Apple Ridge Farms - Apple Hill #20 — Attraction in Placerville

I came here last Monday with a preschool friend group. We love the pumpkin patch, and the nature trail. The flowers are still fully bloomed and the children had fun taking pictures next to the butterfly wing structures. I also enjoyed a nice cup of Hot coffee and my babe a Caprisun ;) My only disappointment was that the children wandered into a pond area to explore and of course began to throw rocks. All of us mamas told them to stop because they looked like they had been placed their on purpose. We almost immediately after that were approached by a very reactive man yelling, " Nope, nope, get out of there! We said oh are we not aloud in here there aren't any signs and the gate is open? and he says Nope just get out! We were really confused and also our experience was thoroughly soured. As we were gathering ourselves we did notice a VERY SMALL sign that said the pond area was a natural conservation area or something and not to throw rocks. WOOPS. certainly wasn't our intention but we all know 3 year olds are just living in the moment :) Although, we are locals and we loved the farm. The disrespect and zero explanation of why we were being shooed away like flies was enough for me to say... ehhh there are definitely better farms...

We go to Apple Ridge Farm every year so when we visited this year we were excited to do the u-pick apples. Unfortunately that experience was cut short because the older gentleman working the u-pick apples was very rude and said he needed to kick us out because my 2 year old daughter was running around the sign while I was reading the waiver. There were a total of 6 adults with us and my husband was right next to her so it wasn't like she was out of control. He yelled at yes and wouldn't allow us to go pick apples. My daughter listens really well for a two year old and my husband and I make sure she follows the rules like everyone else, but I don't see an issue with her skipping around. She hadn't even touched anything.. that was the sad part....and the most she would have touched were apples that had already fallen on the ground and could not be saved. This ruined our experience here and we will no longer be making a trip back nor will I be giving recommendations to others to go there. So much for a...

#20 was the one stop for everything without being so crowded that we couldn't enjoy the day!

We learned our lesson as much as I love going to Apple Hill in the fall go earlier, by the second weekend in October it's crazy and the crowds actually can make it unenjoyable. Looked back and last year went the last weekend in September and hit all the ones we couldn't even get into this weekend like Rainbow Orchards and High Hill.

Did make us drive and check out other farms/stands which wasn't bad but still bummed I couldn't get into rainbow orchards otherwise still a very enjoyable day with lots of apple goodies like apple blossom, apple cider, apple cider donuts, apple turnovers yum.

Update 10/6/22. This is one of my favorites at Apple Hill there's so much to see, do, and eat here.

There's a food stand, the bakery, gem mining, pumpkin patch, maze, the flower trails,...