From enchanted lunch to bonkers dessert in Placerville

Another slow Sunday. Another crisis of activity. After the successful IKEA trip, I had to think up another location that would engage both parties. Anna had suggested a visit to Placerville, and I jumped at the chance because it promised to be a perfect detour on our way home from Lincoln.

But could the charm offensive of this gateway to the Gold Rush live up to a grandma's thirst for window shopping and a child's sense of adventure?

What is Placerville?

Placerville is a city in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Before the Gold Rush, the area was home to the Miwok and Southern Maidu indigenous peoples. When gold was discovered in the area in the late 1840s, multitudes of people from the eastern U.S. settled there, displacing the indigenous people from the land or decimating them through exposure to pathogens like smallpox.

The miners used to carry dry soil to the river to wash out the gold, which gave the city its old name, Dry Diggins. This, along with other mining activities, made the river water undrinkable. Hence, entrepreneurs grabbed the opportunity to sell bottled soda water to miners. They established two companies: Fountain and Tallman Soda Works (which had a steady supply of clean spring water) and Pearson Soda Company. 

Entrepreneurs also established stores that sold mining supplies, hardware, and other items needed to survive in the area. One of the shops we visited claims to be the oldest hardware store west of the Mississippi: the Placerville Hardware.

Miners and entrepreneurs were not the only people who flocked to the area. Criminals also came in, robbing and killing people who carried gold. The citizens decided to hang these criminals, leading to the city's next name: Hangtown.

In 1854, the city's name was changed from one that connoted a high crime rate to one that was less intimidating and depicted the placer gold mining occurring there. Hence, the name "Placerville".

Where to eat in Placerville

There are several restaurants in downtown Placerville. For the unique experience, we ate at the Enchanted Forest Dining Experience. We sat at a table under a tree adorned with fairy lights. The servers handed out headbands with fairy lights as we waited for our food. The service was slow, but we were not in a hurry. The food was okay, but the portions were generous (I tried the portabella mushroom stuffed with lentils, bell peppers, and sausages). The highlight of our meal was the live Celtic music.

After lunch, we wanted to get some ice cream for dessert. My maps pointed us to the Hangman's Tree Ice Cream Saloon. 

When we got there, however, we discovered that the ice cream shop had been transformed into a pub. And so we went to T.W. Bonkers Toy and Candy Emporium. It did not disappoint, as the shop was filled wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling with toys... and it had Thrifty ice cream.

Overall, a great afternoon spent in the gateway to the Sierra Nevada. I would love to come back again when the weather is warmer.