Julian

Fall is the most popular time to visit Julian, when the apples ripen, the leaves turn and the mountain air turns crisp. The town's apple harvest runs from mid-September through mid-November, with plenty of pick-yourself options to fill up a basket or two of the delicious fruit. And of course the town bustles with pie-lovers seeking a slice of heaven at one of the many pie shops in Julian.

A fun stop on any excursion to Julian, Fort Cross Old Timey Adventures is a living-history adventure farm that not only offers educational field trips for students but hosts "weekend shenanigans" for the public. The company's seasonal events include the spring Lilac Festival, berry picking in the summer, the Autumn Jubilee, Haunted Harvest in the fall and the Holiday Hayride when yuletide arrives.

Whether you're looking to fill a shopping bag or your belly, you'll love exploring Julian's Main Street, with its charming stores and specialty shops offering everything from one-of-a-kind artworks and antiques to homemade quilts, clothing and jewelry. Julian Station is set inside a rustic, former apple cider house and offers many unique shops, local art and three tasting rooms (hard cider, wine and chocolate, beer). And you can view the works of local artists at the Julian Arts Guild, a collective of talented painters, sculptors, potters, jewelry makers and craftspeople.

Julian was a Southern California hub of the Golden State’s Gold Rush of the 19th century. Within weeks after former slave and cattleman Fred Coleman discovered gold in 1869 in a creek just outside of Julian, more than 800 prospectors from around the country flocked to the area, turning the town into the second-largest in San Diego County at the time. Modern-day "prospectors" can check out the Eagle and High Peak Gold Mine, with tours offered daily by the Eagle Mining Co. You can also learn the basics at the Julian Mining Company, which offers panning for gold and gem mining on weekends.