Just west of Palm Springs and two hours from Los Angeles, Idyllwild is a cute mountain village that has become a popular weekend getaway spot for Southern California residents.
History
The area was first settled by the Cahuilla Indians approximately 2500 years ago. The first group of people searching for mining prospects came in the 1850s followed by ranching and farming families a few years later. By 1875, Idyllwild had substantiated itself as a lumber town.
Nature
People escape to Idyllwild on the weekends because it’s so different yet so close to home. Not far from Garner Valley, the natural surroundings include beautiful pine, oak and spruce trees, blue skies and breathtaking mountainsides. Hiking trails can be found in different areas of the town, some taking you in an adventure deep into the forest. In fact, the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument is comprised of 272,000 acres total… now that’s a lot of hiking!
Idyllwild at Sunset (photo by Shirley B)
Winter can bring some snow to the area, reminding most Southern California residents why they don’t live here year-round. While approximately just 2,000 people live in Idyllwild, as many as 50,000 people visit on clear-sky days.
Town Features
As far as entertainment goes in Idyllwild, there are plenty of attractions to keep the family busy throughout your whole trip. There are no big resorts in the area which helps to keep the town’s charming quality. However there are plenty of vacation cabins, bed-and-breakfasts and cabin motels offering mini-cabins for visitors to stay.
Downtown Idyllwild has tons of shops and art galleries as well as an old time theatre known as “The Rustic.” The theatre shows just one movie three times a day and has a snack stand for people to enjoy popcorn with real butter. You can find all kinds of restaurants in the area too –Mexican, Greek, Chinese, Steak and Seafood, Italian- depending on what suites your mood.
For tourist attractions, check out the Idyllwild Tree Monument in the town center. In 1989, this 50-foot totem pole was carved by a chainsaw in an attempt to salvage a dying 400-year-old Ponderosa pine. Later, it became the final resting place of Ernie Maxwell, founder of the local newspaper. Also, stop by the Idyllwild Historic Society Museum which takes you through the history of the town. The museum has an interesting section which depicts all the Hollywood films shot on location in the area from the 1920s through the 1960s.
Whether it is your first time or your 50th time visiting, there is always something new to be discovered in Idyllwild.
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