San Diego's Historic Mountain Escape Is Famous For Apple Pie, Gold Mines, & Fall Beauty

Typically, if you're thinking of vacationing in a historic mountain town, you might imagine places like the "Switzerland of America," aka the charming Colorado city of Ouray. However, it turns out that California also has some quaint mountain locales, and best of all, they're still close to the world-class beaches the Golden State is known for. This means you could enjoy mountain scenery and beachside activities in the same day. One such place to do that is in Julian, which is about 90 minutes inland from San Diego.

Like many small California towns, Julian benefited from the Gold Rush. When flecks of gold were discovered in 1870, hundreds of people flocked here to find their fortune. But while other mining hotspots turned into ghost towns, like the one between LA and Las Vegas with plenty of off-roading trails, Julian endured. As the gold rush subsided, a new treasure emerged: apples.

Today, you can celebrate both sides of Julian's history by exploring old mines and museums and indulging in some of the best apple pie in the country. But you'll need to plan ahead, as the tiny town gets pretty crowded during apple season and when snow starts accumulating on the mountain. So, let's dive in and see why Julian is such a popular destination.

For the history buffs, a trip to Julian allows you to see parts of the old mining town to get a sense of what it was like in the late 1800s. The first stop would be the Julian Pioneer Museum, which is housed in an original 1800s building and showcases exhibits from this period of the town's history. You can also take a self-guided walking tour and see sites like the town hall, the old jail, the old cemetery, and various homes and buildings from the era. The city offers a helpful annotated map for your convenience.

Another highlight of Julian's gold rush story is the Eagle Mine, which was established in 1870. The mine is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends, and you can take a tour of the site and learn about how the mine operated in its heyday. Tours last about an hour and cost $20 per adult, $10 for kids ages 5-11, and $2 for children under five. You'll explore about 1,000 feet of tunnels, complete with original equipment and tools.

But what if you're more interested in Julian's famous apple pie? Well, there are three main places to sample this delicious dish: Julian Pie Company, Mom's Pie House, and Apple Alley Bakery. Better yet, they're all within walking distance of each other, so it's easy to compare them to determine which pie earns the top spot. But based on reviews, Julian Pie Company reigns supreme, with 4.7 stars and over 4,400 reviews. No matter what, though, if you visit during peak apple season, expect to wait for your pie.

As you might expect, the easiest way to reach Julian is to fly into San Diego Airport, aka one of the most beautiful airports in the world. Depending on traffic, it's about a 90-minute drive northeast to reach the town. Since Julian has such a vibrant tourism industry, it has multiple quaint hotels to add some extra history and whimsy to your trip. You may even want to stay in the oldest continually operating hotel in Southern California, the Julian Gold Rush Hotel, which first opened in 1897. Alternatively, for a more personalized experience, take advantage of numerous vacation rentals in and around Julian.

Besides apple pie, Julian has other places to eat as well, most of which are on or near Main Street. So, depending on where you stay, you don't necessarily need a car to get around town. For a historic diner experience, Miner's Diner is housed in one of Julian's first brick buildings and features vintage signs and tasty burgers and sandwiches. If you prefer SoCal Mexican cuisine, Quecho has you covered with traditional dishes and vegan and vegetarian alternatives. Or, for some local beer to go with your meal, head over to Julian Beer Co., which slings house-brewed beers, barbecue, and pizzas.

Finally, while you don't need a car to explore downtown Julian, you will need one to venture out into the rest of the region. For example, there's the Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve to the north, Lake Cuyamaca to the south, and, as we mentioned, beaches to the west, like La Jolla Shores, Mission Beach, or Silver Strand State Beach.