A Guide to Idyllwild, California
IDYLLWILD, CALIFORNIA 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, they sell 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! haha
WHERE TO STAY
While there are a few motel accommodations and camp grounds in the area, there is also a plethora of cute and cozy cabins, specifically A-Frames, to rent in Idyllwild, so I’d say make one of those your home base for your time in the mountains. We stayed in this Airbnb, but I’ve also got this one and this one high on my list.
WHERE TO EAT
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 use Stumptown (one of my favorites), matcha (if that’s your thing), fresh pastries and locally made treats. They’re also opening up a cafe space next door with more of a food menu in early October (we just missed it, but will definitely be checking it out next time).
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 (especially because they have an apple cider donut in the fall, which, if you’re an East Coaster like me, you know it’s almost impossible to find those out here on the west coast) and Raven Hill Bagels (fresh made bagels deliver to your door, but you can also pick them up at Speakeasy Books and they are sometimes sold at Alpaca Coffee).
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! OMG! 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, great 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”.
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, fire crackling and records playing while you cook and then enjoy your meal (bonus points- eating outdoors under twinkling lights with pine trees gently blowing in the breeze).
WHAT TO DO
WALK AROUND THE TOWN- It’s tiny, but cute and there’s plenty of shops to pop into along the way.
CHECK OUT THE CUTE SHOPS- Bookmarket (for used books), Wildland, Jute Mercantile and Wild Idy (for funky trinkets) were a few favorites
TAKE A PILATES CLASS- at the cozy Pilates in the Pines studio
GO THRIFTING- There are several thrift stores in town but the two we went to this time 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 fill up a bag and get it 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 and the Idyllwild Nature Center.
CATCH A SUNSET- Inspiration Point was a stunning spot to catch sunset! You can drive and easily park at it, but it was also only about a 20 minute walk from the Airbnb we stayed in. Indian Vista Scenic Overlook is about a 20 minute scenic drive out of town, but is also a great place to see the sunset.
