2240 Dias Drive, Placerville, CA 95667
530-748-9957
Opens Spring-Summer for U-Pick
Website
Facebook
Yelp for more reviews and information
From the time I planned on having children, I have vowed to give them the best life possible, filled with lots of love, adventures and lessons. American River Cherry Company was the perfect place to achieve all of the above.
The drive from Reno to get to the farm was scenic. You drive through Lake Tahoe and the El Dorado National Forest, the same drive you would take to Apple Hill, since they are in the same vicinity. If you're coming from Reno, you'll pass a beautiful waterfall just before you arrive that can be found right next to the freeway on the left (Bridal Veil Falls, Pollock Pines). There's a pull-over area where you can check it out up close. It flows year-round.
Driving the streets to get to the farm was fun, with winding roads covered by shade-giving trees that lined the road.
Upon entering the farm, my eyes were caught by the beautiful "Homes & Garden" house, blanketed with beautiful flowers, tall trees, and freshly mowed green grass. You can find a hammock hanging out in front- an ideal place for a nap. If you go down the hill to the left of the house, it will lead you to the pond, where you will find the perfect picnic area with a classic red picnic table & swing, water lilies, Koi fish, and playful dragon flies. My kids had fun running up and down the hills after picking fruit.
After parking, we made our way to check in at the barn. Before arriving, I printed and filled out their liability waiver from their website to save time. At the barn, I loved that they took the time to supply sanitized pens so as to reduce the spread of germs. The workers (masked) were welcoming and gave us our buckets.
As soon as we entered the farm, we were greeted with berries- berries to the left and berries to the right. The kids screamed with delight and set out to collect as many as they could. Further down you will find whimsical cherry trees creating a beautiful landscape.
The available selections will depend on the temperature and pollinators, so make sure to call ahead of time for more information. We went a couple of weeks after opening and found that lots of cherries had already been picked. I would suggest following them closely on their Facebook page to keep up with updates so you can catch them right when they open.
The kids especially had fun collecting blueberries, which were perfect in height and plentiful. I can't describe how special it is to be able to pick your own blueberries. There's no comparison with store-bought berries.
If you are traveling with little ones, it is especially helpful that you arrive early in the morning and early in the season to avoid hot temperatures. Just in case the little ones are only interested for a short while, you can find pre-picked selections at check-in so you don't leave empty-handed.
In the end, we all had the time of our lives and decided to make cherry and berry picking at the American River Company, a family tradition.
Notes:
*hand wash station available
*Popsicles and honey for sale at check in
*Berries are super fragile (esp, fresh-picked), so if you can round up some clam shell containers from the store or Amazon, storing the berries in them would be the best way to transport and prevent damage
*check out their website for varieties and prices
*don't forget sunscreen, water, and hats
*don't forget to check the weather to plan accordingly
*If hungry, In-N-Out nearby
*Boa Vista Orchards is a Apple Hill farm that is open year-round if you're looking for goods-baked, packaged, frozen, fresh produce
*They state that there is an entrance fee($5/person, 12 yrs and younger-free) on their website, but when we went, we were not charged. If charged, you may feel like you're not getting your money's worth, but I think the atmosphere and experience alone is worth the entrance fee and would gladly pay.
*Koi fish feed available next to pond- bring quarters
*Not too many parking spots in front of house, so if lot fills up, park outside and walk up hill
*keep berries separate from cherries due to difference in price
Website
Yelp for more reviews and information
From the time I planned on having children, I have vowed to give them the best life possible, filled with lots of love, adventures and lessons. American River Cherry Company was the perfect place to achieve all of the above.
The drive from Reno to get to the farm was scenic. You drive through Lake Tahoe and the El Dorado National Forest, the same drive you would take to Apple Hill, since they are in the same vicinity. If you're coming from Reno, you'll pass a beautiful waterfall just before you arrive that can be found right next to the freeway on the left (Bridal Veil Falls, Pollock Pines). There's a pull-over area where you can check it out up close. It flows year-round.
Driving the streets to get to the farm was fun, with winding roads covered by shade-giving trees that lined the road.
Upon entering the farm, my eyes were caught by the beautiful "Homes & Garden" house, blanketed with beautiful flowers, tall trees, and freshly mowed green grass. You can find a hammock hanging out in front- an ideal place for a nap. If you go down the hill to the left of the house, it will lead you to the pond, where you will find the perfect picnic area with a classic red picnic table & swing, water lilies, Koi fish, and playful dragon flies. My kids had fun running up and down the hills after picking fruit.
After parking, we made our way to check in at the barn. Before arriving, I printed and filled out their liability waiver from their website to save time. At the barn, I loved that they took the time to supply sanitized pens so as to reduce the spread of germs. The workers (masked) were welcoming and gave us our buckets.
As soon as we entered the farm, we were greeted with berries- berries to the left and berries to the right. The kids screamed with delight and set out to collect as many as they could. Further down you will find whimsical cherry trees creating a beautiful landscape.
The available selections will depend on the temperature and pollinators, so make sure to call ahead of time for more information. We went a couple of weeks after opening and found that lots of cherries had already been picked. I would suggest following them closely on their Facebook page to keep up with updates so you can catch them right when they open.
The kids especially had fun collecting blueberries, which were perfect in height and plentiful. I can't describe how special it is to be able to pick your own blueberries. There's no comparison with store-bought berries.
If you are traveling with little ones, it is especially helpful that you arrive early in the morning and early in the season to avoid hot temperatures. Just in case the little ones are only interested for a short while, you can find pre-picked selections at check-in so you don't leave empty-handed.
In the end, we all had the time of our lives and decided to make cherry and berry picking at the American River Company, a family tradition.
Notes:
*hand wash station available
*Popsicles and honey for sale at check in
*Berries are super fragile (esp, fresh-picked), so if you can round up some clam shell containers from the store or Amazon, storing the berries in them would be the best way to transport and prevent damage
*check out their website for varieties and prices
*don't forget sunscreen, water, and hats
*don't forget to check the weather to plan accordingly
*If hungry, In-N-Out nearby
*Boa Vista Orchards is a Apple Hill farm that is open year-round if you're looking for goods-baked, packaged, frozen, fresh produce
*They state that there is an entrance fee($5/person, 12 yrs and younger-free) on their website, but when we went, we were not charged. If charged, you may feel like you're not getting your money's worth, but I think the atmosphere and experience alone is worth the entrance fee and would gladly pay.
*Koi fish feed available next to pond- bring quarters
*Not too many parking spots in front of house, so if lot fills up, park outside and walk up hill
*keep berries separate from cherries due to difference in price
Categorized under "U-Pick and Seasonal/Holidays"
