A Day Trip to Julian
By ELLEN BLAKEBOROUGH
My daughter, Lori, granddaughter, Trinity, and I recently enjoyed a wonder- ful drive from Temecula on Hwy 79, the Old Butter eld Stage Route, to Julian.
After enjoying lunch, which of course included a luscious salad with apples, then a little shopping/browsing, we checked out where the California Wolf Center is for a possible future vis- it. The Wolf Center prefers visitors to call ahead and get a reservation as they have to escort you for their tours. While in Julian, we didn’t see as many apple trees as years ago, but there are still lots of places to get yummy apple pie.
We passed Warner Springs Ranch where our extended family used to go once a year. Incidentally, Kit Carson slept there. The highly-rated facility is currently being renovated so if you would like to stop by, check out their website rst at www.warnerspringsran- chresort.com.
We passed the glider port in Santa Ysabel, where my favorite Dudley’s bakery is located. Other things to see near Julian and Santa Ysabel are the Himalaya Tourmaline Mine near Lake Henshaw, (the dowager Chinese em- press loved Tourmaline), Palomar Observatory, the Warner Carrillo Ranch House Museum, and the Mission of Santa Ysabel.
We stopped by the old Spencer Val- ley one room schoolhouse. The Eagle Mine offers tours of an authentic old gold mine. There are also several places to go trail horse riding. During October weekends a melodrama is pre- sented at the Old Julian Hotel, where the audience is encouraged to boo the villain or cheer the hero.
It was heartening to see the grass- es and weeds out by Warner Springs properly trimmed very low or cleared to make the area re safe. I couldn’t
believe there was Encelia Californica (California Bush Sun ower), green and blooming this time of year along the roadside closer to Temecula.
We thought of what it was like for people riding a stagecoach along this route which had stops at Julian, War- ner Ranch & Temecula. It cost $200 (the equivalent of $3000 today) per person back in 1857-1861 to take the stagecoach from Missouri to Califor- nia. Part of that journey required walk- ing! At the end of the day, we re ected on the beauty of our local countryside and hope you take a similar day trip soon.