Plan a Weekend Off to Spend Time at El Dorado National Forest

When you want to escape the hustle of city life, El Dorado welcomes you with bountiful activities. Whether you’re seeking a thrilling expedition or a romantic getaway, you’ll find both relaxation and adventure waiting for you at El Dorado National Forest. 

From outdoor recreation to sightseeing, this prime destination has a lot to offer you. Wondering what are the best things to see and do at El Dorado National Forest? Here is a list of activities.

Hiking

Hiking has become synonymous with El Dorado. Whenever you want to be close to nature, simply pack your bags along with hiking shoes and start exploring beautiful trails of El Dorado National Forest. Here, you’ll enjoy the scenic beauty around rocky alpine terrain, lush forests, glittering lakes, and waterfalls. Spend a romantic afternoon strolling around Granite Lake Trail with your beloved or explore places like Thunder Mountain and Caples Creek trail, either solo or with your hiking companion. 

Rock Climbing

When you’re missing an adrenaline rush, go for rock climbing. Nothing feels better when you’re away from the chaos of the city and all you hear around is nature’s songs while you struggle to climb up higher. Bring your gears to try a breathtaking climb of 600 ft tall granite wall. That’s not just it, El Dorado National Forest is known for more than 250 rock climbing routes. Some of the most popular developed routes include Dear John Buttress and The Hogsback. 

Mountain biking

Ever thought of racing down the mountain on a bike? Tell your partner to be ready for some real adventure. Face your fears and challenge your limits by riding down steep inclined and downhill plunges. To make routes easier for tourists, all cycling trails are well-marked. Experience the thrill at Fleming Meadow Loop and afterward spend some lazy pedaling near to Sly Park Lake. 

If you’ve fallen in love with adventures that El Dorado National Forest has to offer, spend your next weekend here to unwind and relax your mind. For accommodation, you’ll find plenty of affordable motels in Placerville and luxury hotels in El Dorado Hills CA.

3 Amazing Bed and Breakfast in Placerville, CA You Must Stay in Once

Traveling to Placerville, CA is a unique feeling in itself. The scenic views of the rural wonderland, warmth of nostalgic farms, luring vineyards, tantalizing local cuisines, and a plethora of other activities, if experienced just once in a lifetime, become a justified reason to retreat to this county seat of El Dorado County, time and again. And for those wanting to quadruple their experience in Placerville, amazing bed and breakfasts inns in Placerville, CA have them covered. 

Here are the top three bed & breakfast inns service of Placerville you should stay in:

Glen Morey Country House Bed And Breakfast

Minutes’ walk from the Main Street shops and restaurants will lead you to what started as a gold rush era farmhouse in 1859 — Glen Morey Country House Bed And Breakfast Inn. Today, it’s a spacious two-wing estate built beautifully on 2 acres, throwing everything that tourists and travelers want during their trip: cozy rooms with comfy beds, delicious breakfast comprising the local cuisines made from finest quality ingredients, and views to embrace and relax after touring the attractions of El Dorado.

Ponderosa Ridge B&B

Anyone who spends a night in Ponderosa Ridge B&B comes out with an urge to go back and stay there for as long as their pocket allows. Nestled conveniently amidst the Apple Hill ranches and wineries of Placerville — in bucolic El Dorado County — this amazing bed & breakfast in Placerville, CA is an 11-acre property, which also includes a 3-acre apple orchard, farmed for guests. As you step in its suite, you will fall in love with its ambiance and thoughtful architecture, designed especially for your comfort and quiet relaxation. And since it is B&B, you get to enjoy fresh, homemade country breakfast, prepared from scratch every day. 

Seasons Bed & Breakfast

Just a block away from Placerville’s Main Street, Seasons Bed & Breakfast may take you to the time when the warm smell of colitas would spark off your mind and relax every inch of your body. Once a gold stamp mill, it has now been carefully modernized to complement the 18th century French and English furnishings and tapestries. A stay here and you are all set to take away the best of your travel memories. 

Final note 

Although Placerville is filled with 5-star hotels and motels, the aforementioned B&B ins are considered the most amazing bed and breakfast inns in Placerville, CA that you can’t afford to miss. 

For more information about B&B in Placerville, visit visit-eldorado.com today.

Spotting Wine Flaws like a Pro

When wine tasting is your favorite past time, it’s common to come across bad bottles at times. Even if you’re new to the world of wine, spotting a bad taste isn’t difficult. With little patience and practice, you’ll naturally become a pro at spotting flaws.

Here, we have listed some of the common flaws to look out for.

Cork Taint

By the name, you must have guessed that cork is the culprit for making the wine taste bad. It’s one of the most common wine faults that happens due to the presence of 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA) in wine, which is typically transferred from the cork. Corked wine is easy to deduct because of its moldy smell.

Cooked

Wine becomes cooked when it’s overheated. Just like an over-brewed tea, overcooked wine has a stewed taste. This happens when the wine is stored at a high temperature. For the same reason, you’re suggested not to let the wine site without its container.

Oxidation

Oxidation happens a lot during the winemaking process. Due to the presence of too much oxygen, the chemical balance in the wine weakens and the wine becomes flat, dull or bitter.

Reduction

Opposite to oxidation is a reduction that happens when a wine does not receive oxygen, insufficient amount, during the aging process. This is easily deducted as wine smells like burnt rubber or rotten eggs.

 

Sulfur

During the winemaking, sulfur is commonly added to keep bacteria at bay. Also, this helps in preventing oxidation. Though sulfur goes unnoticed, sometimes the wine smells like asparagus. 

Refermenting

Refermenting occurs when the wine begins fermenting again. This happens due to the presence of yeast and sugar in the bottle. Ultimately, this creates mild bubbles and results in an unpleasant taste.

Using these tips you’ll be able to spot wine flaws (if any) on your next visit to Fair Play wineries events. This way, you’ll take home what’s good and eliminate what’s not.

3 Things to Do While Hiking on Enriching Trails Near Lake Tahoe

No matter which trail you plan to hike, whether it’s a family hiking trail near South Lake Tahoe or the mesmerizing Folsom Point in Folsom, you have to be well prepared while hiking to ensure a good time with family or friends. Failure to do you can put you and those with you at real risk, which hiking carries naturally even for experienced hikers. 

If you are planning a hiking trip in El Dorado Hills, do these three things to minimize your odds of encountering the unexpected:

Pack the 10 Essentials

The 10 Essentials list comprises emergency provisions to enable hikers and outdoor enthusiasts to effectively respond to the most common wilderness emergencies and spend at least a night outdoors. The list includes:

● A first aid kit

● Navigation assistance such as a map, compass, and GPS

● Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat for sun protection

● Jacket/raincoat and extra layers for cold weather

● Flashlight, lantern, or headlamp

● Matches, lighter, fire starters or a flintstone knife to ignite a fire

● A repair kit that includes duct tape and multifunctional tool

● At least two day’s supply of ready-to-eat, nutritious food

● Water and/or items to purify water

● Emergency shelter including tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mattress, and others 

Carry hiking boots and socks

No doubt hiking on enriching trails near Lake Tahoe is invigorating but it has some risks such as slips and foot & ankle injuries. On top of that, if you embark on a hiking trip during monsoon, the chances of leech bites are extremely high. To minimize injuries and leech bites, buy quality hiking boots for good cushioning and grip, and socks that prevent leech bites. 

Don’t throw leftovers

When you are on a family hiking trail near South Lake Tahoe, you are just a guest in a wilderness that is home to a variety of wild animals, including bears, tigers, leopards, and many others. When you leave food or leftovers near your campsite, you may invite wild animals to your camp, which may even attack you or those with you. To avoid jeopardizing your hiking trip, it’s advisable to store your food properly while hiking. 

Final Note 

It is only when you are well prepared for a hiking trip are you able to enjoy it and come out as a different person. For more information about hiking trails in El Dorado, visit visit-eldorado.com.

Enjoy Gold Panning in the American River and learn about the historic California Gold Rush

January 24th, 1848 is an important date in the history of California. It is the date when gold was first discovered by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Lumber Mill in Coloma. It was not long before when people started flocking to Placerville, the nearest city to Coloma in search of gold with high hopes—and they did not get disappointed! Early prospectors could just pluck the gold from the stream. Because the Gold Rush runs through El Dorado County, gold panning is a popular activity here. A modern-day Gold Rush has unfolded in El Dorado County as people from all over the world are coming here in search of gold. If you want to learn about the history and events that led up to this incidental discovery and find gold, you should visit El Dorado County for Gold Rush tours and gold panning in the American River.

 

 Where to find gold in the American River

When you have got a pan or two, it’s time to go gold panning and get a little dirty. The best place to find gold is in a creek than a fast-moving part of the river—around forks or at the tributaries. Before you start panning, make sure that the area you are going to is not already claimed. If you want to pan in the middle fork of the American River, take a look around the Michigan Bluff area. The south fork also provides good opportunities to find gold. Lessons are also provided by experts to help you brush up on your gold panning techniques.

There’s much more to explore!

Overlooking the beautiful river canyon is California's first historic monument and the final resting place of James Marshall—the Marshall Monument. The statue looks down on the American River and points to the site of the gold discovery. Visitors coming to El Dorado County for gold panning also have the opportunity to take a walk around the museum at the globally popular Gold Rush Park and visit the Gold Bug Mine to know more about the history of California Gold Rush and what led to its discovery. You can enjoy hikes and picnics with your family under the riparian oak woodlands. Living History Day, and other special events are also planned regularly throughout the year to add more fun to your visit.

Enjoy Gold Panning in the American River and learn about the historic California Gold Rush—Visit El Dorado County!