We drove all the way to Julian and we didn't get a single apple.

 Julian is a hike up into the mountains. An hour drive is a hike for us, trust me.

Apple season, the siren song of pumpkins, I randomly decided we were hitting the road at 3pm. Kinda cutting it close when the Julian Pie Store closes at 5.

Psssht! That's plenty of time!

Nope! Julian is not the sleepy little village that I imagined it would be but rather a fully tricked out Autumnal Festival Destination with lines and no parking!

We left without braving the crowds. We tried to hit up the competition, Mom's Pie Company. Closed. We did pose in front of their giant apple...for free. Take that Mom.

Fortunately, I had noticed that we had passed a camel farm on the way into town. Yes, camels grazing in a field. We reversed direction. The camels are fancy and were too far away to meet. But there were two friendly horses and their donkey buddy who endured our affections. It saved the day! 

Better than the zoo. And I can make my own pie. The cider donuts. Uggggh! I really wanted those.