The heat is on, and so is the fun. Keep reading for your ticket to the best summer ever.

Boredom Busters: Cool Events

Sip a little something. Experience the beauty of El Dorado County one sip at a time with Passport to The Great Out There. Over 20 wineries will share their innovative spirits between July 16-18. Not only will there be incredible food and wine pairings, but each winery will engage with an experience; whether it’s live music, art demonstrations, historical tours or winemaking insights, treasured memories of wine, food, and fun will be made. eldoradowines.org/great-out-there

Make a run for it. If you like wine, walking, or running, then the Wine Run 5K at Wise Villa Winery in Lincoln on June 26 is for you. Participants will receive a souvenir wine glass and a pour of wine, along with a winery tour voucher and coupon for a Miner’s Creek Brewery pint. They’ll even have lively music to keep spirits up. This event benefits charity and is family- and stroller-friendly (kids get soda instead of wine). wisevillawinery.com/upcoming-events

Stomp it out. Get ready for some giddy-headed fun at Wise Villa Winery’s I Love Lucy Grape Stomp on September 18. Revive this traditional winemaking technique after a chef-prepared dinner buffet and award-winning wine. Ladies are invited to don white dresses (I Love Lucy-style) and get to stomping while a band plays fun music and the crowd cheers on. wisevillawinery.com/upcoming-events

Say “namaste” to cabernet. Don’t miss the irresistible experience of basking in the sun while perfecting your downward dog at Boeger Winery’s Woga classes (June 27, July 25, August 22, September 19). Taught by Robin Lenzi of Living Fit Yoga, these classes are slow flowing vinyasa-style and fun for all levels (don’t forget to bring your mat). Best part? A complimentary glass of wine afterward! boegerwinery.com/events

 

Mosey on to the movies. Summer’s the best time for outdoor movies, and the Roseville Parks and Recreation department is bringing family favorites to their Friday Flicks lineup with Back to the Future (June 18), Grease (July 16), and Godzilla vs. Kong (August 20). Email [email protected] for free tickets. Enjoy an evening at Roseville’s Royer Park with family, friends, and neighbors for a viewing of Small Foot (July 24), beginning at sundown. Movie in the Park is hosted by Roseville Coalition of Neighborhood Associations; visit rcona.org for details. Margaret Azevedo and Whitney Community Parks in Rocklin are also hosting Friday Movie Nights with Trolls (June 18) and Onward (August 20). rocklin.ca.us/freemoviefridays Partake in a parade. Proud Folsom residents can expect the works at this year’s Historic Folsom Hometown Parade on June 26. Set your lawn chairs on Sutter Street and settle in to enjoy the Pony Express, Ophir Prison Band, soap box derby cars, Wild West groups, vintage fire and police vehicles, horses, and more. historicfolsom.org/hometown-parade

Savor the flavors of summer. Apple Hill Growers are bringing the seasonal festivities with their Summer Harvest Days on July 24-25 at participating ranches. There will be lots of summer activities and offerings featuring fresh seasonal produce like berries, plums, peaches, vegetables, wine, baked goods, jams, treats, and more. applehill.com

Play with Parks and Rec. Your local parks and recreation departments are trying to ensure an engaging and fun summer for your kids. Folsom is offering summer day camps—including zookeeper, Lego robotics, and a variety of sports camps; while Roseville has over 30 kids’ camps to choose from including specialty camps like music and science as well as traditional day camps like the fun-filled Camp Roseville. Visit webtrac.folsom.ca.us and roseville.ca.us/camps to register.

Chill Out: Perfect Scoops

Sweet Dozen Cones offers a seriously sweet spin on ice cream treats. Their chimney cones—also known as kürtőskalács in Hungarian—are unique, hollow, bread-like pastries. They have a satisfying crunch on the outside and light, fluffy texture on the inside, providing the perfect vessel for ice cream. Select from a variety of flavored cones, half a dozen cream fillings, and soft serve gelato. One (of many!) fan favorite is the Nutty Professor (cinnamon sugar cone with peanut butter, walnuts, and chocolate gelato, topped with granola, Oreo crumbs, and a Nutter Butter). Their over-the-top offerings prove you can never have too much of a good thing. 807 Sutter Street, Folsom, 916-358-9814, foodiecones.comCià di Gelateria brings authentic Italian gelato to Folsom with fresh, local ingredients and raw ingredients imported from Italy. If that’s not authentic, what is? There are no artificial sweeteners or colors in their gelato and very little cream, but fret not: slow churning achieves a dense, creamy texture. While they offer their gelatos in all their naked goodness (hazelnut, midnight chocolate, salted caramel, etc.), they also make cute-as-a-button gelato popsicles (chocolate-covered peanut butter, praline-coated fior di latte, graham-sprinkled cappuccino, etc.) and serve an especially exquisite affogato that comes with the gelato of your choice (we recommend the stracciatella featuring sweet cream with shavings of chocolate) topped with two shots of espresso. It’s the ultimate Italian indulgence. 2784 East Bidwell Street, Suite 100, Folsom, 916-817-1430, ciagelato.com The Parlor Ice Cream Puffs takes creative ice cream flavors and puts them in freshly baked donuts. Order a “Puff” and you’ll be asked to pick a glazed or non-glazed donut, select a flavor (or flavors!) of ice cream, plus as many toppings as you want (Fruity Pebbles, gummy bears, potato chips, almonds, toffee bits, coconut, honey, etc.). Wake up with ice cream in the form of tea (matcha, Thai, and Earl Grey) and coffee (with swirls of Nutella) or celebrate an occasion with strawberry shortcake (“Shorty Got Cakes”) or red velvet with Oreo, cookie dough, and chocolate chip (“Elmo’s Revenge”). And if you don’t dig donuts, get your ice cream in the form of a milkshake or with churros (cinnamon, Nutella Oreo, or Fruity Pebbles flavored). Talk about a sugar high! 1490 Eureka Road, Suite 170, Roseville, 916-781-7833; 2620 Fair Oaks Boulevard, Sacramento, 916-977-3997, theparloricecream.com T-Crepes typically tempts with treats like boba tea and Japanese-style crêpes, but there’s also ice cream to be found here—tucked into specialty bubble waffle wraps. Sweet, chewy, hot, cold—you’re assured of all the makings of a delectable dessert within these sweet packages. Take for instance, their Matcha that pairs green tea ice cream with Fruity Pebbles, chocolate syrup, powdered sugar, mini marshmallows, and Pocky. Or their Oreo Funky Town with vanilla ice cream, Oreo, rainbow sprinkles, chocolate syrup, powdered sugar, and Pocky. Get in the summer spirit and try one of each! 1870 Prairie City, Suite 300, Folsom, 916-597-2787, facebook.com/tcrepes

Dive In: Make A Splash

7 Water Safety Tips

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 10 people die from unintentional drowning—every day. Play it safe this season by following these tips.

1) Enroll in swim lessons. The earlier a child starts swim lessons, the better, as they’ll achieve developmental, physical, and social benefits, and gain skills ensuring a lifetime of safe, fun swimming.

2) Children should ultimately learn to swim without goggles and be comfortable opening eyes underwater. As kids become dependent on wearing goggles, they lose the ability to swim if their goggles fall off or fill with water. If a child happens to fall into a pool without goggles, it’s critical they’re comfortable opening their eyes, so they can locate the nearest step or wall and swim to safety.

3) Limit the use of flotation devices. These devices create a false sense of security and cause children to become dependent on swimming with them. If a child falls or jumps in a pool, it’s important they know how to float and/or put their face in the water, without the aid of a flotation device, and swim to the side of the pool. With that said: Always make sure your kids wear life jackets on boats, personal watercraft, and in open bodies of water.

4) Follow a “getting ready to swim” routine before swimming. Just like a morning routine, if a child follows a “getting ready to swim” routine, such as going to the bathroom, putting on a swim diaper and suit, and applying sunscreen, it helps deter them from jumping into a pool on a whim.

5) Keep children under constant supervision. No matter how advanced you think your child is at swimming, they must always be supervised when in or around the water.

6) Know CPR. CPR is a procedure that everyone should know how to do. You never know when administering CPR could help to save a life.

7) Install pool fences or other barriers. If you have a pool, installing fences or other barriers around the pool is highly recommended, especially if there are children near the area.

Courtesy of Steve Wallen Swim School, 1230 Glenhaven Court, Suite 100, El Dorado Hills, 916-939-7075; 10608 Industrial Avenue, Suite 150, 916-794-7977, wallenswim.com