Julian Farms & Orchard

Julian Farms & Orchard in Julian, CA offers fun experiences - including shooting apple cannons and feeding goats - in a scenic countryside setting.

Just over an hour from San Diego, the drive to Julian Farms & Orchard takes you through the stunning Cuyamaca Mountains, with views that instantly start to shift you into a more relaxed state of mind.

Finding Julian Farms & Orchard was easy—the pumpkins and signs lining the entrance made sure of that. Parking was a breeze, and scanning our mobile tickets at the entrance stand was even easier.

Now, while the pumpkins were tempting, I honestly preferred photographing them over hauling one back home.

Now, let’s get to the real reason I’d been counting down the days to visit: the APPLE CANNON. You load apples into a cannon and fire them at targets on a shooting range.

There’s something ridiculously satisfying about watching an apple explode on impact. It’s the ultimate combination of nature and sheer power. At $25 for 12 apples, it’s a bit of a splurge, but was worth every penny for the satisfying thrill.

Afterward, I wandered through the small rows of U PICK FLOWERS, trying my best to catch the hummingbirds as they darted between blooms.

The PETTING ZOO was another highlight. Watching the pigs and goats devour a pumpkin was amusing, and feeding the goats was such a simple joy.

I couldn’t stop laughing at how eagerly the goats chomped down their offered food pellets, their little mouths working overtime. They were so enthusiastic with the way they jostled and head butted each other to get closer – that it made everything even more amusing.

It was like they hadn’t eaten in days, though I’m sure they’d been snacking all afternoon.

To wrap things up, I headed over to the AXE-THROWING area, next to the rock climbing wall.  It took me a few tries to get the hang of it. But once I did, I felt like a total badass.

From shooting apples to soaking in the beauty of the fields, our visit to Julian Farms & Orchard was a perfect little adventure.

Totally worth the drive— especially with visiting Julian Pie Company afterward.

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