Happy Fall Y’all! Us furSmiths traditionally take the first full week of October off for PawCation and head to the Eastern Sierra. Daytime temps in October are still warm in the mountains but the sun is a tad less intense so mid-day dog walks are MUCH safer! Plus…Fall Colors are beginning! While we can see an occasional tree or small row of trees changing colors in So Cal, the best to plan to see Autumn leaves is to plan a PawCation, long weekend or day trip to higher elevations! This year we skipped our beloved Eastern Sierra but still wanted to peep some leaves. Scooby (and Sable before) loved day trippin’ to Julian in October so, after checking the forecast we decided to go see for ourselves. But, does Julian California Have Fall Colors?
Fall Colors Near Me
If you’re not typically surrounded by Autumn Colors, just google “Fall Colors Near Me” and chances are you’ll find some great recommendations for Leaf Peepin’ that you may not be aware of! In Southern California Big Bear, Lake Arrowhead, Grass Lake, Lake Gregory, Idyllwild and Julian are often recommended for day trips or weekend getaways due to their higher elevations. We definitely want to check all of the “local” destinations out in the future but mom noticed that this year’s October temperatures in Julian were much cooler than usual so it was perfect timing! Weather in Julian during October can range from the low 70’s to the low 90’s so when we saw it was in the high 60’s we packed up out snacks and headed out to experience Julian’s style of Fall Foliage!
History of Julian CA
Where is Julian, CA? Julian is in Eastern San Diego County 92 miles south east of Dana Point, CA. Julian was settled in 1869 by 5 cousins who were passing through the area on their way to Arizona. They were so impressed with this gorgeous mountain area that they named the town after their “best looking” cousin, Mike Julian! Julian was once a popular gold mining town and is an official California Historical Landmark. Today Julian is world famous for it’s apple pies and Julian Apple Days Festival – a tradition which began in 1949. You can read more about Julian’s rich history on Julian’s Official Website!
Julian Apple Pie
Julian is well known for all things apple…apple picking, apple festivals and of course, apple pies! In addition, young apple trees were brought to Julian during the gold rush period. They surprisingly thrived in the clean mountain air and the rest is history! Over the years people have made the annual pilgrimage to partake in apple harvesting and to enjoy some of the world famous pies. There are two main pie makers…Moms Pie House founded in 1984 and Julian Pie Company founded in 1986. According to OUR Mom, both are DE-Lish! She also recommends to try the Boysenberry Apple Crumb Pie at Julian Pie Company (or take a whole pie home)!
Weather for Julian California
Julian experiences more extreme temperatures and greater precipitation than much of Southern California. At 4,235 feet elevation (1,219 m) above sea level, Julian, CA receives snow in the winter. March typically accumulates the most snow. Julian can get quite hot in the summer months through October! Julian California Weather has all the seasons, which is why this little mountain town has become a favorite getaway for San Diegans and Southern Californians!
Is Lake Cuyamaca Dog Friendly?
Just a little over 8 miles south of Julian – and a pretty drive – is Lake Cuyamaca Recreation and Park District. Years ago Mom and Sable stumbled upon this gorgeous lake on their way to Julian and it’s now a MUST for every Julian trip! If fishing, boating, camping, photography, hiking, birdwatching, picnicking, nature…(you get the idea) is your thing, don’t miss Lake Cuyamaca! This gorgeous property along with the adjacent campgrounds, cabin and condo rentals are dog friendly! Please respect the rules: dogs are not allowed in the lake and they must be on a leash. As ALWAYS, pick up after your pup.
We think Lake Cuyamaca would be amazing for a winter holiday retreat too! Be sure to visit Lake Cuyamaca’s website to learn more about fishing Lake Cuyamaca, camping Lake Cuyamaca, boat rentals and more!
Is Julian CA Dog Friendly?
Julian is SO dog friendly that the Chamber of Commerce dedicated an entire page to dog friendly activities in Julian. Here you will find recommendations and rules for:
Julian CA Restaurants – be sure to have some pie on the dog friendly patio at Julian Pie Company!
Julian Wineries – Julian has several wineries (and breweries)! The owners at Menghini Winery LOVE dogs! Which means we WUV them! In fact, on a nice day, well-behaved dogs are welcome to hang out and play in their beautiful “backyard” at the winery while pawrents relax! (This is our goal…to one day be SOOOOO relaxed that we can mingle with all the Menghini pup and pawrent fwiends)! Tip: We bought Mom a bottle of Syrah for being our expert driver to Julian and she said it’s FAMTASTIC!
How to Find the Best Pet Friendly Hotels in Julian CA
We’ve never stayed in Julian but we REALLY like the Cabin and Condo idea at Lake Cuyamaca . The easiest way to see the best rated Dog Friendly rentals for Julian CA is on Trip Advisor. Check out their lists of dog friendly hotels and vacation rentals.
Have you stayed in Julian with your dogs? If so, we’d WUV to know your FAV dog friendly hotel or vacation rental! email us: mom@thescoobylife.com or tag us @thescoobylife on social media!
We hope you have a GREAT time in Julian, CA! Please let us know so we can share your Fav things with our Fwiends!
Tip: Do you want to plan a PawCation but not sure how to start? Check our ESSENTIALS FOR YOUR BEST DOG FRIENDLY VACATION page for our guidance!
