| Take a drive just a few hours southeast on Highway 15 and you’ll find yourself in a quaint little town called Julian. An hour east of San Diego, Julian is the perfect place to take a mini vacation this holiday season. Historically a gold mining town, Julian is a premier mountain retreat, offering the best of the four seasons in climate. See where gold was discovered, peruse through historic buildings, sample a delicious apple pie or ride in a horse drawn carriage. Julian, known for its famous apple crop, attracts many tourists and antique lovers. Local shops features Western artwork, apple-related products, an inactive gold mine and more. Guests can also enjoy a train ride, and there are a few places of lodging available, including the historic Julian Hotel. The arrival of winter in Julian promises light snow flurries and beautiful and crisp sunny days. The town decorates and prepares for the holiday season and their community festivities while holiday shoppers discover bargains and unique gifts in our array of specialty shops. The neighborhoods are lit with Christmas lights and decorations and the town becomes a place to enjoy an old-fashioned Christmas. Julian celebrates the holiday season with more, brighter lights on the towns living Christmas tree and a special homage to the individuals who contribute time, skills, and energy to making Julian what many consider, the best small town in Southern California. The tree lighting set to take place in Julian’s Pioneer Park at 6 p.m. on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, marks the beginning of the annual Julian Country Christmas celebration, three weeks of holiday festivity during which visitors and residents can capture the spirit of the season in an old fashioned way. Festivities begin at 4 p.m. with a program of Christmas carols sung by local vocalists. Santa arrives aboard a fire engine just before the tree is lit at 6pm. It’s easy to get into the spirit of the season in Julian, where it just feels like Christmas. The historic town, known for its apples, is set in the Cuyamaca Mountains an hour’s drive east of San Diego, where December days and evenings are crisp and cool. With the scents of apple pies emerging from ovens and spiced cider on a back burner, Julian also smells like Christmas. Founded during a gold rush in the 1870s, Julian looks and sounds like Christmas too. Twinkling white lights and garland outline wooden false-fronted buildings along Main Street and up the side streets. In the spirit of the season, many shopkeepers add their own favorite Santas, sleighs and reindeer, garlands, wreaths and bows to the show. The Julian Pioneer Museum and historic Grosskopf House are all decked out in Victorian holiday finery. Everywhere you’ll hear the sounds of Christmas as well…costumed strolling carolers recall Victorian times, when Julian was a thriving Gold Rush town, and the Julian Doves and Desperadoes share Christmas memories in living history dramas. It can be a real pleasure to browse Julian shops during the holiday season. Most, including the Julian Crafters who set up shop in the Town Hall during the season, offer one-of-a-kind items that can’t be found in shopping malls. Friendly shopkeepers take pride in providing personal service to every visitor. Julian’s lodgings put out a special welcome during the holidays. The bed and breakfast inns are decorated in holiday finery. And most innkeepers prepare special holiday treats for their guests. For more information on Julian, visit www.julianca.com. |
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Discover the Charms of Julian
