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After a lo-o-o-ong break, we are taking some short trips while we are still here in Southern California. We have been taking care of business, family matters, and medical issues.
Julian is a cute, fun tourist town to visit in California. It originated during the Gold Rush, and there are still stores, restaurants, orchards, wineries, pretty views, and all things “Apple” – pies, cakes, pastries, butter, cider, and – even – an Apple Burger, if you can believe it! The burger was pretty good. It was stuffed with apple shavings and topped with caramelized onions and maple mustard, all of which gave it a slight sweetness and nice texture.
The town is very walkable – just three or four blocks with businesses lining both sides. There were quite a few people visiting, beating the weekend rush, when families arrive to “pick your own apples” and join in the many activities, including free music all weekend, hikes in the state park, old gold mines to tour, picnicking, a wolf center, breweries, and even a museum.
It was great to get out, and Julian is just a two-hour drive from Orange County, though when you are there, it seems like you are farther away. The trip climbing through the mountains has spectacular views and a lot of serenity. We hope you can “feel” that through the photos!
As you can see, Julian is an International Dark Sky Community, meaning it has taken steps to preserve the night sky from artificial light sources, as much as possible. We will have to come again some evening to enjoy that aspect.
One of the roadside pullouts heading up the mountains offers up views like this.
This massive shop is the Warm Hearth, and is decked out not only for Halloween, not only for autumn, but also for Christmas – 2.5 months early.
It is very festive inside, with lights everywhere.
…even Christmas lights on trees!
The Julian Hotel is right on Main Street and has plenty of comfortable chairs on the front porch so you can enjoy your first cup of coffee with some people-watching.
The covered sidewalks add to the town’s charm.
In the Olde Goat, there are all sorts of interesting products.
We didn’t know the significance of Nigerian Dwarf Drive. We discovered that Nigerian Dwarfs are a kind of tiny, cute goat.
This old garage has been transformed into a retail store with a lot of unusual items – some are in the photos below.
There is this antlered gold buck head, with spectacles, pipe, and a draping of bats.The sign says, “Frankie, $509.”
…or this headless bird, but with a long neck…
…and here, the expensive moose, Eugene, priced at $1,349, complete with monocle and witch hat.
This was a pretty cool cardboard car puzzle – look at all of those parts!
The Julian Cafe had the Apple Burger. Most places sold either apple pies, or apple cider, or apple butter/syrup.
…or Apple Cider Vinegar! This is Mom’s, with quite a variety of apple pie (plain, Dutch, caramel crumb, apple/rhubarb) – very creative.
We passed this house, and did a double take when we saw the second version, but we are guessing it is a barn for smaller animals like(Nigerian Dwarf?) goats.
A pretty view along Main Street.
Hmmmmm….do you know anyone like this??
Love this sign in Dudley’s Bakery and Coffee Shop. Thanks, Ernest!
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