Interested in Apple picking in Southern California? Driving distance from San Diego and Los Angeles, check out Julian, CA. Gourmet Globetrotter gives you the lowdown on where to go and what to see.
With the discovery of gold in 1869, Julian quickly became a California boomtown — attracting thousands of people from around the world hoping to strike the mother lode. Long after gold fever subsided, the historic mining community continues to pack them in. Today, much of its Wild West charm remains with a compact downtown district full of antique shops, preserved landmarks and restaurants that crank out pies baked with apples from the surrounding orchards.
DO:
Grab a bag and pick from seven varieties of apples on the 10-acre Raven Hill Orchard, open from August until the last weekend of October. 1284 Julian Orchards Dr. (760) 765-2431. No website available. You could easily spend hours at Julian Mining Company, which offers a variety of family activities including gold panning, fossil digging, hatchet throwing and pumpkin picking. 4444 State Hwy 78. (951) 313-0166. Learn about the social hierarchy of Alaskan grey wolves at the California Wolf Center with an educational tour that gives a rare opportunity to observe these powerful animals in the wild. PO Box 1389. (619) 234-9653.
SHOP:
Lose all sense of time inside the Julian Book House, which offers everything from vintage first editions such as Victor Hugo’s The Count of Monte Cristo to the latest New York Times bestsellers. 2230 Main Street. (760) 765-1989. No website available. You’ll have a hard time having just one sample of the locally-produced mustards, fruit spreads and apple butter at Julian Cider Mill. 2103 Main St. (760) 765-1430.
EAT:
Take a load off and try the hot apple cider and tasty American fare on the enclosed porch at The Julian Grille. 2224 Main Street. (760) 765-0173. If you still have room for dessert, join the snaking line across the street at the Julian Apple Pie Company where you’d swear their pies came out of the oven just minutes before serving – probably because they just did. 2225 Main Street. (760) 765-2449.
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