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    Idyllwild

    4.6 (22 reviews)

    Idyllwild Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Idyllwild

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    Jim V.

    Beautiful mountain side town. Fun shops, restaurants, and town square (it's actually round). We found a great restaurant called Cafe Aroma and I already can't wait to dine there again. It's worth the drive although parking on the weekends can be a challenge.

    Downtown monument
    Dari P.

    This is a cute little town in the mountains. You take a narrow winding road to get here. On Monday and Tuesday, many, if not most, stores and restaurants are closed. We didn't know that. We came on Monday and went home on Tuesday. There are cute little colorful statues of deer around the town.

    Keith A.

    Idyllwild is a great little town to escape to from the big city. You get nice clean fresh mountain air, and beautiful night skies, free from light pollution. The town is quaint and has some good restaurants, parks, hiking trails, and other establishments to let you get what you need or window shop for a while. There are some great inns and bed and breakfast places too. Of course you should bring your camera, there is plenty to snap and capture. Whether you are staying or just driving through, definitely good place to stop for a while and recharge.

    Landscape
    Ashley R.

    Cute little alpine town. Stopped by before camping at the nearby Stone Creek campgrounds over Labor Day 2020. They had an art fair going on that was nice. Shops and restaurants are open for service. Town is sort of a larger version of Julian. Pros: - serenity in the landscape - little shops and love music - close campgrounds - above the smog

    There are nearly 50 of these painted deer scattered throughout town according to the "Explore Idyllwild Directory" 6/13/19
    Jenni M.

    Raving fan of Idyllwild here. I think Scott B. said it best on 4/29/18 in his review in that "there are no big box stores" here. Instead, a wide assortment of mom and pop shops. Many restaurants and eateries that are certainly not chains. Art galleries. Festivals. Hiking. Camping. Still close to L.A., Palm Springs, and Vegas... The air is so fresh and cool. There are so many wonderful things about Idyllwild... My fingers cannot... type... fast... enough. The pace may be a bit slower compared to my current hometown of Downey (CA), but I'm not complaining. None whatsoever. The residents here are very down-to-earth and friendly. So, come to Idyllwild and "idle-a-while."

    Ruth W.

    A Heaven on earth (or at least, this is what heaven I hope will look like). If you can cover your eyes (except if you're the one driving) while negotiating the winding roads that feel like you're driving forever and you secretly say a prayers as you make it around the bend overlooking a cliff (and there will be plenty)--I think the trip to the mountaintop will be worth the cussing and the praying. Sorry, I'm such a bad backseat driver. The hubby will attest to that. But if you ask me--It think that he could drive a little slower, I tell him wouldn't it be nice if we got to Idyllwild in one piece. Things that I was quick to realize: 1) Shops and restaurants are walkable from our cabin. The town proper is quite small. And like someone else has said, there are no Walmart's or Targets or Costco's here. But you have a collection of charming local shops, from a shop that makes their own ice cream, to a super cute pet shop (my fur baby was so overwhelmed by the choices of toys and treats that he refused to pick any! So we chose a stuffed toy (a lamb, which we now call "Lammie") as well as bag of an organic jerky snack, a gem shop (Nature's's Elements 1st shop), and a host of restaurants. 2) Did I mention restaurants? Ex-pen-sive! For three adults + a small pup (with rather sophisticated tastes), we would spend close to $100 for either lunch or dinner. By the way, there's no Doordash, nor an Uber service. But walking to and from places is no biggie. The fresh air and the forest trees will provide a most beautiful "diversion". 3) Parking can be frustratingly limited (we went late-February, and it was still crowded. Can't imagine how much crazier it gets during the peak season. Is there even a low season in Idyllwild?? Please see my photos (warning: I have tons)

    all while Palm Springs and Hemet are burning in Hell Idyllwild can be raining. A true spiritual experience.
    Laura N.

    This is by far the best kept secret of the entire Riverside County. It has the devils sliding trail to suicide rock and the world famous Lily Rock AKA Tahquitz Rock. In the summer it can truly be a spiritual experience because all while Hemet and Palm Springs is burning in hell Idyllwild can be raining and exploding with rainbows. Why do I know because I have seen it. Then at night if you ever dare to camp-out you will find the milkyway. I have stay up waiting for meteor showers with owls in the back ground. In my humble opinion Big Bear is over rated. Idyllwild has no city council and in fact the mayor is a dog AKA "Max". If you feel smothered and you've had it with the big city trust me this is your best get away. Grab a cabin but be aware the air is VERY THIN and you might feel light headed. In the summers they offer Jazz in the pines! In the fall for Halloween they offer many spooky events such as Zombie nights and down town has costume contest. In my life I have been to many Halloween parties in Hollywood but Idyllwild community takes it to the next level. Why? because they actually have a art school. https://www.idyllwildarts.org/ That being said the community is diverse with folks that are getting away from the spot light and the rat race. Many Celebs have retired or have get away homes. One local celeb that is seen is Jack Nicolson. Idyllwild does get alot of snow in the winter and they also have the biggest gigantic sugar pine cones you well ever see in your life. A must is a San Jasinto's Palm Spring's Tram way. It is right in the other side of the mountain. If you are fit you can hike it back into Idyllwild. https://www.pstramway.com/ If you get nervous about heights please close your eyes. That is what I do. LOL Yes! I cheat! It goes really fast and if you get brave it is really an experience. my favorite spot for camping and with a exquisite view https://www.recreation.gov/camping/marion-mountain/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=70178 Yes! They have mountain lions I have witness one by passing me. She was beautiful and gracious. Thank god! she had better things to do then to eat me. However according to gun society for every mountain lion you see 100 lions have already seen you. So Mountain lions in Idyllwild are well and alive. If you want something more mellow then try the Science center or the strawberry creek. https://www.ferrorestaurant.com/ http://idyll-awhile.com/ http://cafearoma.org/ https://hikingguy.com/hiking-trails/best-la-hikes/hike-mount-san-jacinto-from-idyllwild/ http://www.idyllwildbrewpub.com/ From Orange Co just take the bloodiest HWY 74 all the way till you hit Idyllwild. In my life I have driven that hwy many times and I am a true fan of the magic Idyllwild community has to offer. During the Memorial weekend the locals have garage sales. Lots of good finds for dirt cheap.

    It's a very nice place.We had a great experience.It's cozy and the people who live there are very nice.

    One of the plazas.

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    Such a cute little village in the middle of the mountains. Theres a true mom and pop feel to the stores here. And people are so friendly!

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    3 years ago

    Busiest weekend of the year and no public restrooms. Cute town. Great shops. Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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    Ask the Community - Idyllwild

    Review Highlights - Idyllwild

    Also if you're here for awhile and had time, its also very close to Palm Springs.

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    Strawberry Peak Fire Lookout Tower

    Strawberry Peak Fire Lookout Tower

    5.0(37 reviews)
    72.2 km

    Strawberry peak fire lookout tower what a wonderful place to visit. They are open daily; keep in…read moremind no smoking and no dogs. There are a few spaces for parking and the gates were opened when I arrived. There are a few flights of stairs so I got to it and I was met upstairs by a volunteer. He gave me a run down of the history (ex: it was named after a strawberry farm owned by a man named Bart) and he even pointed out popular spots off in the distance. Impressive mountainous views on top of the 30 ft tower built in 1934. There are multiple other peak tower lookouts around and best of all it's free--donations are accepted. All in all this was a nice visit and one way to quiet all the noise in nature.

    Such an incredible view and fun hike!…read more The hike itself is easy/moderate walking up the road. Definitely a hike that you can do with people of any experience level. There aren't too many cars that go by, but it is good to be mindful of cars that could be going down or driving up in the parts of the street that overlap with some of the residential houses. The hike itself is maybe a mile depending on if you start all the way at the bottom of the road or park a little bit up. When you get to the strawberry Peak fire lookout, you get to go up into the lookout tower. If you are afraid of heights or claustrophobic, this might be a little uncomfortable since you are going up into the little metal lookout and you can feel the wind move the building and see-through the metal slats to the ground. If you can handle it, the views are so worth it! You get to learn about the history of the lookout tower and you get a full 360 view around the mountain. For nature lovers this is a really cool experience. If you are with any small kids, the Rangers also give out little cards and tend to have a fun pin or something for kids. Just make sure to go during hours that they are open. If the tower is closed, you will not be able to go up in it, but you can still see some of the nice view.

    Photos
    Strawberry Peak Fire Lookout Tower - Lookout tower

    Lookout tower

    Strawberry Peak Fire Lookout Tower
    Strawberry Peak Fire Lookout Tower

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    Integratron

    Integratron

    4.2(251 reviews)
    67.3 km

    Absolutely love Integratron and I've been here a handful of times now. If you are staying anywhere…read morein the desert down here this is worth adding to your list of places to visit. From La Quinta it's a good one hour + drive but definitely worth it! If your staying in Palm Springs proper or Joshua Tree much closer, regardless though worth it! Integratron essentially is a sound bath experience but in one of the coolest and best acoustic domes. I'll let the staff give you the history but it was very cool about learning how this place came to be and the intention behind it and land the dome sits on. This is a family owned business which makes it even more special. Three sisters own it and all of the family helps to run this space one way or another. On the day we came different cousins were sharing the duties. Love a local family run and operated space! Before starting the sound bath it's nice to explore the grounds, relax and they even have a gift shop. Nice bathrooms and plenty of parking. The system here is organized and seamless. Very great communication and guidance here. Make sure to pay attention to your emails before you come because they give great tips - like to bring blankets, dress in layers etc. As others have shared. The first 15-30 minutes is essentially going over rules, tips and history before they get started with the meditation/sound bath. I appreciate that they take everyone safety seriously and want everyone to have a joyful experience so they make sure to talk you through the do's and donts. The sound bath itself was relaxing and very soothing. The cushioned mats were premium and much nicer than I had remembered in the past. Very comfortable and nice temperature inside the dome. My only wish is that the sound bath piece was slightly longer but all in all it's a relaxing and unique experience. Would highly recommend that everyone come at least once.

    This has been on our bucket list for years. Ever since seeing TV show host Anthony Bourdain visit,…read morewe've been fascinated by the Integratron and couldn't wait to experience a sound bath here. We finally went for my wife's birthday, so we came in really excited. First, the positives: the structure itself is incredible and the staff is genuinely kind. It's a family-run operation and you can feel that in a good way. But the actual experience? Rough. Within minutes of the sound bath starting, people were snoring. Not one person... a lot of people. Loudly. Full-on, out-cold snoring. The entire group of seniors next to us. Then the ladies on the other side of us. Add in constant fidgeting and movement, and it completely killed any chance of relaxing or getting immersed in the sound. It made it nearly impossible to relax or focus on the sound bath. The sound bath session itself felt surprisingly short, maybe 25 mins tops. It seemed like more time was spent waiting and going through instructions than actually experiencing the sound bath. The bowls were also not very loud, which made it even harder to tune out the distractions. In other sound baths we've attended, the instruments are more immersive, sometimes even amplified, which helps create a deeper experience. The final portion of the session transitioned into music played from an iPad, which felt a bit underwhelming and took away from the overall atmosphere. For the price (over $120 for two), it just didn't deliver. We left pretty disappointed after years of looking forward to it. Honestly, if you're someone who snores or can't stay still, this might not be the place for you because it really affects everyone else. And it would go a long way if staff actively managed that during the session. Cool place, great people, but not an experience we'd do again.

    Photos
    Integratron - Me walking around taking it all in. Pics & videos allowed after the experience ends.

    Me walking around taking it all in. Pics & videos allowed after the experience ends.

    Integratron - Singing bowls

    Singing bowls

    Integratron

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    Galleta Meadows Sculpture Estate

    Galleta Meadows Sculpture Estate

    4.8(97 reviews)
    63.1 km

    Galetta Meadows was one of the most unexpected art experiences I've ever had. It's pretty magical…read more You're basically driving through the desert and you suddenly come face to face with a 350 foot serpent or a herd of wild horses, mammoths, scorpions and on and on and on. The massive metal sculptures are scattered across the desert landscape in the area and are free to explore. It's almost like a treasure hunt. You drive from installation to installation looking for silhouettes in the distance hoping to see more. At one of our first stops, I met a couple of gentlemen who were working on a comic book inspired by the sculptures. They were taking photographs and had lots of information so it was really helpful. All that being said, I did have a particularly terrible experience that was exclusive to me and has nothing to do with the installations themselves, so I'm not reflecting it in the rating. However, it's a good cautionary tale for anyone reading these reviews. There are signs everywhere that tell you where you can and cannot drive and I was in a particularly large vehicle headed down a one-way stretch of road that had signs along the side that said not to pull off. There was a four-wheel drive vehicle coming towards me and my husband commented that it had appeared as if they almost didn't make it across a dip in the road. When they approached our car, they motioned to me to roll the window down and the driver proceeded to tell me that there was no way that my car was going to make it through. He confirmed that he almost did not make it himself and told me that I would need to turn around. Unfortunately, when I tried to do that, I got stuck in the sand. It was terrible and I felt like an idiot. I tried to dig myself out but my car was just too big and didn't have four-wheel drive. It's hot in the desert so after about a half an hour I called for a tow to pull me back the 30 ft to the main road. They wanted me to wait 3 hours and said it would be $2,500 to send someone out. So yeah, it was easily the worst experience of my trip and embarrassing to write about, but hopefully someone else can learn from my mistakes. Watch the signs, follow the designated paths, respect the terrain and if you have any doubt at all, just walk. That said, don't let my misadventure scare you away. Just be cautious and you'll have an incredible time driving around the desert. Looking at these enormous works of art against the red clay and blue sky is just as unforgettable as getting stuck in the sand.

    A must-see if you're in the area. The artist, Ricardo Breceda, was commissioned to create these…read morestatues in situ. Admission is free and each set of sculptures are located in different areas. A map is available on line to make sure you don't miss any! https://www.pinterest.com/pin/190910471684613837/ The serpent is probably the most famous sculpture (and rightly so) but the others are also amazing in their detail. Truly unique works of art and 100% free!

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    Galleta Meadows Sculpture Estate
    Galleta Meadows Sculpture Estate - This sculpture is the most famous one out of all of the others.

    This sculpture is the most famous one out of all of the others.

    Galleta Meadows Sculpture Estate

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    Hole in the Wall - Spider bug

    Hole in the Wall - Spider bug

    4.8(8 reviews)
    23.3 km

    If you are the kind of person who stops to see the strange roadside stuff like a giant ball of…read moretwine (Kansas), giant donut (Los Angeles), and worlds largest file cabinet (Vermont), then this stop is for you. VW Beetle sprouted spider legs. Quick stop for a cool photo. Then you can stop at the dinosaurs (if you know, you know).

    It was so so windy leaving town, but as many times as I've been close to this spider I had to…read morecapture it, even from across the street. It's such an iconic design being part vehicle part spider - Volkswagen meets Arachnid at the intersection of Garnet Avenue / Indian Canyon Drive directly across from Yamana Motor Sports and directly next to Jack in the Box The Pilot Gas Station and Chevron Station sit opposite on the other corners of this small business intersection just before the the off/on ramp for the 10 fwy in North Palm Springs. Even if you're able to park somewhere safe and securely (like Jack in the Box), you can't go fully onto the physical property itself - but you can get a great pic or look. From what I know the Spider Bug was built by Robert Miner who owned and ran the Hole in the Wall repair shop for several decades from the 70s to the 1990s according to old articles in the Desert Sun - I believe it's still home and/or property to his daughter and family. Not sure if they reside permanently here, but always be respectful and mindful of people's homes as well as private property - especially home to an iconic Spider Bug.

    Photos
    Hole in the Wall - Spider bug - Bug

    Bug

    Hole in the Wall - Spider bug
    Hole in the Wall - Spider bug - Spider

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    Spider

    Idyllwild - localflavor - Updated May 2026

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