This past weekend we checked the first thing off our Fall bucket list (you can read that here). We went apple picking in Julian, CA! We like to do this at least once per year, it’s so much fun for the whole family. Julian is about 1.5 hours away from us and it is known for their apple orchards, wineries, and delicious pies! There is so much to do there and we like to make a whole day of it.
If you want to visit Julian my biggest piece of advice is to plan ahead. Apple picking season typically begins in September (sometimes even the end of August) and continues through October or sooner if orchards run out of apples. Check each orchard’s website or Facebook page for updated information about this year’s apple crop, including dates and times of apple picking, and when apples are no longer available. We visited the last weekend of September and some of the orchards were already closed for the season and the one we went to had mostly pears left. We were fine with this, just make sure you check ahead of time so you are prepared. Also, plan to arrive right when they open to beat the heat and the crowds.
There are so many great orchards in Julian offering U-pick apples, pears, and even berries. Our favorite is Apple Starr Orchard because they are certified organic. There are approximately 1,000 trees with their numbers balanced between apples and pears. The trees range in age from 20-70 years old and the majority have low branches that children can access. They also offer picking poles to reach the high branches and have a few red wagons for customers to use (although we usually bring our own wagon/stroller). There are also a few picnic tables under a giant oak tree and plenty of room to lay out a blanket.
Like I said above, we like to make a full day of our trip to Julian. There is so much more to do then just apple picking! There is a cute little town along Main St. with stores housed in historic buildings dating back to the 1870’s. We also saw a few pumpkin patches to visit if you go in the Fall like we did. This trip we stopped at the Julian Mining Company’s pumpkin patch and they had berry picking and hay rides too.
We always end our trip to Julian with a slice of pie at Mom’s Pie Shop. There are two locations, one right on Main Street in town and then another just outside of town on Highway 78. We typically stop at the location outside of town because they are less busy. They have every flavor of pie you can image, this time I got the strawberry rhubarb and it might be my new favorite! It’s definitely a must-do in Julian!
Have you been to Julian? Where are your favorite places to go apple picking there? We’re always looking for new orchards to visit as well as checking out the new seasonal festivals! I love how Julian has grown but managed to stay a quiet, quaint little village tucked away perfect for relaxing! It really is one of our favorite places to visit in the Fall!