FINDING A CARAMEL APPLE... in the hot heart of summertime? Saunter by any county fair and you'll come across the stick-based sweet or some version of it (think apple chunks with a side of caramel sauce). And locating a luscious slice of apple pie? That, too, is a known summer pursuit, especially around Independence Day. But finding apple-themed treats all in one pomme-tastic place is the province of autumn, though some of California's best-known apple orchards and farms don't wait for September. Look to High Hill Ranch in Placerville, a charming spot that is synonymous with apple joy, and mark Aug. 15 on your apple-adorned calendar. That's when the first breezes of fall will rustle the leaves, at least thematically, at the sizable property, a destination that is synonymous with a confection just about every autumn aficionado obsesses over: the apple doughnut.
PIE, TOO, IS A SYMBOL OF THE SEASON, and it doesn't seem like fall if you're not in the vicinity of a fritter. For the 21-and-over guests, there is apple beer, and apple wine, too, and hard cider. Caramel apples are also on the line-up, if that is your gotta-have-one-every-single-fall dessert. Once you've snacked-out, or perhaps before you find your fritter and cider, consider making a homespun day out on the large ranch, which is over 155 acres. Hayrides and pony rides, available on select days, are part of the fresh-air'd scene, and a fishing pond, too (that will open in September). Are you eager to get to know the other growers, ranches, and farms of Apple Hill, which wends scenically through the Sierra Nevada foothills? Put on your lucky pair of overalls or your favorite apple-munching pants: Fall is on its wonderful way, and wholesome road trips of the eating-est sorts are calling us.
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