Some suggestions for some fun activities for this weekend

Here are some "Don Q" suggestions for some fun activities for this weekend:

Apple Hill

If you've never been there, Apple Hill, Calif. is a large geographic area of more than 50 ranches including Christmas tree growers, wineries, a micro brewery, spa and vineyards.

It is about a two-hour trip: Drive west on U.S. 50 toward Sacramento until you reach the Carson Exit, just before Placerville.

Just drive from Carson to Carson!

Apple Hill's main attraction is apples and you can buy them by the single apple, the bag, the box or on some farms, you can even pick your own, right off the trees.

You can select from Rome beauty, Arkansas black, Braeburn, golden delicious, red delicious, Fuji, gala, Rhode Island greening, Jonagold, Jonathan, pippin, Paula red, Granny Smith, winesaps and Stayman winesap. You can also purchase apple products such as cake, cider, doughnuts, fritters, juice, muffins, baked pies, unbaked pies, strudel, turnovers, etc.

If you are interested in buying other fruits or vegetables, you can pick and choose from blackberries, blueberries, Indian corn, dried fruit, grapes, honey, jams, jellies, assorted nuts, peaches, pears, persimmons, plums, pumpkins, etc.

And, you will find many different arts and crafts shops, cider mills, a rainbow trout fishing pond, a winery, Christmas tree farms, picnic areas, pumpkin patches, etc.

For information, call Apple Hill Info at (530) 644-7692 or go to website www.applehill.com.

NEVADA DAY PARADE

If you're lazy and don't want to go anywhere for the weekend, just wait until this Saturday, Oct. 27. Sleep in (a little!) and have a leisurely breakfast.

Then, after breakfast, head for Carson Street, pick out a suitable spot along the sidewalk and enjoy the huge, two-hour-long, 67th Nevada Day parade that begins at about 10 a.m.

If the weather co-operates and it is a nice day, you will be watching that parade with about 50,000 other spectators.

So, go early to stake out a good spot to view the parade. In fact, if you go real early, you can watch the hot air balloons lift off at 8 a.m. (weather permitting!).

In the parade, there will be lots and lots of bands, marchers, floats, vehicles, horses, politicians, etc.

For information, call the Nevada Day Office at 882-2600.

ACTIVITIES

On Saturday, enjoy all kinds of special activities, such as:

The beard contest (State Capitol steps), the 33rd annual world championship rock drilling contest (Carson Nugget west parking lot), pinewood derby (Legislative grounds), Super Colon and Friends (Legislative grounds), battle of the bands (Carson High School), chili feed (upstairs at the Carson Nugget), Seventh Annual Silver State Rumble Boxing Tournament (Carson City Community Center), tour the Governor's Mansion, Capital City Community Band performance (inside the Railroad Museum), RSVP carnival (Mills Park), Nevada Day Pow Wow (Carson Colony gym), Mad Hatter Ball (Brewery Arts Center) and the 1864 Grand Ball (Piper's Opera House in Virginia City).

For information, call the Nevada Day Office at 882-2600 or the Convention and Visitor's Bureau at 687-7410.

Trout fishing:

If you don't want to drive to Apple Hill or watch the parade or participate in the Nevada Day Activities, then there is usually good fishing for Lahontan cutthroat trout, at this time of the year, at Pyramid Lake.

Take U.S. 395 north from Carson City to I-80 in Reno. Then, I-80 east to the Pyramid Way Exit in Sparks. Then take the combo of Pyramid Way and the Pyramid Lake Highway north for about 30 miles.

You must fish with artificial flies or lures only, and there is a two-trout possession limit.

You must use barbless hooks.

You can catch Lahontan cutthroat trout, up to about 15-20 pounds (if you're super lucky!).

You can keep two trout 16-19 inches in length or you can keep one trout 16-19 inches plus one trout over 24 inches. These trout are the ones known as "Keepers."

You will need a Tribal fishing permit ($10 daily or $75 for an annual permit). You do not need a Nevada fishing license nor a Nevada Trout Stamp.

For information, call: Crosby's Lodge at Sutcliffe at (775) 476-0400, or Chris and Jeri Grellman of Hog Charters at 358-5199 or Just Rite Fishing at (775) 575-7850 or Tim Wilson of the Pyramid Lake Marina and RV Park at (775) 476-1156 or George and Carla Molino at the Pyramid Lake Store on the Pyramid Lake Highway at (775) 476-0555.

Finally

There you have it: Some suggestions for having fun, ranging all the way from buying apples to watching a parade and other Nevada Day activities to catching Cutthroat Trout.

Happy Nevada Day!

• Bet Your Favorite Pigeon

Bet your favorite pigeon that he can't tell you what I'll be doing this weekend.

If he grins, and says, "Don is going to spend the weekend helping his Mother-in-law move into her new Carson City home," he could be a close friend of mine and one of the helpers.

• Don Quilici is the Outdoors editor for the Nevada Appeal.