About The Area

Serrano, located in the rolling foothills of the Sierra Mountains in El Dorado Hills, Calif., offers the look and feel of a charming, picturesque small town, while providing all of the amenities and conveniences of city living -- quality shopping and dining spots, easy access to jobs both within the local community and in nearby Sacramento, and wonderful places to visit and things to do in your leisure time.

You Can Get There From Here - With Ease

Whether your interests lean toward the serenity and beauty of the natural environment, casinos and nightlife, cultural events, or exploring history, opportunities abound a short drive from your Serrano home.

Driving West toward Folsom, Sacramento, Davis and San Francisco

5 minutes: Brown's Ravine Marina in El Dorado Hills, just off of Green Valley Road, is a popular spot for sailing, boating, fishing, biking, hiking, horseback riding and picnicking -- and it's almost in your own backyard!

10 minutes: Folsom Lake and Lake Natoma in Folsom also offer boating, sailing, kayaking, swimming, fishing, cycling, hiking and horseback riding. Several special events are scheduled annually, including fishing tournaments, rowing competitions, foot races, horseback endurance rides, and sailboat regattas. The 18,000-acre Folsom Lake State Recreation Area is the most popular multi-use year-round offering in the California State Park System.

10 minutes: Folsom's Historic District includes the old railroad depot, Lakeside Cemetery with pioneer graves dating back to the 1850s, and Sutter Street with its 100-year-old buildings housing restaurants, specialty and gift stores, and antique shops.

30 minutes: Sacramento boasts a variety of restaurants, from four-star dining to first-rate delis and steak houses, to ethnic -- Chinese to Italian to Ethiopian -- plus a full spectrum of art galleries and museums. Some of the museums that you don't want to miss include the Crocker Art Museum, the Golden State Museum, and the Leland Stanford Mansion.

Enjoy the performing arts? Sacramento is home to the Sacramento Ballet, California Musical Theatre, Sacramento Opera, Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra, and the Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra. Nearby Roseville also offers The Magic Circle Theatre (musical, mystery, drama, and kid's shows). Open-air concerts featuring top-name entertainers and spanning all types of music draw large crowds to Sacramento's Sleep Train Amphitheatre (reserved or lawn seating). And the Arco Arena offers top-quality entertainment from Sacramento Kings home games to Disney on Ice.

For a bit of Sacramento history, visit the recently restored Civil War-era State Capitol building and Old Sacramento, which runs along the riverfront on the west side of downtown Sacramento. Old Sacramento includes a variety of restaurants, shops and activities, such as horse-and-carriage rides, plus special events scheduled throughout the year. Old Sacramento is home to the California State Railroad Museum one of the finest museums of its kind in North America. On weekends in April-September, you can also ride a steam locomotive.

50 minutes: The $57 million Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts opened on the UC Davis campus in late 2002. As the premier performance venue in Northern California, the center features a diverse range of events and world-class performers, from traditional to contemporary, classical to cutting-edge.

120 minutes: Visit San Francisco for the day or spend the weekend. All of the city's attractions are easily within reach. Driving East toward Placerville, Coloma, Apple Hill, and Lake Tahoe

20 minutes: Explore Historic Downtown Placerville, which got its start as an important supply center during the California gold rush. Included among the many shops, restaurants and art galleries is the oldest continuously operating hardware store west of the Mississippi.

30 minutes: In 1848 James Marshall discovered gold at Sutter's Mill in what is now the historical town of Coloma. Today, visitors can take part in living history days at Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, as well as buff up on gold rush history at the park's visitors center. Located on the south fork of the American River, Coloma is also a great spot for picnics, wading and river rafting.

30 minutes: Apple Hill in Camino is a Foothills favorite, with a variety of family farms and wineries to explore. Buy produce, home-baked apple pies, or a bottle of wine, and enjoy a leisurely lunch at one of the many popular stops along the farm trail. Apple Hill opens Labor Day weekend and most of the 56 ranches are open seven days a week through Christmas (select your own Christmas tree).

90 minutes: Lake Tahoe is a popular fishing, sailing, hiking and golfing destination in the summer and home to some of the country's top alpine ski resorts, with mountain peaks reaching over 10,000 ft. high. Two of the resorts nearest to El Dorado Hills are Heavenly at Tahoe, the largest year-round resort, and Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort, which offers value-oriented day-use packages.

Sierra-at-Tahoe recently started offering shuttle service from nearby Rancho Cordova, Folsom and Placerville for just $19 (riders also get a $10 discount on lift tickets). Lake Tahoe not only boasts some of the most spectacular scenery in the country but some of the best nightlife, too.

A drive around the lake to the South Shore brings you to such casinos as Caesars, Harrah's and Harveys, which, in addition to gambling, offer luxurious accommodations, superstar entertainment, and fine dining.