Hotel Hints

So one big tip for this motel is to sort of use it as your affordable “base camp” for running around the famous Apple Hill, only ten to fifteen minutes away, home of over fifty family-run farms, orchards, and wineries. The hotels fill up fast, especially during the busy fall season (September-November) and so it would be beneficial to have a place where you could stay at an affordable price, get an early start to beat the crowd, and then spend your day with freshly baked apple pies, cider donuts, and craft fairs.

For the most out of your stay, make a visit to historic Main Street Placerville just five minutes from the motel. This is California's best-preserved Gold Rush downtown. Park your car and walk the street for a few hours amidst unique antique shops, art galleries, and landmarks like the Bell Tower or the Hangman's Tree Saloon. Get some good authentic food from Bricks Eats & Drinks or Placerville Public House.

Visit Gold Bug Park & Mine for a local experience that is both unique and interesting to do, which by the way is just a 10-minute drive away. This city-owned park allows you to go on a self-guided tour in an authentic 19th-century gold mine. It’s very affordable and authentic way to get in touch with the history of the “Mother Lode” that gives the motel its name.

Last, but not least, indulge in the motel’s timeless, unfussy facilities. An outdoor pool for the sweltering summer season is an excellent, refreshing escape and quite a shocker for such a cheap property. Grab some local wine or craft beer from one of the shops in town, chill it in your in-room fridge, and have a quiet evening by the pool.