One of the best ways to see this mix of country surrounding Julian is to drive Highway 79.  This highway traverses a huge amount of territory starting at I 10 and ending at I 15.  It starts in Beaumont on I 10 and then goes through Hemet,  and then Temecula.  It leaves I 15 there and  crosses country  which has a beauty all its own, from mountains covered in chaparral to valleys with live oak and often large meadows.
  Here you pass small settlements like Aguanga, ranches, a few wineries, vineyards,  an olive tree grove and a company producing the oil.  Recreational opportunities range from glider flights at Warner Springs to winery visits as well as picnics and camping.   The three wineries you pass include Tule Creek, Shadow Mountain and Hawk Watch.  Also the Cleveland National Forest Oak Grove campground. 
  There is a bit of history with as plaque explaining that it is the site of Camp Wright, a guard station from 1861-1866, during the Civil War, manned by the First California Volunteers.
  The region  includes a good deal of history dating to when it was home to many tribes of native Americans and you will pass through some of their reservations.
  From Oak Grove the road climbs gently to a 3282 foot summit.  Pass the summit the view expands dramatically picturing large pastures with a backdrop of rugged ridges and distant mountains.
  Then you reach a junction with County highway S22.  This leads to the community of Ranchita at an elevation of 4600 feet.  Here too is El Tesoro Winery.  We took S22 to look at Ranchita and the entrance to Anza Borrego State Park.  But stopped and retraced our steps after taking some photos of the desert far below.  On S22 the views are of huge open areas that offer excellent pasture for cattle.     
After returning to Highway 79 we passed Warner Spring and the airport with the gliders.  We had our picnic at Inaja Memorial Park. This park in Cleveland National Forest is in memory of eleven fire fighters who lost their lives in a forest fire that occurred  November 1956.  The park has picnic tables with overhead shade, a rest room and self guided nature trail.