Our Fall Road Trip To Julian California
Can you believe that I’ve lived in San Diego for almost 10 years now and last weekend was my first time ever visiting Julian?! It’s a trip I’ve been wanting to take for a long time, yet somehow it never worked out when we tried to plan something.
I’m happy to report that it’s now a tradition I want to continue at least once a year. The pie alone is well worth the trip! Depending on where you live it might take you longer to get there. But for us it was only an hour drive. Plus, it was scenic and beautiful so it was an enjoyable experience.
Where To Grab Breakfast In Julian
If you plan on going during the current peak season, I recommend arriving EARLY. We got into town at 8 AM and immediately found a parking space. For breakfast, we popped into Miner’s Diner. Loved the cute soda fountain and old school diner vibe here! We tried some hot cider to start the day and it was so delicious. Not sure where they get it from, but our server mentioned it was from a local farm.
Julian Pie Co.
Then at 9 AM we went to Julian Pie Co. Was it too early for pie? I don’t think so, because as it gets later in the day their line gets really long. At 9 AM we only had a few people ahead of us and we were able to snag the best pie EVER. The Cherry Apple Crumb. Topped with Cinnamon Ice Cream. Just heavenly. It’s the pie I will dream about forever now.
Cherry Apple Crumb Pie and Hot Apple Cider
Julian Farm & Orchard In October
Then we headed out to Julian Farm for some gold old fashioned pumpkin patch fun. We arrived right at opening at 10 AM and there was already a line to get in. I do not recommend showing up later in the afternoon. As we were leaving the line of cars was insane just to find a parking space. This same farm also offers u-pick options for apples but that ends in September.
They have lots of options outside the traditional pumpkin patch as well. We did the petting zoo with the cutest little goats. Jarod is now known as the goat whisperer because they loved following him around!
Another activity we did was the cider press. You learn about how they make the cider from scratch and then you can take home a pint or gallon for a fee. Other activities include the hayride and axe throwing but I’m in no position to be throwing axes while pregnant and sadly the hayride lacked any social distancing precautions and was packed with people.
Here I am at 26 weeks pregnant! Hi Baby Octon 🙂
The highlight of our trip to the farm was definitely the fun pumpkins we were able to take home. Our front porch looks cuter than ever thanks to the unique variety they had available.
All the pumpkins we brought home. Plus my baby bump!
Where To Grab Lunch In Julian
Once we had our chosen pumpkins and were done walking around the farm, it was definitely time for lunch. Thankfully the Wynola Pizza & Bistro is right next door to the farm so it was a great place to stop. We had the pizza, wings and a salad. Very reasonable prices and delicious too!
The Joe’s Godfather Pizza
After lunch we headed back to downtown Julian. At this point it was after 2 PM and it was much busier than when we had left in the morning. Be prepared for lots of people searching for parking and long lines to use public restrooms.
The Red Barn at Wynola
Mom’s Pie House
We immediately headed to Mom’s Pie House to get in line for our next apple pie fix. We waited much longer than at Julian Pie in the morning. We decided to try the same pie and ice cream combo that we had ordered at Julian Pie so we could properly compare the two. I know that many people prefer Mom’s and many people prefer Julian Pie so I had to give them an equal chance. Mom’s Pies also serves Apple Cherry Crumb with Cinnamon Ice Cream. It was delicious, and when compared to most pies it was very enjoyable but I will say that after comparing it to Julian Pie’s it was not my favorite. Again, this is my personal preference and you might feel differently! Just letting you know from my experience.
Cherry Apple Crumb Pie
Julian Pie Co.’s had more cherries and the crust was cooked perfectly. At Mom’s Pies the crust was slightly burnt and I had only 2 cherries in the whole slice of pie. Jarod ordered the same thing and also felt that it was not his favorite of the day. Perhaps this was an off day for them, but this was my personal experience. Maybe if I had tried a different flavor I would have felt differently. Guess I’ll have to make another trip to Julian this winter to give them both another try! What flavor should I order next?
I did order one of their Natural Apple Pies from Mom’s to take home. This is a sugar free option and I love it! Since I have gestational diabetes, eating the regular pies is not a great option for me so I was happy to know they can accommodate people with dietary restrictions. Definitely a plus in my book I’ll have to try the one from Julian Pie Co. next.
Until Next Time Julian!
After we finished our pie slices at Mom’s Pies we headed home. We might have stayed in town to grab dinner but sadly many of the restaurants had extremely lengthy wait times. I’m pregnant so waiting to eat is not my favorite activity at the moment!
Overall, we had a wonderful time in Julian. I can’t wait to go back once the weather cools down more. There were plenty of other restaurants and of course pie that I can’t wait to try next time!
Leave a Reply