El Dorado County offers something for everyone! You can do some whitewater rafting, visit the fruit farms in Apple Hill, shop for antiques, spend time gambling in Lake Tahoe, ski, hike, bike ride, spend an evening at the theatre, take a walking tour of historic Placerville, discover some historic Gold Rush towns like El Dorado, Diamond Springs, Latrobe and Newtown ... the list goes on and on.
MARSHALL GOLD DISCOVERY STATE HISTORIC PARK/COLOMA Located on Highway 49 between Placerville and Auburn. Visit Sutter's Mill where gold was first discovered, walk through the museum and stop by the Marshall Monument where James Marshall, the discoverer of gold, is buried. Have a picnic on the grounds, see gold rush relics. Parking: $5/vehicle. (530) 622-3470.
AMERICAN RIVER CONSERVANCY & NATURE CENTER. Located in Marshall Gold Discovery Park, Highway 49, Coloma. Features exhibits focusing on the region's natural history, plants and animals. The center offers workshops, summer day camps for children and a nature store. (530) 621-1224.
HISTORIC DOWNTOWN PLACERVILLE Visit the buildings on Placerville's Main Street that house a variety of businesses including restaurants, antique stores, the oldest hardware store in the west, City Hall, and a news stand that's been here for over 100 years. Enjoy many of the events on Main Street sponsored by the Placerville Downtown Association throughout the year. (530) 672-3436.
GOLD BUG PARK Located in Placerville, north of Highway 50 on Bedford Avenue. Pan for gold, tour the Gold Bug Mine and Joshua Hendy Stamp Mill. Enjoy the picnic facilities and visit the Hattie Museum and Gift Shop. (530) 642-5232.
EL DORADO COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM View pioneer and Indian artifacts, a re-created country store and blacksmith shop. Waterwheels and working steam engines can be seen in the museum yard. (530) 621-5865.
USDA FOREST SERVICE PLACERVILLE NURSERY One of seven U.S. Forest Service nurseries that grow seedlings for reforestation, this 157 acre nursery serves 18 national forests in California. Located in Placerville on Fruitridge Road north of Highway 50 at the Carson Road exit.
APPLE HILL Located around Carson Road in Camino (look for signs). Home to many fruit farms that are famous for their apples, pears, plums, pumpkins, cherries, berries of all kinds, cider, homemade crafts, desserts, Christmas tree farms and the Jack Russell Brewing Co. (530) 644-7692.
EL DORADO The town of El Dorado, originally called Mud Springs, is located on Main Street just south of Highway 50 between Shingle Springs and Diamond Springs. This was one of the first stops for the emigrants during the gold rush. Have dinner and drinks at world famous Poor Red's, known for its barbecued ribs and Gold Cadillacs. (530) 622-2840.
FAIRPLAY Some of the best wineries in California are located in Fairplay, located off of Mt. Aukumn Road, approximately 30 miles southeast of Placerville. Enjoy wine tasting and breathtaking views of incredible mountain scenery. 1-800-306-3956.
SLY PARK A great recreation area for boating on Jenkinson Lake, camping and picnicking. Located on Sly Park Road south of Highway 50 between Camino and Pleasant Valley. (530) 644-2545.
ICE HOUSE RESERVOIR Located in the Crystal Basin Recreation Area the reservoir is east of Pollock Pines in the Eldorado National Forest on Ice House Road, 10 miles north of Highway 50. An ideal destination for fishing, boating, sailing, windsurfing, swimming, hiking. (530) 644-6048.
LAKE TAHOE There's more to do in Tahoe than just gamble. Take in a show at any of the many casinos, have fun boating, swimming, golfing, hiking, skiing. Be sure to visit the Tallac Historic Site and the Vikingsholm Castle. About 1 1/2 hours from Placerville, east on Highway 50. (530) 583-3494.
EMERALD BAY STATE PARK This 1,465 acre state park surrounds Lake Tahoe's breathtaking Emerald Bay. The park is on Highway 89, eight miles northwest of South Lake Tahoe. (530) 525-7232.