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F
rom the rolling hills of Amador
County to the mountainous,
rocky and deeply forested El
Dorado County, California Gold
Country offers something entirely
different. The area has long been
known for outdoor pursuits such as
hiking and white water rafting, but
there is so much more than this.
Historically, this is the birthplace
of the Gold Rush, and there are
loads of museums and sights to see,
and old gold mines to explore. You
stumble frequently across one horse
town which looks just like the movie
set from an old Western. And now,
the region is up and coming in the
wine world – with an abundance of
vineyards strewn across the Sierra
Foothills. The backdrop is dramatic,
the wine is delicious, and the people
are as friendly as can be.
EDENVALE INN
EL DORADO COUNTY
Surrounded by ten acres of beautiful
gardens, the EdenVale Inn is a haven
in the Sierra Foothills. It’s nestled in
a timeless pastoral valley, and part
of the Inn is converted from an old
dairy barn.
Each guest room has a unique
style, with palettes of rich, natural
colours. Style, luxury and comfort
are the key words here – and this is
unlike your average B&B. Bedrooms
are more on a par with five-star
hotel rooms, from the HDTV to the
computerised mood lighting system,
to the beautiful decor.We loved the
Gray Pine room with its romantic
fireplace, sophisticated design and
secluded outdoor tub-for-two.
Outside there are acres of
cultivated and natural gardens for
guests torelax inandwander through.
You can feed rainbow trout in the
peaceful spring fed pond, ringed by a
natural wildflower meadow.There’s a
fire-pit for the evenings, and plenty of
outdoor seating.
A full breakfast is served in the
main house, using local, seasonal
produce. Specialities include hot
scones, buttermilk pancakes and
flaky quiches containing herbs from
the garden.
It’s rare to find such tranquillity
and natural beauty combined with
such style and sophistication – but
the EdenVale Inn has it in spades.
EATING
:
Cafe Luna in nearby Placerville is