Georgetown, Georgetown, CA

Georgetown sits among pines on the Georgetown Divide in El Dorado County, and the feel is of a small mountain town where Main Street still anchors the day. The street is unusually wide for a place this size, so cars park out front of almost everything and the buildings sit back with room around them. Homes are a mix of older cottages near Main Street and houses on wooded lots along the roads that fan out from the center. Some sit on acreage, with long driveways through the trees. The Georgetown Nature Area is the local favorite for a walk. It covers 30 acres behind Georgetown Elementary, with trails along Alder Creek, ponds, meadows and old pear, apple and cherry trees left from homesteads. The loop around the edge runs about a mile and a half, and parking is at the east end of Harkness Street. Georgetown Park, at 3000 Harkness Street, adds a playground and a gazebo for gatherings. Coffee and a few good plates are all in the town itself. Main Street Mercantile Coffee, at 6271 Main Street, roasts to order and also sells olive oils, salami and antiques. Shandey's is known for burgers made with real bison, including a blue cheese and bacon version. The Rustic Divide serves tri-tip sandwiches and French dip, and Terry's Pizzeria & Grill is the pizza stop. Worton's Market covers daily groceries. For a bigger store, a full shopping trip means a drive down the hill toward Placerville, and the Georgetown Library is in town. Winter is part of the deal. Storms sweep across the ridge with far more rain than the valley sees, and some snow, so part of the year means wet roads and longer drives. On the Nature Area trails, fruit trees planted by people long gone still stand in the meadows, a reminder of how long this ridge has been home to somebody.