This is a cool hands on history lesson of the area of Julian, circa 1870…read more Many times we have gone to Julian, many times we have played in the snow, eaten apple pie, had pizza and beer. But somehow we never knew there was a mining history there and that it was very prolific in the 1870s. The tour is worth the cost, and starts with a history of the equipment and the area as well as the information about how the mining equipment and the mine were preserved. There is a demonstration of how to pan for gold, and there is a lot of old equipment as well as a shop with relics, books and western style homestead-ish goods. A nice variety of options. The walk through the mine would have been better with a smaller group where we wouldn't feel rushed. It was cool that down in the mine there is still equipment, and you can view down into the hole where the miners would be lowered to work for the day. The mine is very dark - but also well lit and as your eyes adjust there is no problem watching where you walk and seeing the historic equipment down in the mine. The tour is actually 2 shafts that connect, as you finish one mine area then the tour guide takes you into the other mine shaft and at the end of the tour you exit on the other side of the mountain- pretty cool. You must be mobile, not claustrophobic, this is a child friendly tour but please impress to your kids that listening is key, some portions of the tour it may be more difficult to hear the guide. At one point they lights are turned off so that the guide can demonstrate the use of a candle to iluminate the way, it's a short period but might be scary to young visitors if not reassured. I recommend this tour for tourists, locals, adults and kids - great to learn the history of Julian and the mines that were there during the gold rush. I believe they said - more than 200!

Really cool and interesting. The road is super bumpy and full of pot-holes to get there. There is a…read moretour inside the mine and I've done it several times, still just as cool every time.

2021-7-22 David Lewis, fourth generation Julianite, is a…read morecompendium of all things Julian when it comes to its historical aspects from its foundation in 1870 by Drury Bailey & other members of his extended family, many of whom were ex-Confederates formerly under the command of General Joseph Wheeler, C.S.A.  So appropriately, the tour of Julian by Mr. Lewis starts in the Julian Cemetary in the section where Drury Bailey is buried. Another important event also in 1870 was the discovery of gold by Fred Coleman, an African  American cattleman, which started a gold rush that further increased Julian's population & development.  Another African American couple,  Albert & Margaret Robinson, built in 1897 & ran Hotel Robinson on Main Street that is still standing to this day as the Julian Hotel.  Mr. Lewis has uncountable stories to tell about Julian as he takes you down hill to downtown Julian which I will not divulge. He can tell you the tales of the town himself.  Toward the end of the 90 minute tour, which actually lasted two hours since we engaged in lots of questions and observations, I lamented that earlier I had gone to the Julian Pioneer Museum only to find it closed that Thursday afternoon when the posted sign stated it was open Thursday - Sunday. Mr. Lewis told me that he had the keys to the museum and was willing to let me in and personally give me a docent guided tour.  Lots of interesting Julian ephemera such as a collection of mechanical apple peelers, etc. Since David Lewis is an avid researcher, he was responsible for the creation of a short play of the Robinson's which is attested by a poster advertising the event as well as having photographs of his own relatives hanging from a back wall.  If you want to appreciate the history of Julian, David Lewis is the man to engage for a thoroughly researched and engaging story. If you can't visit Julian, Mr. Lewis has written "Last Known Address, "....it is also a humble and charming ethnography of the early American frontier. David Lewis's work is important, timely, and best of all, true to his deep Julian roots."  To purchase the book, refer to his website: Copies of Last Known Address may be purchased by sending a check for $18.00 to: David Lewis P. O. Box 32 Julian CA 92036 By the time the Pioneer Museum tour was done, Mr. Lewis had spent 2 1/2 hours giving me the grand tour.  I really appreciate his going out of his way to take time and trouble to show me the multifaceted town of Julian.  Thoroughly enjoyable,  5 stars.

EXCELLENT - Make sure to book a tour with David Lewis BEFORE going up to Julian. We have been up…read moreto Julian many times but never knew the history. David Lewis is a 4th generation Julian resident, highly energetic and a wealth of information on all things Julian. Booking a tour with him really made our last trip to Julian the BEST!!!!

We went on a walking tour today we got there Monday, May 22 at 1 PM. I recommend getting there a…read morehalf hour before your tour. It was a little warm. Wear good walking shoes and the road going in to it is about a mile for sure of dirt road with a little bit of washboard in it so bring your SUV. The people are really nice and we got a small goodie bag with a DVD in it. We walked around for about two hours and it was lots of shade. We had a really good time

This was such an awesome tour. We want to surprise our parents to a tour as well, as a surprise. We…read morehave a wonderful tour guide. She was super informative. The place was just extraordinary. It was well worth the money we paid.

Very helpful to start your visit to Julian at this museum. It appears they want ALL of their…read moreexhibits out, so the area is a bit crowded. But it is a great way to learn the history and background of the area to help appreciated the town as not just a tourist attraction that focuses on apples. They have the largest lace collection west of the Mississippi.

This place is a labor of love, and it's so lovey to see a town that truly cares for its history in…read morethis way as this one does. We stopped by here after eating some pies. A kind volunteer was manning the museum and was an absolute delight! They had so many historical items ranging from native pottery, clothing, weaponry, and even a beautiful collection of books. We had fun losing track of time sifting through it all as they amazingly can historically trace many families back to the start of the town. Learning about each was great!

Sitting on a hill overlooking the small town of Julian, CA. It's so amazing to see the headstones…read moremarked with people born in the 1800's. Such a beautiful place.

Not much to see. Poorly maintained but if you are in the area you might as well drive through it.read more

The Maritime Museum of San Diego is honestly one of the most impressive history museums I've…read morevisited because the artifacts are the museum. You aren't just looking at history -- you're surrounded by ships that actually survived it. The Star of India, launched in 1863, survived mutiny, violent storms, collisions at sea, and decades carrying immigrants across dangerous oceans. Some sailors believed the ship was cursed after captains died during early voyages, yet somehow she survived long enough to become the oldest active sailing ship in the world. HMS Surprise shows the brutal reality of naval warfare during the Age of Sail. Ships like this once carried enough cannon firepower to destroy enemy vessels while sailors lived packed below deck surrounded by gunpowder, disease, and fear of battle. The Berkeley steam ferry even helped evacuate survivors during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake while much of the city burned. One of the most fascinating exhibits is the Soviet B-39 submarine from the Cold War. The inside is unbelievably cramped and gives you a real sense of what life was like beneath the ocean during one of the most dangerous periods in modern history. The USS Dolphin may have been my favorite. This experimental deep-diving U.S. Navy submarine helped test advanced underwater technology and launched the deepest-fired torpedo in naval history. The museum also includes the San Salvador, recreating the ship that explored California's coastline in 1542 -- long before America existed as a country. What makes this place incredible is the timeline it creates: 1500s exploration... 1800s global sailing... steam-powered industry... world wars... Cold War submarines... All sitting together in one harbor. This place doesn't just teach maritime history -- it shows how ships shaped exploration, immigration, trade, warfare, and entire empires.

What an absolute gem. The Maritime Museum is a collection of floating ships available to tour…read more We enjoyed the add-on ($10) 45 minute, docent-led, bay tour on the Pilot. We learned so much. The Museum is well-organized with plenty of memorabilia and artifacts to enjoy. There are several boats to explore. There's also plenty of seating along the boats, to just enjoy the scenery. The Maritime Museum is a must!

What a fun evening doing a private Taste of Little Italy food walking tour with Adriana! We had…read moresuch a wonderful time learning the history of Little Italy and enjoying the food from 4 different places. Highly recommend doing it with your out of town guests or with your foodie friends. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/349327055627 We took our time and never felt rushed. Food was amazing! I've lived here for over 20 years and never knew much about the history of Little Italy. Adriana was such a fun guide and I already can't wait to go again!

Anthony gave a fantastic tour. There was plenty of amazing food, and we all thoroughly enjoyed the…read morehistory as well! All in all, this was a spectacular tour and the highlight of the trip for all of us!!

Have you ever been on a Jeep ride adventure? I have. I will continue seeking more road trips, muddy…read moreand rocky grounds anywhere in the world with experienced drivers in Southwest 4x4 Adventures. I don't own my own Jeep, however, I didn't let that stop me from joining on a ride with like minded people who love the outdoors. Thanks Southwest 4x4 Adventures for my first but not my last rides in the future.

From the owner: Southwest 4x4 Tours is an off-road guide and pack service specializing in trails and tours in the…read moreSouthwestern US. If you need a guide for a day or a week or if you need to get your gear to a hard to reach location, we can get you there. We also have great tours going into exciting historical areas in the southwest such as the the Mojave Desert and Death Valley in California, pioneering trails in Arizona and many other amazing places. We have tours from one day and up to a week. If you don't have your own vehicle, not to worry, we will assistant you. All our guide are licensed and certified. Call us for more information and tell us where we can take you.

Great service. Very punctual and friendly!! Will definitely contact them for my next shuttle ride…read moreto the airport!

I found TransTerra through Yelp, and had a seamless experience communicating and booking with…read moreJorge. Then, our driver Omar was right on time, friendly, and professional. We had an excellent experience from beginning to end, and our day's itinerary was completely stress free because of TransTerra. They also provided car seats and boosters for the little ones in our group. I will definitely call TransTerra again for any of our transportation needs. They were awesome!!!

I had the pleasure to ride with Bike Ride San Diego on 2/3/22. Right from the start, Tony was very…read morehelpful and made sure the bikes and protective equipment was all squared away. Throughout the ride, he taught me San Diego history and even stopped at some beautiful places to take pictures. Tony is an excellent tour guide and will take care of you when you're with him. Thanks Tony! P.S. Don't get the hot chocolate from the Coffee Shop on the Rancho Santa Fe Ride!(future story for riders).

Tony is a great tour guide and told me about the history of various parts of San Diego, such as the…read moreattractions or the natural landmarks. We stopped at so many different places throughout the ride. I enjoy having private bike tours and I wish more cities had them as well.