyouth.org/fallfestival), from October 14-15 at the El Dorado Hills Town Center; and the Auburn Community Harvest Festival (auburnrec.com/events/auburn-harvest-festival) on October 21. On September 23-24 at Camino's Delfino Farms and October 14-15 at Folsom's Gallery at 48 Natoma, peruse (and purchase) over 5,000 handblown glass pumpkins, gourds, acorns, and more at the Handblown Glass Pumpkin Patch (handblownglasspumpkinpatch.com).
HAVE A FALL MOVIE MARATHON
Even if you’re not ready for the spooky stuff yet, there’s plenty of fall content to get you in the cozy mood. Autumn in New York, When Harry Met Sally, Mona Lisa Smile, Remember the Titans, Sweet November, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, and Good Will Hunting are all flicks with a fall feel.
Gather Studio & Events (gatherstudioandevents.com) will help you master your autumn décor! Fall wreath workshops are available September 10 at The Flower Farm and September 12 at Goose Port Public House; succulent pumpkin workshops are available in October at various local locations. Private workshops can also be booked for bridal showers, birthday parties, book clubs, or just because!
Gather Studio & Events
ORDER ALL THE SEASONAL LATTES
Pumpkin spice and everything nice! Grab a traditional PSL (sorry, but big-box coffee shops don’t count!) or go for something with a twist by sipping on a pumpkin spice chai at World Traveler Coffee Roasters (worldtravelercoffee.com). The Bean Barn (@the_beanbarn) and Cuppa Coffee & More (cuppacoffeeandmore.com) offer their pumpkin spice lattes year-round, so you won’t have to stop drinking them anytime soon. If you happen to find yourself in the non-pumpkin spice gang, Roseville’s MoJoe’s Café (mojoesroseville.com) has vanilla bean maple and cinnamon dolce lattes with your name on them. Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters (chocolatefishcoffee.com) takes their seasonal sips up a notch with offerings like a fall-spiced flat white, caramel oat cider, and pumpkin pie chai.
Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters
BRING THE SCENT OF THE SEASON HOME
Rocklin Candle Company (@rocklincandlecompany) offers seasonal scents—like hazelnut coffee, cranberry apple, and pumpkin spice—so you can bring the aroma of autumn into your home. Purchase them online at etsy.com/shop/rocklincandlestore or smell the goods before you buy them at Apple Hill’s Boa Vista, Rocklin’s Lavender Salon & Blow Out Bar, and the Historic Folsom Farmers’ Market on Saturdays.
Rocklin Candle Company
PICK THE PERFECT PUMPKIN
Folsom’s Zittel Farms (zittelfarms.com) has been around since 1976 and boasts an impressive array of the colorful squash, in addition to offering hayrides, educational fall farm tours, autumn décor, and more. Granite Bay’s Rickey Ranch Pumpkin Farm (visitplacer.com/rickey-ranch-pumpkin-farm) offers hay and horse rides, plus pigs, chickens, goats, and sheep; while Little Field Farms (loomislittlefieldfarms.com) boasts 10 varieties of pumpkins, tractor rides, horse rides, and a corn maze. Dora Dain Wines (doradainwines.com), beloved for their buttery chardonnay and other vinos, sets up a patch for their beautifully plump, farm-grown pumpkins at Dueling Dogs Brewing Co. (duelingdogsbrewing.com) Check each farms’ respective website for more info and opening dates.
Little Field Farms
ROAST PUMPKIN SEEDS
After you’ve completed your jack-o-lantern carving, don’t let those delicious, nutritious seeds go to waste! Once they're thoroughly rinsed and dried, generously season them (for savory, we like butter, Worcestershire sauce, garlic salt, and onion powder; for sweet, cinnamon and sugar can’t be beat), and bake on a cookie sheet at 300 for about 40-50 minutes, occasionally stirring and checking their level of crispness. Let cool and enjoy!
Dora Dain Wines
ATTEND A HARVEST FESTIVAL
Bring on the treats, live music, handcrafted goods, and crisp autumn air! There’s no shortage of fall festivals in our area. Save the date for two of our favorites: the Hands4Hope Fall Festival (hands4hopeyouth.org/fallfestival), from October 14-15 at the El Dorado Hills Town Center; and the Auburn Community Harvest Festival (auburnrec.com/events/auburn-harvest-festival) on October 21. On September 23-24 at Camino's Delfino Farms and October 14-15 at Folsom's Gallery at 48 Natoma, peruse (and purchase) over 5,000 handblown glass pumpkins, gourds, acorns, and more at the Handblown Glass Pumpkin Patch (handblownglasspumpkinpatch.com).
Handblown Glass Pumpkin Patch
HAVE A FALL MOVIE MARATHON
Even if you’re not ready for the spooky stuff yet, there’s plenty of fall content to get you in the cozy mood. Autumn in New York, When Harry Met Sally, Mona Lisa Smile, Remember the Titans, Sweet November, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, and Good Will Hunting are all flicks with a fall feel.
Autumn in New York
by Caitlin McCulloch
Apple Hill photos by Tracie @picturehappyphotos. Rainbow Orchards photo by Tracie @picturehappyphotos. Dora Dain photo by Heirloom Photography by Anne. Handblown Glass Pumpkin Patch photo by Hannah Nicholson. Other photos courtesy of their respective companies or organizations.