Me being of Japanese decent, I felt the need to visit Wakamatsu Tea and Silkworm Colony Farm in…read morePlacerville, and to pay my respect to all the courageous men and women whom traveled thousands of miles to a foreign land (America) for a dream of a better life. There are no words that can express my heartfelt gratitude for the sacrifices and hardship the " Isei " (First Generation ) must have gone through ! They paved the way for people like both of my grandfathers whom came to the United States in 1906. On May 20th, 1869 a group of 22 samurais and one women arrived in San Francisco on board the SS China with 50,000 (Mulberry Trees) (Silk worm cocoons) (tea plants and seeds) ( cooking utensils) and (swords). Thus the Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Colony Farm was established on 160 acres in Gold Hill Placerville on June 8th, 1869. The life of the colony was short lived (1869 -1871) due to inadequate funding and a severe drought in 1871. Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Colony was considered to be the first Japanese Settlement in North America. In 1969 Ronald Reagan (governor at the time) proclaimed the colony to be a California Historic Landmark No. 815. The land is currently owned and operated by the American River Conservancy. The farm is on private property, so visitations can only be made by arranging a private tours, attending certain festivals on the property or schdueled events. Next year (2019) marks its 150th anniversary celebration !!! See web site for more details. Thanks for reading !

Have been to a couple of American River Conservancy events at Wakamatsu Farm. Such an historic &…read moreinteresting place. The volunteers & teachers are impressive. It is always an interesting & enjoyable experience in a beautiful setting.

So I went here last Friday & I was in & out. It must be my lucky day! The staff were nice & polite…read moreso as the security! The only reason why I am not giving it a five star is because it was so hard to find the place. Here's a tip for those who need to go here, once you enter the strip mall from Missouri Rd., make a right where "All about Tan" is. It is tucked in a separate bldg. from Little Caesars. There is a Social Security Administration sign right when you enter the strip mall but maybe they can put an arrow to avoid confusion. You will understand what I mean when you're actually there. But kudos to another Yelper, his tips helped me with the landmarks

I walked in today without an appointment. Waited about 25 minutes - not bad, since I didn't have…read morean appointment. The representative wasn't able to help me today because of the nature of my visit (applying for full SS retirement benefits), but she made an appointment for me with their expert in that area for the earliest possible date. I was very pleased with the level of customer service and genuine helpfulness I received today, and I would highly recommend dealing with this particular office.

'Tis The Season For Pumpkin Patchin!…read more SITREP Get out there, people! All the good pumpkins are starting to disappear! And if that is not enough reason to cruise on through El Dorado County, then drive around and check out all the gorgeous Autumn Colors. THE SETUP In either scenario, there are many beautiful opportunities to stop - and "smell the roses" - or in this instance, take a bevy of pictures in Pumpkin Patches and/or amidst the woodland pastures, full of bright flowers and other iconic landmarks. * At O'Hallorans, get a half peck bag - $7 value - and fill up with some fresh fruit! https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/county-of-el-dorado-placerville-3?select=B2oE_MPbsnq371PkSDx7UQ&userid=3mNz5nQFTIBQm0oU5mBR0w * Grab a pumpkin (the orange one she's holding *cough*) https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/county-of-el-dorado-placerville-3?select=CmiloKglnrXgnfFgeHMUlA&userid=3mNz5nQFTIBQm0oU5mBR0w * Chocolate Fudge Apples for $4 at Abels! https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/county-of-el-dorado-placerville-3?select=A8S2apsr1so1eLE0l3b-jQ&userid=3mNz5nQFTIBQm0oU5mBR0w * Boa Vista has got some White Pumpkins! https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/county-of-el-dorado-placerville-3?select=YL2owIkLZ6vRTRoOIJO25w&userid=3mNz5nQFTIBQm0oU5mBR0w * And all around El Dorado County, are luminescent fields with bright flowers and hearty grasses worthy of some candid picture moments! https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/county-of-el-dorado-placerville-3?select=qp4FOqt5Ig2mTInzWB4EOA&userid=3mNz5nQFTIBQm0oU5mBR0w THE LOWDOWN Grab a pumpkin, snap a picture, drink some cider, eat a caramel apple, because the time is now!

I don't deal with the county services very often. But when I have, it has been a miserable…read moreexperience. I stopped donating books to the libraries because of their ungrateful attitudes. Instead of showing appreciation they acted like I was causing them more work. The permit department is another bad story. In my experience with them, the employee I dealt with whined and complained about the work I was causing her. When I went to the building department with completed paperwork in hand to pay my fees on a very simple installation, I was told that they don't take walk-ins after 1230 pm. Yet, the lobby was empty and 2 receptionist were sitting on their tails doing nothing. Based on my experiences with the county offices, I conclude that the hiring and department managers have low standards and expectations. Somebody needs to train these people in customer service. IMO, the Board of Supervisors needs to fire all of them and start over.

The placerville Bell Tower is the center point of old Town Center in placerville, CA. As bell…read moretowers go, it's pretty average. But it is the most recognizable landmark in placerville.

Don was our tour guide and it was an incredible experience. He was very knowledgeable and answered…read moreevery question we had! It was a pleasure meeting him and I recommend everyone checking this gem of a place out!!

A very Pretty drive out to this cavern Lots of trails to…read morewalkabout around and before the small parking lot with an old yellow fire truck that you can check out too A kids sluice that is pretty cool by the shop and check in for the tour of the cavern. Bathrooms were decent And Faith our tour guide was A+++++++ with her flashlight extra luminescent sight too! Check it out and pack and pick-nick-lunch BooBoo! Get outside

A Walk Through History with Small-Town Charm…read more Historic Downtown Placerville is such a wonderful place to spend a leisurely afternoon. Walking down Main Street truly feels like stepping back in time. many of the buildings date back to the 1800s, and you can sense the Gold Rush history in every corner. There's a great mix of boutique shops, antique stores, art galleries, and cozy restaurants to explore. Many of the shop owners are friendly and passionate about sharing the local history, which makes the experience even more special. The town has managed to preserve its character while adding a touch of modern comfort. We enjoyed browsing through unique stores filled with handcrafted gifts and local treasures, then stopped for a quick bite at one of the charming cafés. If you're into photography, there are plenty of picturesque spots, especially around the old storefronts and murals that tell Placerville's story. Parking can get a little tight on weekends, but the slower pace, friendly vibe, and sense of nostalgia more than make up for it. Overall, Historic Downtown Placerville is a lovely destination for a relaxed day trip, a bit of shopping, or simply soaking up California's Gold Country charm. Highly recommend stopping by if you're passing through or looking for a scenic getaway close to Sacramento.

6/5/2025: This afternoon, I decided inhaling an organic late lunch at Old Town Grill, bought candy…read moreat TW Bonkers, bought fresh produce at Boa Vista, and bought several items at Home Depot. BTW: Did you know the City and Town of Placerville culminates into 150-mile radius? My Realtor, Cristy Eastman told me that incredible fact in 2016! https://www.cities-towns-data.com/local-towns-near-placerville-california-united_states.htm

So there's not a lot to this location but it's a great piece of history for those wanting to learn…read moreabout the gold rush. When we stopped in here there was a living history actor portrayal of the gold rush times. It went on for about three days. There are several buildings and mining machinery viewing areas. There is also a brick wall in front of the river where the gold was found. It's not huge but there is a decent parking lot. Public bathrooms are available here as well.

1/5/2019: Driving on Cold Springs Road from Placerville is a shorter drive verses driving on…read moreHighway 49 . . . Advice voluntarily given from a local resident. Driving along Cold Springs Road heading towards Coloma CA, I noticed Wakamatsu Farm on the right side but, the Farm was closed-waaaaah~I wanted visiting seeing the silkworms! Well . . . Just a couple miles down the road from Wakamatsu Farm, there's a sign for Marshall Monument and humorously, Highway 153 IS the shortest highway in California and I really found out how short Highway 153 truly is . . . It's about 1/2 mile to 3/4ths of a mile! Now, Highway 153 . . . THAT'S the shortest highway I have ever traversed~LOL! Driving on Highway 153, bearing right, you'll grace the backside of MARSHALL~lol-just check out my photos . . . Just a quick glance of Marshall's side profile will make you smirk. After gazing upon Marshall's Monument on all POVs, you'll continue driving around Marshall, veering left, and you'll notice the cabins on your right side; however, it was raining so, I didn't leave my truck because I didn't want getting wet (Actually, I was lazy-Okay~I admit it-alright? LAZY!)! Highway 153 I guess ends at St. John's Catholic Church where I read couples may hold their wedding here inexpensively: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=26369 FYI: St John's Church: $500.00 for a three-hour time slot reservation; a rehearsal costs an additional $100.00-the church seats 65 guests. Also, there is an additional damage deposit of $250.00 applied to a reservation. This deposit is refundable as long as nothing is damaged; liability insurance is required for events. Notably, Saint John's church is a historic building, built in the 1850's: The church has no ADA (Americans Disability Act) accessibility, there are no restrooms, heaters or air conditioners located in the church either. Incidentally, if you would like to make an appointment to view St. John's or receive a Wedding Packet, please contact the park Special Event Coordinator at (530) 295-2174 or marshallgold.events@parks.ca.gov. Or, you may visit the Gold Discovery Park Association's website (non-profit organization) to download our wedding packet via www.marshallgold.com. I guess it's safe assuming down the street, Emmanuel Church might be retrofitted holding a sizable wedding with possibly ADA compliant landscaping and hopefully, an ADA toilet, a dressing room, and seating for 100 guests or more . . . HOPEFULLY~because St. John's Church lacks serious, dire amenities. Anyway, meandering down Highway 153, you veer left onto High Street. On your right side, there's a family producing organic honey and their next door neighbor is the historical Miller House: This residence is of the oldest surviving structures located in Coloma; this house was built in 1852 for Hugh Miller, proprietor of the Fashion Billiard Saloon on Main Street. Miller House has been renovated several times and from 1964 to 1983, it was the home of noted artist George Mathis and known as the "Friday House"." The building has been a bed and breakfast inn since 1983. BTW: Not too many native Californians truly know the historical background for Coloma CA . . . Here's the breakdown/lowdown backstory behind Coloma CA involving Sutter and renegade Navy man, John C. Frémont, The Pathfinder: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_C._Fr%C3%A9mont John C. Frémont is THE DUDE who named the City of Fremont CA (gee-whiz fact) and he owned a ranch in Mariposa CA, i.e., GOLD was found in Mariposa CA, too but, John got into heated lawsuits for mining rights on his land in Mariposa. John's buddies, Sutter, Lewis, Clarke, Pike's Peak expedition leader, Zebulon Pike, and Kit Carson all hung out together heading WEST from the East Coast in search of a better life and GOLD! John knew so many well-renown people like THE BIG FOUR who founded CA's Railroad System: Composed of Leland Stanford, (1824-1893), Collis Potter Huntington, (1821-1900), Mark Hopkins, (1813-1878), and Charles Crocker, (1822-1888). In addition, Frémont was the first human being setting eyes on Lake Tahoe-cool, eh? Anyway, John helped Sutter establish Sutter's Fort and also, John helped Sutter build Sutter's Mill located in Coloma CA sole purpose was solely procuring gold from the American River just down the street from the Coloma Post Office and Argonaut Cafe. Moreover and actually, President Polk wanted placating John's father-in-law, Senator Thomas Benton (his daughter was Jessie Benton who was John's wife) due to Senator Benton was John's exploration benefactor equalling $$$$$$$$$$-what an egregious lap dog Polk was with his greedy political ploys. From all the gold John and Sutter discovered, both men became very wealthy which President Polk wanted a piece of John's and Sutter's Coloma CA gold discovery-DENIED~LOL! -30-30-30-

This might be my favorite monument in placerville. Thismonument inspired me to look up The druids…read morerelationship to placerville. Who would have known?

I've stopped on main Street placerville dozens of times over the last 20 years or so. Today I…read moreplugged in at the Bank of America to charge my EV and decided to take a walk. There's a lot of interesting facts about placerville and the buildings on this street, but the street and the folks hanging out here are just not a good vibe. Stop through once, take some pictures around the historic buildings, ead up on the Gold Rush, then get out of town.

Unfortunately the chamber of commerce was closed when I visited, but the building is well worth a…read morestop and look. This is the old vets building. This is where they housed the placer miners. I have to say I am a bit concerned about the other review from the nurse. she says the chamber of commerce and never replied when written about local businesses not enforcing face mask rules.

What's it going to take for the Chamber of Commerce to encourage businesses to take COVID-19…read moreprecautions?! We may as well be living in Florida! Could you at least provide a list of SAFE businesses to patronize. Businesses that actually care about their customers and enforce their masking policy. And stop bullshitting me saying restaurants and shops are being responsible. Have you been to South County?!