A Travel Guide to Idyllwild, California
IDYLLWILD, CALIFORNIA TRAVEL GUIDE
Not far outside Los Angeles, nestled up in the San Jacinto mountains, above Palm Springs, is a cozy tiny little town known as Idyllwild. At just 2 1/2-ish (dependent on LA traffic, of course) hours away, it’s great for a day trip, or better yet, a cozy little getaway. This nature-centric area with a touch of funky vibes and the kindest locals is still a bit of a hidden gem, untouched by big box stores and tourist attractions. Don’t get me wrong, there’s still just enough to do, but it’s definitely a spot to come and shut off, relax and unwind, hike, read, play games, take long baths, you know the vibes. Oh, and did I mention that it gets all four seasons??! So, if you too are an East Coast transplant desperately missing some seasonal change, or you’re just a local in search of fall foliage and winter snow without having to drive all the way to Northern California, this spot is definitely for you.
WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT IDYLLWILD
It’s close to Los Angeles and San Diego, about a 2-3 hour drive (depending on traffic), making it perfect for a weekend, or quick mid-week, getaway.
It’s quiet, peaceful and remote, so it’s the perfect place to unwind, shut-off, relax and recharge.
Idyllwild actually gets all four seasons (Yup, that does in fact mean fall foliage and winter snow!), which is r real rarity here in Southern California, so if you live in SoCal and you’re craving fall or winter, this is where to go to quickly get your seasonal fix.
The vibes are small town meets upstate meets hippy meets outdoorsy meets chill. It kind of reminds me a bit of home in the Berkshires, and gives me like a mix between a small town in Upstate New York, super woodsy and relaxed but also kind of gives me artsy Topanga hippy vibes. Overall, it’s just very chill and relaxed and everyone is incredibly friendly, chatty and welcoming.
This is the place for you if you’re looking for somewhere peaceful and quiet where you can stay in and shut off, if you’re looking for seasons, if you’re looking to spend a weekend in a cozy cabin/A-frame and/or if you’re looking for an outdoor-focused spot with lots of hiking and nature.
THINGS TO NOTE BEFORE VISITING IDYLLWILD
There is a grocery store in town that is open until 7pm, so you don’t have to worry if you forget to bring something with you, or want to grab things for a meal (FYI, when I was there last they had sun-dried tomatoes for less than $4 a pound in the produce section, which is basically the deal of the century!)
Hours + times seem to be a bit more of a suggestion. I mean, it’s a small town, I grew up in small towns, so I totally get it, but just something to be aware of if you’re trying to make it to a specific spot and/or plan an itinerary. There were at least 3 spots that we tried to go to when they said they would be open and they definitely were not! Ha
WHERE TO STAY IN IDYLLWILD
While there are a small handful of motel-style accommodations (this one is my favorite) and camp grounds in the area and there’s a newly opened micro resort, The Eleven Cabins, there’s also a plethora of cute and cozy cabins and A-Frames to rent in Idyllwild. My recommendation is to book one and make it your home base for your time in the mountains. We stayed in this Airbnb last time we visited, but here are a few more places I’ve bookmarked for future stays-
WHERE TO EAT in IDYLLWILD
Idyllwild is a great place to stay in and whip up some cozy meals to enjoy by a fire or outside under the pines and/or stars. However, if the thought of cooking your meals isn’t appealing, don’t worry, there are still some good options for eating out.
FOR COFFEE + BREAKFAST
ALPACA COFFEE- Absolutely loved this coffee shop! They have Stumptown beans (one of my favorites), matcha (if that’s your thing), fresh pastries and locally made treats.
MILE HIGH CAFE- After grabbing coffee at Alpaca Coffee, pop over to their joint neighboring space for breakfast. Mile High Cafe serves up a wide variety of classic diner-style American favorites along with Asian inspired dishes for breakfast, lunch and take-out.
BLACK MOUNTAIN COFFEE ROASTING- Incredible coffee roasted right there in their shop (Fun fact: they’re the only spot roasting coffee in Idyllwild); they offer coffee tastings for $10 a person (you can make a reservation or just walk-in), which we sadly didn’t have time to do this trip, but you can still just get a cup of coffee (pour-over or cold brew), too
PURE BEAN IDY- While the coffee here is great, I think I preferred the other two spots in town better. However, this is great spot if you need to get some work done as they have free wifi and plenty of seating both inside and outside. And don’t sleep on their locally made baked goods while you’re there! We got a pumpkin crumb muffin and a strawberry crumb bar and both we’re amazing!
MAMA’S EGG HOUSE- A great spot for breakfast, although they are also open for lunch and through the late afternoon; they truly have something for everyone, from fresh juices and smoothies to breakfast burritos to eggs benedict to more diner style breakfast plates; we got the prosciutto eggs benedict with home fries and a side order of a pancake and I have to say it was a pretty solid order that I highly recommend; just be sure to plan some extra time if you come on the weekends and/or peek hours as there will probably be a bit of a wait.
A few spots we didn’t make it to this time but are on my list include Amelia’s Donuts and Raven Hill Bagels.
FOR LUNCH + DINNER
IDYLLWILD BREW PUB- Great for small bites, lunch or dinner and, obviously, to grab a beer! They have a huge patio that overlooks the forest and mountains, so it’s perfect to chill on a beautiful afternoon and have a drink. We also loved the food here (I think it was one of my favorite meals out in Idyllwild)…the crispy brussels were perfecto (and that sauce they come with! OMG! I’m drooling just thinking about it! Get extra on the side to dip everything else in and thank me later!) and the crispy chicken sandwich was the crispiest and most delicious!
LA CASITA- If you’re craving Mexican food, come here. Super casual, good service and a huge menu of options to choose from. The portions are huge too, so it’s great for sharing or if you’re in need of a hearty meal pre or post-hike. Make sure to ask for a side of their famous “green sauce”.
A few spots we haven’t made it to yet but are on our list- the cozy looking Italian restaurant, FERRO, which comes highly recommended from many locals and Cafe Aroma, which has a yummy looking menu, live music, some great sounding cocktails and an expansive wine list. And for a glass of natural wine, I’d love to check out The Wine Finch, which is a natural wine and craft beer bar.
FOR DESSERT
EL BUEN CACAO- An unassuming shop that sells incredible chocolate; bean to bar, organic, sustainably sourced, minimal ingredients and every step of the chocolate making is done right in-house, yup, even roasting the chocolate beans (You can actually see the space where everything is made on the right hand side of the shop.) and something that I especially love is that everything is made with dark chocolate. Grab some pieces from the case (the honey peanut butter was a fave!), some bars and don’t skip the chocolate shake!
ONE FINAL NOTE ON FOOD…
We actually brought a lot of our own food and picked up a few things at the store to make most of our meals at our Airbnb. Highly recommend as nothing is going to beat the coziness level of a cabin, with the fire crackling and records playing while you cook and then enjoy your meal (bonus points for also getting to eat outdoors under twinkling lights while the pine trees gently blow in the breeze).
WHAT TO DO IN IDYLLWILD
While there’s enough to do in Idyllwild to keep you busy for a weekend escape, this special little spot is really about nature, hiking, taking in the wilderness around you and relaxing somewhere that is peaceful and serene. That being said, here are some things that we did, or that are available to do around the area-
WALK AROUND THE TOWN
It’s tiny, but cute and there’s plenty of shops to pop into along the way.
CHECK OUT THE SHOPS
Bookmarket, Speakeasy Bookmarket, Wildland, El Sereno Mercantile and Wild Idy (for funky trinkets) are a few of my favorites
TAKE A PILATES CLASS
At the cozy Pilates in the Pines studio
GO THRIFTING + SEARCH FOR VINTAGE TREAUSRES
There are several thrift stores in town but the two we went to were Idyllwild Help Center Thrift Store (this one supports those in need in the local community and on Mondays they have $1 bag day, where you can fill up a bag and get the entire bag for just $1) and Stop Light Thrift Shop.
SLOW DOWN + RELAX
Truly though. Idyllwild is so peaceful and remote so it’s a great place to shut off and unwind. Take an extra long bath, sip wine in the afternoon, listen to records, make tea, read a good book, play your favorite game, enjoy the stillness of nature, take in the fresh air, pause, breath and just be.
GO FOR A HIKE
There are plenty of options for hikes in and around town, everything from easy to very advanced. A few options include Ernie Maxwell, Deer Springs, Idyllwild Nature Center or head to Lake Hemet.
CATCH A SUNSET
Inspiration Point is a stunning spot to catch sunset! You can drive and easily park at it, but we walked as it was only about a 20 minute walk from where we stayed. Indian Vista Scenic Overlook is about a 20 minute scenic drive out of town, but is also a great place to see the sunset.
SHOP THE GUIDE
pieces I packed, what I wore + items featured in this travel guide
