What to Do on a Mountain Getaway in San Diego

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There aren’t too many places in the world where you can sunbathe at the beach and go hiking in the mountains all in the same day. We’re lucky to live close to both, so here’s our favorite mountain getaway in San Diego.

Julian County

Just an hour outside of San Diego is beautiful Julian County, nestled in between the Cuyamaca Mountains, this charming town was once the center of the gold rush of the 19^th century. Full of historic buildings and educational attractions, this is a great place for your getaway from the bustling city. Definitely check out the tour of the Gold Mine in the town, the guide will lead you through a complex map of tunnels and paths, and will shed light on the early days of the prospecting movement in California.

Julian County is also full of apple orchards, which makes stopping for an afternoon of apple picking and picking up a freshly baked apple pie from the Julian Pie Company an absolute must. Also, just so you have a snack on your drive back to San Diego, pick up a treat from Dudley’s Bakery- you will not be sorry!

While you’re in the area, here are some of our other favorite things to see and do in Julian County:

Horseback riding at Integrity Stables

Hiking at the Laguna Mountain Wilderness Preserve

Meet and Greet with historical characters from the town’s 19^th century past