Travel :: A Visit to Idyllwild

Recently I had a chance to participate in a media trip with ConnectHER Media and visit the lovely town of Idyllwild.  This was my first time visiting this cute mountain town and I have to say I came away this past week dying to bring my family for a visit as I know they would love the scenery and amazing restaurants.  It is such a gorgeous city and one of the mom’s who helped organize the trip said it hasn’t changed much in the 25 plus years she and her family has visited.  Idyllwild’s visitor center describes the city perfectly.

Idyllwild is a nature-lovers oasis located in the San Jacinto Mountains above Palm Springs. At a mile high, residents and visitors enjoy an alpine forest abounding with wildlife. The seasons are lovely with the scent of lilacs in the air in spring, warm summers, vibrant autumn colors and snowy winters.

Much of the village itself is surrounded by National Forest, making a small residential footprint amid a large wilderness area. Hiking, camping, fishing, mountain biking, and rock climbing are popular activities. Visit the Idyllwild Nature Center with the kids and grandparents for easy nature walks and an impressive interpretive center to learn about local Cahuilla history and about native flora and fauna. (Source: Idyllwild Vistors Center).

The community is often known for its “artsy” culture. That’s mostly because they house the West Coast’s premiere boarding high schools for the arts, Idyllwild Arts Academy. We saw busloads of kids leaving in the morning to go down the hill to school and coming back up in the afternoons.  We heard from some locals that about 50% of the population live there year-round with a population under 5,000. One of the most pleasantly surprising things was how good the food was at every restaurant we ate at.  From the Fratello’s Ristorante  to the Idyllwild Bake and Brew (you must try their “show me your tots” and baked goods), each restaurant went out of their way to provide amazing dishes.  More on the food later!

Experience Idyllwild

We were hosted by Experience Idyllwild, a family owned rental property, who offer a variety of cabins -both owned and ones they manage.  We stayed at the Lindhaven cabin which was like taking a trip down memory lane with all the 70’s decor.  Kelly, the owner of the company, said that the owners have kept the original furniture and knickknacks just as they are.

From the yellow laminate kitchen counter-tops to flower wall paper, this is one fun cabin to stay in.  They fill the cabinets and fridge with cooking essentials, and bedrooms with fresh linens.

Our crazy group of moms were inspired by the 70’s decor and decided that a photo shoot was necessary!

It would be a photographers dream to do a photo shoot inside the cabin.  I fell in love with the place, but do know they offer a variety of cabins if you’d prefer a different style cabin.  One even has a hot tub on the deck!  All are really keep up nicely and the place was really clean and cozy.  We had several squirrels stop by to say and and wanted to see if we had any food to offer them.  Waking up to the birds chirping outside your window is heavenly.

Restaurants

Idyllwild Bake and Brew hosted us one morning and I was so impressed with this little coffee shop.  From the cinnamon rolls to sandwiches, this bakery goes up and above to make sure you are getting the freshest meals.  We spoke with Katie White who handles mostly the pastries.

She and Chef Stevie Davis, who is currently working on a Food Network project, came up with the dishes they offer.  Located in the center of town, I promise you will be a fan after you try their food.  The cinnamon roll I shared with the girls was seriously one of the best I have ever had.

So next time you want a quick get-away, think about visiting Idyllwild.  It is a sleepy mountain town with loads of fun activities for the entire family.  I for one, can’t wait to bring the family back.

A big thank you to the following sponsors:

Albertsons  off Campus in Irvine – provided us with a delicious breakfast of eggs, bacon (you must try the brand Zoe’s gourmet meat), orange juice (try the new brand Matt’s Organic), Dave’s Killer Organic Bread, and some organic fruit.

El Gallogiro   

El Gallo Giro opened its doors in 1988 with the inauguration of its first Restaurant, Bakery & Tortillería in Santa Ana, California. At El Gallo Giro they recreate the liveliness and folkloric atmosphere of a Mexican marketplace combined with the warmth and the love of Mexican home-cooking. They offer a variety of over 35 traditional breads including their popular bolillos ( white Mexican rolls ) and conchas ( Mexican sweetbread ), handmade and fresh everyday.

Orange Coast Auto

Family owned, John Gray’s Orange Coast Chrylser Jeep Dodge Ram FIAT is known for their fantastic customer service.   They loaned us two 2019 Rubicon Jeep Wranglers and we all fell in love with this car.   Be sure to check back for my car review where I’ll highlight the cool features this amazing Jeep offers.

Online Experience: They have an excellent internet sales staff with many years of experience satisfying their Orange County customers’ needs. Their online inventory is updated daily, ensuring that whichever vehicle you come in to see will be on the lot. They have become the leader in online new models in Orange County, as well as, used car sales in the Southern California Market.  All of their new and used cars come with a 72 hour/250 Mile Unconditional Money Back Guarantee. You can reach them here.

2929 HARBOR BLVD
COSTA MESA, CA 92626

Ph: 714.549.8023

Idyllwild Bake and Brew

Veteran owned and operated business.  They make delicious food from scratch, sammiches, and offering a nice selection of California craft beers.  Follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

To learn more about Experience Idyllwild and what they can offer go here.

Note:  We were provided with housing and meals by our sponsors but all opinions are our own.