Category: California Trip Planning

Julian

Julian Jail

Julian is a small town that can easily be explored in just a short time. What is especially nice is that, although it is a tourist attraction, the town is not “tacky touristy”. Rather, you get the feeling you are in the last century as you wander through the streets and stop to browse at some of the antique shops, visit the small historical museum in the old brewery, and enjoy refreshment at the soda fountain in the 1880s drug store.

If you want to delve deeply into gold mining, just a short drive (or long walk) away on the outskirts of town is the Eagle Mine, founded by pioneers from Georgia, many of them soldiers who came here after the Civil War. Tours are taken deep into the mine and a narration gives not only the history of the mine, but the history of Julian.

Julian, sunset

When visiting Julian in the fall, you can enjoy another of the town’s offerings—apples. Although you can sample Julian’s wonderful apples throughout the year (every restaurant has its own special apple pie on the menu), the apple becomes king during the fall harvest. Beginning in October and continuing on into November, special crafts shows and events are held in the Julian Town Hall. If you visit one of the packing plants on the edge of town you can buy not only apples, but every conceivable item that has apples as a theme.

It is only a short drive north from Julian on Hwy 79 to Santa Ysabel where you turn right at the main intersection. At this junction you see Dudley’s Bakery, a rather nondescript-looking building that houses a great bakery: loyal customers drive all the way from San Diego just to buy one of their 21 varieties of tasty bread.

When you have finished your tour of town take time to visit and  taste the offerings at some of the  fine boutique wineries that have cropped up in the Julian vicinity.

Orhcard Hill Country Inn, Julian, California

Located just off Main Street, Julian’s Orchard Hill Country Inn is an excellent place to stay. The luxurious Inn mixes the best of a five star hotel with the intimacy and friendliness of a highly rate Bed and Breakfast Inn. Orchard Hill Country Inn offers private cottages as well as smaller guestrooms in the elegant main Lodge. Delicious dinners are served on selected nights in the romantic setting of the lodge.

Julian scenery

Stringing along Highway 49 through the Sierra Foothills, the quaint, nostalgic towns of the California Gold Country are a wonderful destination any time of the year although the heat of summer dissipating and the changing of the seasonal colors makes fall a special time. These quaint towns date back to 1848 when the cry went up that gold had been found at Sutter Creek, thus starting the ‘Gold Fever’ which overtook many a hearty soul eager to make their fortune. Boom towns sprang up overnight to service and supply the prospectors.

Today, the towns of Jamestown, Sonora, Twain Harte, Columbia, Murphy’s, Sutter Creek and Coloma are home to antique shops, art galleries, nifty boutiques, and wonderful small restaurants. These towns along Highway 49 (named for the gold seeking miners known as the Forty-Niners) are also home to some of the most appealing Bed and Breakfast Inns and small Hotels many of which are located in old Victorian houses lining bucolic sleepy streets.

Travel on Highway 49 can either start at the north end in the quiet town of Coloma where John Marshall first discovered gold at Sutter’s Mill and continue in a southerly direction to Jamestown with its main street lined with    wooden boardwalks, balconies and old-style storefronts. It you are traveling from Lake Tahoe or  San Francisco you will want to start at the Coloma end and if you are traveling from Yosemite your launch will be from Jamestown in the south. Whichever is your starting point plan on a leisurely trip of 2-4 days through this colorful region.

The charming town of Sutter Creek offers two delightful Bed and Breakfast Inns at which to stay. Either the idyllic Foxes Inn or the pretty soft-gray-blue Grey Gables Inn make a wonderful choice for an overnight stay. Just above the town of Sonora on a hilltop lies the bucolic victorian, Barretta Gardens Inn. One of our favorite Gold Country towns, Murphy’s is home to two wonderful Inns. The Victoria Inn with a wonderful wraparound porch and the handsome victorian, Dunbar Inn, are great choices for places to stay. The 1859 National Hotel, one of the oldest hotels in California,is a fantastic choice to overnight and even offers a resident ghost adding to your overnight experience.

It’s not only visiting the wineries that makes this area so special—these valleys are also memorable for their beauty. A visit to the wine country makes a pleasant excursion any time of year.

With several hundred wineries spread among scenic Napa and Sonoma counties, you’ll have plenty of tastings to select. There are also hot-air balloon rides for the not-so-faint at heart, plenty of shops to explore, gourmet restaurants and top-notch spas.

One particularly special town is Calistoga, where you’ll find hot springs that have soothed many a visitor for hundreds of years. A trip to Calistoga wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Chateau de Vie (winner of Readers’ Choice Award for California’s Warmest Welcome).

This Calistoga bed and breakfast is surrounded by vineyards, and offers a variety of amenities. Each morning, coffee and tea is placed outside your guest room door, and whenever you are ready, there is a full, seasonal breakfast to enjoy. There is a lap pool, as well as a hot tub in the private garden where you can relax under the stars. The inn sells its own Chateau de Vie wines, so be sure to pick up a bottle as a souvenir.

Check out our itineraries for more details on Wine Country travel.

If you are doing any California trip planning, be sure to check out our itineraries. The first part of this route includes many well-loved attractions: Muir Woods, the Russian River, Sonoma County wineries, the Mendocino Coast, and the Avenue of the Giant Redwoods. Then it becomes less “touristy” as you reach the Victorian jewel of Ferndale, the bustling town of Eureka, and the coastal hamlet of Trinidad, and concludes amongst the giant coastal redwoods of Redwood National Park.

San Francisco is an iconic town, famous for its skyline, its marvel of a bridge, and its many unique neighborhoods. You’ll need several days exploring the city before heading north to Mendocino. Along this four-hour drive, be sure to make time for the Point Reyes National Seashore, which offers bird-watching excursions, nature trails and the often-photographed Point Reyes Lighthouse.

Mendocino, your next big stop, is a bit like a trip to an old New England fishing village. After exploring the town, you’ll want to head up to the Avenue of the Giants, where you’ll feel a bit Lilliputian compared to the trees, the world’s tallest.

For a lavish treat near San Francisco, head across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito and the posh Inn Above Tide (winner of the Karen Brown Readers’ Choice Award for Splendid Splurge). The view is absolutely spectacular — a panorama of city lights and rugged coastline. The spacious, contemporary rooms are pricey, but this is one experience you’ll always treasure. All guests enjoy a great view, whether you choose a simpler double room or the opulent Penthouse. Many rooms have private decks, fireplaces or spa tubs. Here’s more information on this San Francisco Boutique Hotel/Inn.

You can find more information on this area here: California Travel Plans.

From the redwood forests of the north to the sunny shores of San Diego to the snow-capped peaks perfect for skiers, California offers a little something for everyone. With so much do and see, planning that California trip can be a little daunting, so the best advice is pick a region and explore.

From the North to the South

One way to hit a lot of major attractions is to plan a coastal trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles; you’ll be amazed at the scenery and the myriad of places to visit. You’ll want to spend at least two or three days exploring San Francisco, hitting the big sites such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf and maybe Alcatraz and Chinatown. From San Francisco, head south toward Monterey and Big Sur, where you’ll find some of the best views on Earth, as well as some of the best bed and breakfasts. 

If budget is an issue, the Sea View Inn in Carmel (winner of the Karen Brown Reader’s Choice Award for Greatest Value in California) offers the best location with the best rates. The charming historic Victorian is within walking distance to Carmel’s beautiful beaches, and the home’s third story offers a peak view of the sea. Continental breakfast is served, as well as afternoon tea and evening wine and sherry.

If it’s romance you seek, the Tickle Pink Inn is ideal for couples. Many of the rooms boast stunning ocean views, and guests can enjoy a soak in the ocean-view spa. Several rooms have wood-burning fireplaces and balconies. The Deluxe Ocean View Suites include the aforementioned, as well as a whirlpool tub and wet bar. Upon arrival, guests are treated to a glass of champagne, and each night there is a wine and cheese reception. The Tickle Pink Inn won the Readers’ Choice Award for Most Romantic in California. Check out this great California inn.

After your stop in Carmel, head south to Hearst Castle and on to Santa Barbara, where you’ll find plenty of shops and restaurants. After that, it’s just over an hour’s drive to the edge of Los Angeles, where you’ll find everything from the finest shopping to art galleries to museums to amusement parks to spectacular sunsets at the beach. Head into Orange County for a trip to Disneyland or the art Mecca of Laguna Beach.

Check out our detailed California Travel Itineraries to make your next trip a memoriable one.