  On Great Southern Anza-Borego Desert State Park & Overland Stage Route. Click image to enlarge |
Either way, our Canadian passports likely made a change for the officers stationed there, who made the most of our visit by engaging in friendly chat to pass some time. They liked the Santa Fe, too; seemingly more interested in its “Fluidic Sculpture” design (new for 2013) than the possibility of contraband hidden somewhere in its cargo area (I’m sure they know what they’re doing…).
The 2013 Santa Fe’s appealing exterior lines suggest a price tag that exceeds its MSRP, and the new look visually aligns it with other vehicles in the Hyundai lineup, including the Tuscon, Sonata, Elantra and Accent. The Veracruz, by the way, is now replaced by the equally fluidic Santa Fe XL.
Beyond the checkpoint, the road heads into the hills, the wind farms are finally left behind and if you like “remote,” you’ll like this place.
Hard to believe people hauled wagons through this brutal and inhospitable terrain, after which the mountains peeking up from the horizon would have promised even more travails to come. But among the boulders there were flashes of colour as spring flowers come into bloom between March and May.
 Main Street, Julian, California. Click image to enlarge |
Turns out we entered Anza-Borrego Desert State Park at precisely the right time. Famous for the flowers that transform its landscape each year, and extending from Ocotillo to San Felipe, you’re treated to many varieties of colourful, fragrant flowers and huge otherworldly blooms in this vast, natural garden.
True to its reputation, S2 is very lightly travelled. The contrast between the blue of the sky and the yellow terrain is dramatic, and the views are spectacular. But soon enough the sand gives way to shrubbery, and then to trees as you climb into the Cuyamaca Mountains, unexpectedly encountering the orchards that supply Julian’s famous apple pies.
Julian is a gold-rush town with original buildings dating back to the 1870s. It is a bit “touristy,” especially on weekends, but there’s an overall air of authenticity about the place. It’s a destination for old car buffs, motorcyclists, families on day trips from San Diego and international visitors. It’s also the place where you’ll find lots of snow in the winter, as Julian is one of those rare places in California that boasts four distinct seasons.
 Julian, California. Click image to enlarge |
We sampled the apple pie (of course) at the Julian Pie Company, which has a nice patio out back and serves hot tea (not always to be found in the U.S.). Excellent pie, but the accompanying cheese needed some bite.
After checking out some of Julian’s bookstores, galleries, residential streets and historic buildings, we headed back to San Diego via Highway 78, heading for the coast so that we could drive through Solana Beach, Del Mar, Torrey Pines and La Jolla. An alternative route is to take Highway 79 toward the Sunrise Highway. This is one of California’s most scenic drives, and offers a more direct route to San Diego.
