El Dorado County is reopening, but with caution. Its website sets out a California Responsible Travel Code that potential visitors are encouraged to read and abide by. At present, dine-in restaurants and wineries that don’t serve food are closed. But increased outdoor dining options from Placerville into South Lake Tahoe bring plenty of other choices for DogTrekkers who enjoy al fresco munching with their pups by their sides.
Autumn is a great time to mosey around El Dorado County with your pup, especially the Apple Hill region, which many Northern Californians make a fall pilgrimage destination. COVID restrictions are in place this season (masks and social distancing required), but you’ll still be able to buy and enjoy seasonal fruit, mouth-watering baked goods and award-winning wines. Some establishments are requiring reservations, so be sure to check ahead. Note, too, that in October, the region’s busiest month, additional distancing and reservation requirements may be in place.
Meanwhile, up the hill in South Lake Tahoe, it’s been a madhouse this summer, with bumper-to-bumper traffic, beaches and campgrounds packed and every outdoor dining seat full for much of the day. Across the state line in Nevada, casinos are packed, too. Do yourself, your dog and the locals a favor and consider waiting until September to visit! Or October, when fall foliage is in full blush, temperatures are still warm and elbow room abundant.
Posted on: June 30, 2022