Over the weekend, on Jan. 14, I went on a day trip to Julian, California with my family. We decided to get out of the house and fill our lungs with fresh crisp air, eat homemade pie, drink natural apple cider and to experience the rural feel that Julian has to offer—all while learning about the history of the small town.
Just under an hour and a half drive from Chula Vista, you can find yourself passing cows grazing on the verdant hills, horses in stables and arboraceous landscapes. On the route to Julian, you may pass through Ramona and Santa Ysabel, where you can make a stop at Dudley’s Famous Bakery and Cafe and CA Mountain Bakery. There are various baked goods, drinks and food to purchase—including chicken pot pies, apple cider, apple pies and a variety of sourdough breads.
As you take narrow turns on curvy roads, up into the mountains, you are greeted with a sign that reads, “Entering Julian”. Each shop you visit carries local products, ranging from honey to anything made with apples, including jars of apple butter. The product labels tell you the orchard and location the product was harvested from. I recommend apple cider from Apple Lane orchard, which reminded me of biting into a crisp, ripe apple.
Upon arrival in Julian at noon, I went on an hour-long tour at Eagle Mining Company. This is a great opportunity for tourists to learn about the town’s history. For instance, I learned that Julian originated from the gold discovery Fred Coleman made while looking in a river stream in 1969. This led to the mining district, the elected recorder was Mike Julian. His cousin, Drue Bailey, created the townsite in honor of Julian, naming it “Julian City”.
Julian is now a largely known small town with no local government. However, it is considered under the jurisdiction of the County of San Diego, where volunteers work to maintain the town. After developing an understanding of its history. The tour includes the opportunity to pan for gold in hand-numbing cold water. The weight of the sand and water filled the pan as I shuffled it back and forth, making my hand ache, until I finally discovered the specs of gold beneath all the dense sand.
Later, I walked into the Eagle and High Peak Mines museum. Within the mines, some tunnels are closed off by rope or equipment—making it easy for guests to trespass or get lost. Once our tour group reached deep into the mine, the guide showed us the lack of light miners had when they used headlamps and candles. The tour is in complete darkness, followed by silence and chilling gusts of air filling the mine. If you are claustrophobic or tall, take into consideration that the mine is low and narrow with sharp rocks sticking out.
Moving further into the afternoon, I walked through the town, visiting small shops and local businesses only found in Julian. You will be greeted with the fresh scents of soap and candles; however, each business will have its own distinct smells throughout each business. The Warm Hearth is one of the few stores my family and I visit each time we are in Julian. The store sells various products, ranging from home decorations to clothes and small gifts. This allows you to bring a piece of Julian back home.
The sidewalks fill with families and friends spending time together, as they enter or exit the shops carrying full bags. Others anxiously wait in lines stretching past neighboring businesses for freshly made apple pie at Mom’s Pie House and Julian Pie Company on a chilly afternoon.
I recommend beginning to conclude your trip around 3 p.m. as most of the town closes up at around 4 p.m.. I have visited Julian a handful of times, each time getting to experience a new aspect within the town. Whether it be the history, weather conditions or discovering new shops, Julian presents something new to offer with each visit.
