Trails abound...time to hike. From Everytrail.com

Dave Moore Loop Trail

1.1 mile trail near Lotus, California

Viewed 5886 times

   

 (1 vote, 1 review)

Length: 1.1 miles / 1.8 km
Duration: 1 hour or less

 

 Download to Phone

 View Large Map

 View Photos

Overview: This little gem of a trail highlights not only some of the wonderful flora of the area, but a little of the gold mining history as well.

Tips: The first half of this trail is accessible by wheelchair down to the river.  There are several spots with picnic tables also accessible to those in wheelchairs.

M is for Many More WIneries!

MASTROSERIO WINERY

Thursday through Monday, 11am - 5pm, and on Tuesdays and Wednesdays by appointment.
Located in El Dorado County, CA, Mastroserio Winery can be found in the heart of the Fair Play wine region where the terroir is known for its varied microclimates. Dramatic changes in elevation, granitic soils and different exposures create the perfect conditions to produce a variety of high quality grapes.

7351 Fairplay Road • Somerset, CA 95684
(530) 417-4321
info@mastroseriowinery.com
www.mastroseriowinery.com

MIRAFLORES: T, P

Open daily, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Our breathtaking vineyards are nestled in a quiet canyon, and our Old World architecture and lovely gardens make us a special place to visit. We believe wine should tell a story, and our handcrafted, artisanal wines reflect our remarkable terroir, the beauty of our land, and our love for the art and the joy of wine.

2120 Four Springs Trail • Placerville, CA 95667
(530) 647-8505
info@mirafloreswinery.com
www.mirafloreswinery.com

MOUNT AUKUM WINERY: T, P, C, S

Open daily, 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
We sit on a dazzling mountaintop at 2,615 feet, and our vines cling to steep hillsides in vineyards woven through granite outcroppings. It's a perfect world for wine grapes, and you can taste that special terroir in all our highly-acclaimed, award-winning wines. Come visit, enjoy our panoramic views and discover an incredible experience.

6781 Tower Road • Somerset, CA 95684
P.O. Box 830 • Mount Aukum, CA 95656
(530) 620-1675 or (800) 591-WINE
admin@mountaukum.com
www.mountaukum.com

One of our very favorite wineries is just a few minutes away from the inn.  Make sure and tell Maggie and Paul we said hello if you stop in.  Their port is a special treat!

MADROÑA: 

Open daily, 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
Whether you are learning about wine or pride yourself on recognizing quality, we know you will enjoy the premium, estate-grown wines of Madroña. The Bush family has been here working these singular vineyards since 1973, and our care and traditional winemaking produces wines that are precise, balanced, and perfect for any occasion.

2560 High Hill Road (P.O. Box 454) • Camino, CA 95709
(530) 644-5948 or (800) 230-7662
Winery@MadronaVineyards.com
www.MadronaVineyards.com

June is just jumping with stuff to do in town.

JUNE through OCTOBER 2014
Saturdays, Music in the Courtyard, 1PM-4PM
at the Fountain Plaza Courtyard on Historic Main Street. Come tap your toes to some great jazz or blues music. This year's dates will be announced soon! Admission is free. Refreshments available from Fountain Courtyard merchants. For more info call (530) 622-4900.

JUNE 7th, 2014: Wagon Train & BBQ Rib Cook Off
12PM-2:30PM –Main Street will welcome the Highway 50 Association's 65th Annual Wagon Train with a host of fun activities including Server's Races, the Beard Contest, gold-panning, country music, western style shoot-outs, refreshments & more. The Wagon Train will come down Historic Main Street at about 2pm on its way from the Broadway Village area and proceed on to the "End of the Trail" celebration and dinner on Placerville Drive.  Events on Main Street are scheduled for 12pm-2pm. For more information please contact (530) 672-3436.

JUNE 7th – OCTOBER 13th, 2014: Banners on Parade
This is our 10th Anniversary of Art on Parade! Download the 2014 Invitation and Application package here. This community art project will feature over 30 artistically decorated banners on light poles along Main Street in Placerville. This is a collaborative effort of artists, businesses, organizations, individuals and city government that promotes the arts in historic downtown Placerville. These beautiful banners are on Main Street and will be for sale at a Silent Auction at the October 18th, 2014, Art & Wine Festival, as well. or more info contact (530) 672-3436. Find out how you can help with this effort!Read the history of this project here!

MID-JUNE through MID-OCTOBER 2014
Wednesday Main Street Farmers Market, 4PM-Dusk
This event will feature fresh produce, flowers and other items from local farmers on Historic Main Street around the Bell Tower.  For info call (415) 250-5337.

JUNE 21st, 2014: "Main Street Matters" Reveal Celebration
4PM to 7PM. The "Reveal" will celebrate the buildings on Main Street that were painted as part of Benjamin Moore's "Paint What Matters" Contest that Placerville won (one of 20 cities in North America) by voting for the makeover! Other supplemental activities are being coordinated to give Main Street an even grander "reveal."  Entertainment, refreshments, cake, speeches and more will be featured at this very special event that proves that Placerville's Main Street Matters! Thank you to Benjamin Moore and our dedicated community!  More details to follow!

JUNE 28th, 2014: Bell Tower Brewfest
6PM to 9PM.This popular Placerville event will be hosted by downtown merchants and will include a street closure for the enjoyment and safety for all patrons. If you are interested in sampling over 35 different craft brews, tickets will need to be purchased for patrons over 21 years of age. Entertainment will feature several bands performing live during the festival. TICKETS ARE LIMITED for the brew-tasting and expected to sell out, so plan on getting them early. Tickets for the 2014 Brewfest are are available now online here. Tickets will be available locally in May in Placerville at River City Bank, Kelsey's Needle Krafts and The Wine Smith. Help support Main Street at this big fundraiser! Sponsored by the Placerville Downtown Association. For info contact (530) 672-3436.

We have L for Latcham and Lava Cap!

So this one is a twofer!

LATCHAM VINEYARDS: 

Open Thurs. - Mon., 11:00 am - 5:00 pm or by appointment Tues. - Wed.
Our vineyards lie on the slopes above small, beautiful valleys around Fair Play, and they produce wines with unique depth and flavor. We've won hundreds of awards over the years, blending modern and traditional techniques that showcase the mountain-grown grapes in our Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvingnon and more.

2860 Omo Ranch Road (P.O. Box 80) • Mt. Aukum, CA 95656
(530) 620-6642 or (800) 750-5591
info@latcham.com
www.latcham.com

LAVA CAP WINERY: 

Open daily, 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
Celebrate with us the magic of our high elevation wines and the special beauty that surrounds our premium winery. We produce a select list of wines, including an enticing Chardonnay and estate bottled Zinfandel, Barbera, Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon. Our wines are rich in flavors, vibrant fruit, and a tantalizing depth. Bring a picnic or enjoy food from our deli on the comfortable deck looking over our vineyards.

2221 Fruitridge Road • Placerville, CA 95667
(530) 621-0175
info@lavacap.com
www.lavacap.com

Anytime is a good time to visit Apple Hill and Boa Vista

Yep, that is right, Boa Vista is open all year!

   Open daily in the heart of beautiful Apple Hill, this family farm is nestled next to picturesque Carson Road.  The Apple Barn, Bakery, Picnic Grounds, and Wine Tasting is Open Every Day!

     Boa Vista fruit is highlighted during the Summer and Fall Apple Hill harvest seasons; Apples, Asian Pears, Berries, Peaches, Pears, and Plums to name a few!

     If you are unable to make the trip to Apple Hill in person, the Online Barn offers almost all of our non-perishable items as well as award winning Apple, Red, and Dessert wines!

J is for Jodar

JODAR VINEYARDS & WINERY: C

Open daily, 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
The careful winemaking creates a balance of bold fruit framed with graceful oak. Enjoy our estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Barbera, Chardonnay, and world-class Port in the warmth of our country tasting room and wooded setting. Taste thier weekend food-and-wine pairings. Limos and buses are welcome by appointment.

3405 Carson Court • Camino, CA 95667
(530) 644-3474
jodartastingroom@foothill.net
www.jodarwinery.com

Car show and Farmers Market is back!

MAY 18th, 2014: Hangtown Car Show
9AM to 3PM on Historic Main Street, Placerville. Sponsored by the Placerville Lions Club. Participation is limited by the number of spaces available. Admission and parking are free for spectators. For info and pre-registration to show a car please call Mike at (530) 622-1731.

MID-MAY through OCTOBER 2014
Saturday Farmers Market, 8AM-Noon 
This event will feature fresh produce, flowers and other items from local farmers. On Historic Main Street in the Ivy House lot near Cedar Ravine. For info call (530) 622-1900.

Okei Memorial

This is a very cool spot in El Dorado County...and most people don't even know it exists....but we do.  And now you know too!

From our friends at Coloma.com... "For a few years, Gold Hill was the site of a small Japanese settlement. Encouraged by a German soldier of fortune named John Henry Schnell and a samurai named Lord Matsudaira, up to 26 Japanese — apparently the first Japanese group to settle in California — arrived here in 1869 to establish the Wakamatsu Tea Colony. Grandly, Schnell planned for extensive production of silk and tea. However, the relatively dry climate and investor difficulties doomed these crops, and the colony faded away. Schnell ran out of money, selling his land to Francis Veerkamp. A young Japanese girl, Okei, had arrived with the Schnell family as a nursemaid. She stayed on, working for the Veerkamp family until she died at the age of 19. She is buried on a lonely hill on private Veerkamp property close to Gold Trail School. Her story became the subject of a best-selling novel in Japan. A shrine next to the school honoring Okei was dedicated years ago by Ronald Reagan, then governor of California. Today the shrine remains a favorite California destination for visitors from Japan."

If you happen to be out tasting this way, or visiting Coloma State Park, stop by here and take a moment to enjoy this peaceful spot.

From today's Mountain Democrat! 105 years ago....

From the Mountain Democrat....

April 24, 1909

The Last Chance Mine to Have Another Chance

The famous old Last Chance mine at Coloma, which paid such fabulous sums in years gone by, is to be opened again by Messrs. L. N. Strickler, J. F. Owen and Albert Shafsky, of this city. This mine produced a pocket of $60,000 when owned by Messrs. Peterson and Nicolison, and a number of smaller pockets were taken out later by the same men. It has been operated by different parties since with varying results, one company working it eight months without any indications of further deposits of the yellow metal. It was abandoned for a year, when a couple of strangers bonded the property, and within ten feet of where the others quit work, took out something over $4,800. It has been worked since, but not systematically, and if Messrs. Shafsky, Strickler and Owen prove as lucky in their second mining venture as in their first, we may look for great things from the old Last Chance. Mr. Strickler is related to the Petersons, first owners of the mine, and we trust may be as fortunate. Operations will be under way by the first week in May.

I is for Illuminare Winery

Another favorite spot of ours up in Camino...tell Aaron we said "Hi" when you stop by to taste.

From their website....The Hill Family invites you to have an “enlightened” experience with the wines of Illuminare. We are a boutique El Dorado County winery specializing in small lots of very limited production wines. From our tantalizing “Seeing Red” label to obscure varietals such as Pinotage, our wines are unique and exciting. Our winemaking style strives for maximum extraction and intensity that is showcased in our wines. Join us in the celebration of family, friends, and of course, wine.They can be located in the Camino Wine Plaza Building in the heart of Apple Hill. Situated with 3 other boutique winery tasting rooms in the building, they offer a unique tasting experience. To find them, go East on Highway 50 from Placerville and turn left on the Carson Rd. / Apple Hill Dr. Exit. An immediate Right on Carson Rd.

B&B Mythbusting...Albert Shafsky House style

A while back my pal Jay Karen from PAII aka the Professional Association of Innkeepers International (PAII) wrote a bit about myths and bed & breakfasts. The title of the 27-Apr-10 article was "The Top 5 Myths About Staying At A Bed And Breakfast Inn". While the article certainly pointed out common misconceptions, some of them were once true (and maybe still are in parts of the country!).

Myth 1: B&B decor is limited to lace doilies, paisley wallpaper, antiques and patchwork quilts.

At the Albert Shafsky House B&B there is the occasional doily, I will admit it.  But there are also books, trunks, and trains.  We do live in a Queen Anne Victorian, in a historic part of town....and there is still some wallpaper.  That being said, I don't think our inn is very frilly...it is just not us.  We are more MIssion style furniture people, where it is comfortable, not dainty. 

Myth 2: You have to share a bathromm with other guests.

Not at the Albert Shafsky House: All of our guest rooms have private baths. 

Myth 3: You have to eat breakfast with total strangers and eat whatever the innkeeper prepares that morning.

Yes, you will meet new people at breakfast, but the innkeeper at the Albert Shafsky House will take your special food allergies into consideration when making breakfast.  Vegan/vegetarian/we want you to have a memorable stay and that includes breakfast....just please tell us ahead of time so we can prep something for you.

Myth 4: You have to adide by a curfew set by the innkeeper.

All of our guests have their own key to the front door and while it is locked at all times, you are free to come and go as you please.  

Myth 5: B&Bs are only for couples and strictly prohibit children and pets.

We are happy to welcome all ages, and relationship status.  We are unable to have your pets stay with us though as Lily is Queen of All She Surveys!  We are happy (and so is she) to have you pet her all day if you are missing your furry friends.  

H is for Holly's Hill Vineyards

Another of our wonderful foothill wineries...are we spoiled here or what?  Holly's Hill Vineyards is a short 20 minute drive from our bed and breakfast....from their site....

Visit Us

The Holly's Hill family has created a serene retreat in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains where Holly's family artfully crafts small batches of distinctive wines. Come and relax with Rhône varietal wines while overlooking the Cosumnes River canyons.

Tasting Room Open Daily 10am to 5pm
3680 Leisure Lane Placerville, CA 95667

winery@hollyshill.com
530.344.0227

April 11th, 2014: Girls Night Out

 
6PM to 9PM. This fun, Friday night event focuses on activities that appeal to women. The 7th Annual Girls Night Out will feature a fun new theme (TBA)! Come out and discover Historic Main Street. Merchants stay open late to showcase all the great things they have to offer. Check in at the Bell Tower to pick up a program or a Scavenger Hunt card. Activities include entertainment, games, trunk shows, prize drawings, scavenger hunt, health and beauty specials, massage, restaurant specials, dance instruction, sales & promotions, food, chocolate, olive oil samplings, and much more. Sponsored by the Placerville Downtown Association. For info call (530) 672-3436.

Oldest building/museum in town, gets an update....

The Placerville Historical Museum on historic Main Street is getting some work done...and will be re-opening in mid-March 2014.

From their website.....

The Fountain & Tallman Museum is owned and operated by the El Dorado County Historical Society. Built in 1852, it is the oldest building on Main Street and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The museum is located at 524 Main Street, east of Bedford Ave. The building was erected in 1852-1853 and soon afterwards it was the site of John Fountain & Benjamin Tallman's Soda Works.

The museum building style is called rock rubble construction and is a prime example of the first permanent buildings that transitioned Placerville from a mining camp into a town. The walls are two feet thick and the window and door openings had exterior iron shutters to protect the building from fires.

Spring water was carbonated, bottled and sold to the miners. The soda water was an important product as the river and creeks were polluted from mining activities which made that source of water unsafe to drink.  

Several businesses have been located here since that time, including Pacific Gas & Electric Company. They owned the building from 1927 -1961 and when selling it made a condition in the deed that the "Old Stone Building " be held as an historic landmark. The Society received the building in 1981 as a gift from Mrs. Fay Rupley Cannon and in 1983 opened it as a Museum. Now known as the "Biggest Little Museum in the West" the building is dedicated to Mrs. Cannon.

For more information.

El Dorado County Museum bring the past forward.

One the very cool spots just ff Placerville Drive is the El Dorado County Museum (about 5 mins. by car from the Albert Shafsky House).  Displays include mining tools and railroad equipment this small musuem by the Fairgrounds is not to be missed!  We are so lucky to run an inn amongst all the cool gold rush history!

Placerville's very own little theater with a big heart is getting ready for you.

You Can’t Take It With You

March 28-April 19, 2014

Awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1937, Kaufman and Hart’s comedic three-act play, takes place in the mid-1930s and focuses on what happens when a family of conservatives clashes with an eccentric family of free spirits.

Spring 2014

At first the Sycamores seem mad, but it is not long before we realize that if they are mad, the rest of the world is madder. In contrast to these delightful people are the unhappy Kirbys. The plot shows how Tony, attractive young son of the Kirbys, falls in love with Alice Sycamore and brings his parents to dine at the Sycamore home on the wrong evening. The shock sustained by the Kirbys, who are invited to eat cheap food, shows Alice that marriage with Tony is out of the question. The Sycamores, however, though sympathetic to Alice, find it hard to realize her point of view. Meantime, Tony, who knows the Sycamores are right and his own family wrong, will not give her up, and in the end Mr. Kirby is converted to the happy madness of the Sycamores, particularly since he happens in during a visit by an ex-Grand Duchess, earning her living as a waitress. No mention has as yet been made of the strange activities of certain members of the household engaged in the manufacture of fireworks; nor of the printing press set up in the parlor; nor of Rheba the maid and her friend Donald; nor of Grandpa’s interview with the tax collector when he tells him he doesn’t believe in the income tax.

For tickets contact Imagination Theater.

Nancy Bradley's Home Page

We have been lucky enough to have Nancy Bradley's Home Page visit our inn. She lives locally, but came to check out Albert Shafsky and the others that still "hang out" here at the bed and breakfast with us. She is great!

Wonderful night

So in the Fall we donated the inn with a five course Italian dinner with wine to Big Brothers Big Sisters and last night 6 wonderful guests got to enjoy! A big thanks to Madrona Vineyards for the wine and making a guest appearance!