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Your Any Season Getaway
Local and Nearby Activities
Chili Bar Park on the South Fork of the American River is a 15-minute drive away and has a great beach and swimming area. There are multiple lakes within a short drive for paddle boarding, swimming, and canoeing or kayaking. River rafting trips take off from Lotus/Coloma which is about 20 minutes away.
Off Road: There are plenty of mountain bike trails and we can help connect you to a mountain bike tour company that will show you the hidden back roads and trails. The area is also home to the famous Rubicon Trail for back road jeeps and other off-road vehicles.
We are located in the heart of Gold Country with lots of historical interest surrounding the Gold Rush, a world-class wine region, and a blossoming craft brewery scene.
Lovely and serene location. We fished at the pond, hiked down to the American River, visited an orchard, and tasted wine all in one day.
Hiking
Each of our cabins has a book of hiking trails in our local area
Summer & Fall
Probably about 7,000 feet in elevation so a good hike to do when it’s hot. Stunning wildflowers in mid-summer.
Easy hiking trails in the beautiful regional park.
Also a high elevation trail so good for getting out of the heat, and, you can take a dip in the lake!
Winter & Spring
This is BLM land and there are a lot of trailheads in the same area.
Check out some of the beautiful waterfall hikes in our area.
Find more nearby hikes in El Dorado organized by season.
Gold Rush History
Gold Bug Mine
Near Placerville, you can tour the historic Gold Bug Mine.
Town of Coloma
The town of Coloma, where gold was discovered, is about a 15-20 minute drive from us. Here is more info about the state park and activities.
Other Historic Towns
And here is more info about historic towns in El Dorado County.
Water Activities
White Water Rafting
White water rafting companies are headquartered in the Coloma/Lotus area, about a 15-minute drive from Reverie Retreat. They have half- and full-day trips. You need to make advance reservations. Here are two companies we recommend (but really, all of the companies in Coloma have good reputations). All the rafting companies have trips on several California rivers so for your planning purposes, the closest river to us is the South Fork of the American, although the Middle Fork is pretty close too. You should choose a trip on one of those rivers so you don’t have to drive too far to put in.
Stumpy Meadows Reservoir
Stumpy Meadows Reservoir is a 30-minute drive away with very few visitors – it is a very peaceful and quiet place great for swimming, kayaking, and paddle boarding. No rentals at the lake, though, so you need to bring your own equipment.
South Fork American River
Chili Bar at the American River is a 10-15 minute drive from us with picnic tables, a beach, and bathrooms.
In Coloma there are two parks by the river with lots of places to hang out next to the water.
Music
The finest music venue in the foothills.
Located in Historic downtown Placerville, GRSC offers a full bar with cocktails, craft beer, local wines & paired with live music from local and national touring acts.
* Many restaurants, bars, breweries and wineries on here also host music.
Check out their website to see what is going on at the days you are here.
Wine, Beer, Cider & Spirits
Georgetown Area
Georgetown Distillery – Craft cocktails made from spirits distilled on-site plus delectable food – we are lucky to have this distillery in our little town!
Garden Valley
Barmhaus Brewery – Boutique European style brewery in the middle of nowhere making quality small-batch beers.
Cool
Rosie’s Bites and Bottles pairs great wines with irresistible small plates—perfect for sipping, snacking, and relaxing.
Placerville
Cappelli Wine – In the heart of downtown Placerville this amazing winery is open 7 days a week and offers handcrafted pizza every Thursday, Friday and Saturday (4 pm to 7 pm).
The Wine Smith – The best place to get a good glass of wine and listen to some amazing music on vinyl. It truly is the place where it does not matter who you are. Open Thursday, Friday and Saturday 12-10pm.
Apple Hill/Camino
Madrona Vineyards is at 3,000 feet elevation so it’s fun to try wines that are grown at higher elevations in El Dorado County. It’s cooler, so the wines are going to be very different from the wineries at lower elevations.
Rucksack Cellars features wines from grapes grown throughout the Sierra foothills and has a great outdoor patio for wine tasting.
Hidden Star Camino specializes in craft hard apple ciders and pours both glasses and flights from 24 varieties. We love their jalapeno cider!
Pleasant Valley Road
Holly’s Hill Vineyards and Brewery – Their wines are made exclusively from Rhone varietals, and they offer a range of classic beer styles in a beautiful setting.
Miraflores Winery – Voted El Dorado’s Best Winery for the past five years, with a beautiful outdoor tasting area. Their rosé is one of our favorites!
Fairplay Appellation
This is our favorite region, but it’s the furthest away
Gwinllan Estate is known for their excellent collection of hand-crafted sparkling wine (méthode champenoise), white, and red wines that are all made from their estate grapes.
Element 79 Located right off Fairplay Road in the heart of Fair Play, Element 79 Vineyards is not just a winery, it is a country club for wine drinkers.
RESTAURANTS
Here are a few eateries we recommend. Keep in mind that we are out in the country, so even the closest restaurant is a 15 minute drive, and they are all small operations so check for opening days/hours before you go. These are organized by distance from Reverie Retreat.
Garden Valley
Red Rooster Burgers and Brew – A big step up from fast food with lots of menu options and outdoor seating.
Georgetown
The Rustic Divide is a great smokehouse and BBQ.
Shandey’s – Burgers, sandwiches, salads, milkshakes, and more.
Los Abuelos Taqueria – Good Mexican restaurant with wide selection.
Georgetown Distillery – Combining small batch craft spirits with a sushi bar featuring authentic Japanese cuisine.
Coloma-Lotus
Marco’s Café – Wood-fired pizza, with local wine and beer options and regular live music.
Sierra Rizing Bakery, Coffeehouse and Café features small-batch local artisan-roasted coffees, fresh bakery goods, breakfast and lunch fare, as well as specialty drinks, beer, and local wines.
Troublemakers Beer Garden – Great outdoor live music venue with light fare and local beer and wine.
Diamond Springs
Allez! – One of our favorites! French cuisine in a casual atmosphere. Also have picnic lunches to take with you wine tasting.
Solid Ground Brewery has great beer, wine and cider options plus food options made with high quality ingredients and produce from local farms.
Pizza Norcia – Wood-fired pizza made in the Umbrian style featuring Italian varietals and rare beers.
Placerville & Apple Hill:
Sweetie Pie’s – Quaint daytime cafe with a patio offering classic breakfasts, baked goods & a self-serve coffee bar.
Thai Noodle Express – Delicious Thai options and bubble tea too.
Burning Barrel Brewing and Spirits – New brewery and distillery on Main Street. Great cocktails, and better than average bar food (sandwiches, salads and wings).
The Market on Main in Placerville has delicious dine-in and take out options, local wine and beer, and a great selection of snacks.
Groceries
Mar Val Food Store
Mar Val Food Store is in Georgetown and is the closest full-service grocery store to Reverie Retreat.
Holiday Market
Holiday Market is an employee-owned and operated neighborhood grocery store in Cool.
Raleys
Raleys in Placerville has a bigger selection than Mar Val, with lots of organic options.
Whole Foods
Whole Foods is in Folsom, about 45 minutes from Reverie Retreat so best to stop there on your way up.
