August 14-Joyful inJulian
One of my favorite things to do when on a summer adventure is park in a small town, stay two nights, and explore completely on foot for a full day. So, when I booked my room at the Julian Gold Rush Hotel, I decided to splurge and take the time to get to know the tiny mountainous hamlet a little better. What a relaxing, rejuvenating, joyful visit it turned out to be.
Winding my way up in elevation on highways 78 and 79 through the rolling, oak and pine tree-covered foothills of the Cuyamaca Mountain Range, I arrived at this historic mining town located about 60 miles northeast of San Diego just as the sun was beginning to settle into the horizon, bathing the place in a warm, golden glow.
Gassing up, getting groceries, and checking into the hotel, I relaxed on the porch and strolled down main street window shopping at the little pie shops, bakeries, candy stores, and gift shops housed in wooden buildings there, many with the false fronts common in 19th century Western frontier towns.
Walking just a couple blocks to Romano’s Restaurant, I feasted on a large slice of homemade Lasagna al Forno, made with ricotta, mozzarella, pecorino, and meat sauce and baked to a light brown, the gooey cheese stretching several inches every time I dipped my fork into the mini casserole dish.
After a delightful expedition the next morning on foot to the Eagle Mining Company about a half a mile away, I ambled over to the Julian Pie Company, set up my computer to do a little work, and treated myself to a slice of Apple Mountain Berry Crunch pie for lunch and a piece of the Dutch Crumble a few hours later, treasuring every bite of the moist, flavorful treats with a buttery crispy crunch and served with an enormous amount of freshly whipped cream.
I did a little more exploring of the town afterwards, needing to burn off a few of the calories I had so pleasantly consumed at the pie shop. Feeling full and satisfied, I got a great night’s sleep in the well-appointed guest room right off the establishment’s front porch before continuing to make my way north. What a great day on the road!
