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Moments in History Page 13
Mile High Escape to Idyllwild
Food, shopping, art and recreation in clean mountain air
By Alison Elsner
A
visit to Idyllwild is like a tempting, bountiful buffet…there are so many cultural and recreational options that you’ll probably need a future visit (or two) to sample everything you want. Located 60 miles from the Coachella Valley, one mile above the desert floor, Idyllwild is nestled in the Manzanita and ponderosa pines of the San Jacinto mountains. The unincorporated community overflows with art, music, theater, dining, shopping and recreation. Idyllwild has earned the designation as one of the 100 Best Small Art Towns in America in a book by John Villani, and it was also voted L.A.’s Best Mountain Getaway by L.A. Weekly.
Once the summer home for Cahuilla Indians who migrated to the area to escape the heat of lower deserts, the Cahuilla’s grinding slabs can still be seen in the town. Today, a visit up the hill still makes for the perfect way to cool off, commune with nature and reconnect with your inner self. Lodging runs the gamut. Quaint bed and breakfasts, such as Creekstone Inn, Quiet Creek Inn and Idyllwild Bunkhouse are not only a skipping stone’s throw from Strawberry Creek but also are top performers on Trip Advisor. More upscale, The Grand Idyllwild Lodge is an amalgam of Craftsman and modern architecture, offering a luxury spa, deck views of surrounding Lily Rock and Tahquitz Peak, close proximity to the main village and daily gour-
met breakfast. If you opt for a private vacation rental, you can bunk in a rustic log cabin, cuddle up in a charming mountain home or live the life of Riley in a hillside estate. Here’s an overview of popular attractions and activities:
Dining Highly rated restaurants include Café Aroma (live music and local artists’ works on display), Restaurant Gastrognome (dining room ambiance and a cozy fireplace), Higher Grounds Coffee House (coffee is organic and fair trade) and Ferro (delicious pizza, lasagna and steak). All are situated in the village on or adjacent to the main streets of N. Circle Drive and Village Center Drive. Most restaurants are pet friendly,
and the downtown village is close to Strawberry Creek for an after-lunch stroll for both you and your pup.
Arts, Music and History Best known for the annual “Jazz in the Pines” festival each August, performers like David Benoit and Lee Ritenour have headlined here on the Idyllwild Arts Academy campus under a canopy of tall trees and a backdrop of fresh artwork. The Idyllwild Arts Academy is a world-renowned performing arts boarding school for high school students which frequently offers theatrical productions, concerts and art exhibits.
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