Every year around the holidays, thousands of people head to Julian. The town is known for its iconic apple pies, but it’s not the sole thing people visit for.
“I think it just has a lot to offer, especially with the culture down here, there’s a lot to explore and I think it just brings a lot of people outside the cities into nature,” said Aditya Shenoy, a student at San Diego State University (SDSU) who came to Julian with some friends.
Some Julian locals told NBC 7 that while heavy foot traffic is nothing new, there has been a shift of sorts in recent years. On Sunday, there was hardly anywhere to park. Lines wrapped around several restaurants and bakeries, including the iconic Julian Pie Company and Mom’s Pie House.
“We’re actually on the wait list right now to go into Miner’s Diner which is right across from us, it’s an hour and 13 minute wait,” said Karina Chaire, who visited Julian with her family for the first time.
“It’s on steroids. It’s kind of nuts up here,” said David Lewis with the Julian Pioneer Museum, when asked about the number of people in town.
Lewis grew up in Julian, and has seen a lot of change to the town over the years. That includes a recent spike in the number of visitors. While he isn’t precisely sure on why more people have been coming, some visitors said it’s because of social media.
“It’s been blowing up all over social media, TikTok, Instagram,” said Chaire. “If you go on TikTok, there’s a lot of fall itineraries, things to do in Julian, a day in Julian,” Chaire added.
The best advice from visitors if you plan to head to Julian is to get there early to avoid the crowds. To find out more about all the different activities Julian has to offer, visit their website.