3 Fall Weekend Trips Worth the Drive From Oakdale
Fall is short around here, and I'm not going to pretend I don't try to squeeze every bit of it out — the good light, the cooler mornings, an excuse to leave town for a night. If you're looking for a weekend escape that actually feels like fall, here are the three I keep sending people to.
Murphys, CA — about 1 hour away
If you want fall without a long drive, Murphys is it. This little Gold Rush town packs nearly two dozen wine tasting rooms onto one historic Main Street, and somehow it never feels stuffy — more "grab a glass and wander" than "reservation required." Start or end your day at the Murphys Historic Hotel, an 1856 Gold Rush-era inn sitting right in the middle of the wine walk. It's the kind of place that makes the whole town feel like a movie set, in the best way.
Yosemite Valley, CA — about 2 hours away
Yosemite doesn't need an introduction, but fall might be its best-kept secret. The crowds thin out, the light gets golden, and the black oaks and dogwoods scattered through the Valley turn shades of rust and amber against all that granite. Skip the Tunnel View traffic jam and do the Cook's Meadow Loop instead — an easy, flat mile that still gets you a classic Half Dome view, just with a lot more elbow room.
Apple Hill, CA — about 2 hours away
This one's for anyone who thinks fall isn't fall without an orchard. Apple Hill, up in the Sierra foothills near Camino, is home to more than 60 family farms built entirely around apple picking, cider, and pie — it's basically harvest season in concentrated form. Skip the lines at the big-name spots and head to Rainbow Orchards instead. It's a quiet 28-acre family farm known for apple cider donuts and homemade cider, and it still feels like the small-town version of Apple Hill everyone remembers.
However you spend your weekend this fall, I hope it involves good light, something warm to drink, and a little bit of nowhere to be.
