J & R
Things To Do
Julian
Julian is located in the beautiful Cuyamaca mountains. Take a step back in time to the days of Julian’s beginning rooted in the 1870’s gold rush. Get away from the hectic rush of city life… discover the charms of Julian. See where gold was discovered—shop stores housed in historic buildings dating back to the 1870’s—sleep in a romantic B&B or historic hotel—sample Julian’s famous apple pie —hike and picnic amid oaks and pines—ride down Main Street in a horse-drawn carriage.
Eagle Mining Co.
Discover an exciting learning experience at The Eagle Mining Co. in Julian, California. Our old-fashioned gold mine offers terrific and informative California tours that guide adventures through the world of a 1870s mining operation. Join us and learn as we help preserve our state’s rich history. Our tours last one hour, and are conducted by a courteous professional. They are also oriented towards good, clean, family fun.
Julian Hard Cider
Julian Hard Cider is located in beautiful Julian, California. A winding, 1-hr. back-country drive northeast of San Diego, California, nestled in the Cuyamaca Mountains amidst apple orchards, grassy meadows, and oak & pine groves. With a rich and colorful history as a raucous, frontier gold mining town, Julian is now popular as a weekend getaway, famous for its delicious and highly coveted, apple pie. Our tasting room at Julian Station (4470 Julian Rd.) currently has 12 ciders on tap, with 4 rotating handles of unique, Julian-only specialty ciders produced at our small production facility @ Apple Lane Orchard. Julian Station is dog and family-friendly and has a large outdoor patio to safely accommodate folks heading up to Julian to grab some pie & cider, or just to explore! Julian Hard Cider is distributed by Stone Distribution to SoCal's craft-focused restaurants, bars, and retail establishments. Please ask for it wherever you eat, drink & shop.
Apple Alley Bakery
*Jordan Recommended* Note from Jordan: Apple Alley Bakery doesn't have a website that I know of, but as someone who bakes some pretty dang good pies, believe me when I tell you that this place in all of Julian is my favorite to get pie. The line is usually around the building every weekend. All the bakeries in Julian are great and they are really good at baking pies. However, there is something about Apple Alley that is extra special and if you get lucky to get a slice, you'll know exactly what I mean. The pumpkin is good, the apple is great, but my favorite is the boysenberry apple.
California Wolf Center
California Wolf Center is Dedicated to Wild Wolf Recovery California Wolf Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working to foster communities coming together to ensure wolves, livestock, and people thrive in today’s world, which we accomplish through conservation, education, and research. You can schedule a tour to actually visit California's only wolf center. This is great for people of all ages to learn about wolves!
Calico Cidery
100% of our cider is made from our own apples from our ranch in Julian California. Our ciders have two ingredients, apples and native yeast. We grind and press the fruit allowing the must to ferment to near completely "dry", before the ciders are racked to a bright tank to naturally carbonate. Upon completion of fermentation, we keg our cider to maintain its purity and natural carbonation. Our ciders are made by David Young, who has 19 years of oenology and a degree in Pomology (aka. Fruit Science) and his father Dr. Conrad Young, an engineer and Julian apple grower for the last 32 years.
Balboa Park
*Jordan's personal favorite* Ever changing. Always amazing. Where culture, science, and nature collide, Balboa Park is home to more than 16 museums, multiple performing arts venues, lovely gardens, trails, and many other creative and recreational attractions, including the San Diego Zoo. With a variety of cultural institutions among its 1,200 beautiful and lushly planted acres, there is something for everyone.
San Diego Zoo
The world famous San Diego Zoo is a non-profit wildlife sanctuary home to more than 3,500 rare and endangered animals representing more than 650 species and subspecies, and a prominent botanical collection with more than 700,000 exotic plants. It is located just north of downtown San Diego in Balboa Park. San Diego Zoo Global is a not-for-profit organization that operates the San Diego Zoo, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, and the San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy. The Zoo was founded on October 2, 1916, by Harry M. Wegeforth, M.D.
Japanese Friendship Garden
The Japanese Friendship Garden ("the Garden") is an expression of friendship between San Diego and its sister city, Yokohama. It illustrates two cultures and creates an immersive experience into Japanese culture. The Garden's design is based on centuries-old Japanese techniques adapted to San Diego's climate and florae and seeks to foster a relationship between humans and nature, providing a respite attuned to Japanese simplicity, serenity, and aestheticism. The Garden sits on a 12-acre plot. It offers a variety of educational programs, exhibits, and festivals as well as accredited horticultural classes to enhance and deepen visitor appreciation for Japanese culture. As a valued community resource, it is well known for its unique setting, stone arrangements, koi ponds, water features, sukiya-style buildings and landscape
LEGOLAND California
Come play your part at LEGOLAND® California Resort, located just 30 minutes north of San Diego and one hour south of Anaheim. With more than 60 rides, shows and attractions, it's an interactive, hands-on theme park experience for families with children 2 - 12. The Resort is also home to SEA LIFE® Aquarium and the world's first LEGOLAND® Water Park. And if you've ever dreamed of spending the night at LEGOLAND, LEGOLAND Hotel and LEGOLAND Castle Hotel at the Resort are open and less than 2 miles from the nearest beach!
Mesa Rim Climbing Center (North City)
*Ruben Approved* Mesa Rim has been a hub for folks to explore the sport of climbing since first opening its doors in Mira Mesa, San Diego in 2010. Our founders dreamed of creating an inclusive space where people of all walks of life and abilities could venture out of their comfort zones in pursuit of a remarkable movement experience.
The Hops Highway
Hops Highway is your digital resource to San Diego craft beer & breweries. Discover our interactive map with over 150 brewery, brewpub and taproom locations.
Little Italy
Little Italy is a chic, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood, packed with trendy cocktail bars, brewpubs and restaurants with bustling patios. Upscale clothing boutiques, indie music venues and quaint piazzas dot the area, while the weekly Little Italy Mercato Farmers’ Market draws crowds to its mix of produce, gourmet food and craft stalls. The green lawns of Waterfront Park have fountains, and offer views of the bay.
Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Birch Aquarium at Scripps is the public exploration center for the world-renowned Scripps Institution of Oceanography at University of California San Diego. Perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Birch Aquarium features more than 60 habitats of fishes and invertebrates from the cold waters of the Pacific Northwest to the tropical waters of Mexico and beyond. An oceanographic museum showcases research discoveries by Scripps Oceanography scientists on climate, earth, and ocean science and includes interactive elements.
La Jolla Cove
La Jolla Cove is a small, picturesque cove and beach that is surrounded by cliffs in La Jolla, San Diego, California. The Cove is protected as part of a marine reserve; underwater it is very rich in marine life, and is popular with snorkelers, swimmers and scuba divers.
USS Midway Museum
Located in downtown San Diego, the USS Midway (Museum) was America’s longest-serving aircraft carrier of the 20th century. Today, the interactive museum is an unforgettable adventure for the entire family as guests walk in the footsteps of the 225,000 young men who served on Midway. Visitors explore a floating city at sea, the amazing flight deck and its 29 restored aircraft, flight simulators, and are inspired in the Battle of Midway Theater, included with admission. Admission also includes a self-guided audio tour narrated by Midway sailors in English, Mandarin, Spanish, Japanese, French and German. Visiting Midway is a once-in-a-lifetime experience in San Diego, known around the world as "Navy Town, USA."
Whaley House Museum
The Whaley House is an 1857 Greek Revival style residence, a California Historical Landmark, and museum located in Old Town, San Diego, California. It is currently maintained by Save Our Heritage Organization. The Whaley House was the home of Thomas Whaley and his family. Thought to be haunted, it is a popular supernatural tourist attraction.
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
The San Diego Zoo Safari Park, originally named the San Diego Wild Animal Park until 2010, is an 1,800 acre zoo in the San Pasqual Valley area of San Diego, California, near Escondido. It is one of the largest tourist attractions in San Diego County.
Orfila Vineyards and Winery
The exceptional estate wines produced by Orfila Vineyards & Winery are a credit to acclaimed winemaker, Justin Mund. The 70 acre farm just fifteen miles from the Pacific coastline, with a Mediterranean climate, and sandy soils, is ideal for French Rhône varietals. Orfila is located in the heart of San Diego’s greenbelt, in the beautiful San Pasqual Valley.