Apple Days in Julian CA – An Annual Festival and Visit October 2011
We took our annual trip to Julian today – we actually go more than that but always make a journey at apple season. Having lived in New England for many years, picking apples became a huge tradition, and we have continued here in Southern California.
Today we picked Bartlett pears at O’Dell’s organic orchard in Julian, but by-passed the Apple Days Festival at Menghini Winery – what a mob scene THAT was. Laziness set in so we bought a bag of apples on the trip out of town.
Lunch was at a favorite and regular eatery, The Julian Bar and Grille in the heart of town across from the Julian Pie Company. The food is consistently good, at least when we have visited, and at this time of year it is crowded and required a wait.
The service was off this time, but there are fires burning east of Julian and a number of staff has to suddenly go back home during prime time service hours to check on their homes and prepare to evacuate. Once certainly has to understand!
There’s all sorts of shopping and dining (all casual) and it gets crowded on the weekends in September and October, but that’s part of the fun, in addition to the horse carriage rides, the street musicians, and the “old time melodrama” plays at the town hall theatre, among other sights and events on main street.
Julian is about 60 miles from the Southern California coast and a beautiful drive through the country and mountains (and at 5000 feet above sea level offers a difference environment that closer to the coast). It’s well worth a visit any time of year – check out the old mines in this former gold rush town!
Enjoy the sights and scenes of Julian California.
