Idyllwild, CA

There is a place our family discovered in 2022 when Natalie booked a random Airbnb in a place that none of us had even heard of.  It was a small town in the mountains above Palm Springs.  It is well known for Max the Mayor, who happens to be a Golden Retriever. 

We enjoyed our first week in Idyllwild so much that we have come here each fall break since that visit. That now equates to a full month of time we have spent in this village.  We have frequented almost every place of business.  Every donut, candy, bagel and coffee shop.  We have walked into every shop selling tea, records, art, pottery, and clothing.  We have dined at all the fantastic restaurants in this precious little town.  We hiked most of the trails and One-wheeled around most of the streets.  We are not locals, but our little family has loved learning everything about this place and feel that we are informed enough to give great tours to newcomers.

I laid my drone to rest last year when I flew too close to the cliffs, but it was worth the views.  I taught my youngest how to catch blue belly lizards here, just as my dad did 40 years early when I would go hiking in California. We spent each evening watching a Harry Potter and finished the series just last night.  

I could go on about why Idyllwild is special to us, but I think what makes it so important is that it is one place that feels like a secret that we have a family to escape to each year and vacation with no expectations.  There are thousands of Idyllwilds around the world.  Towns with just the right amount of services that you don’t feel overly isolated, but you are distant from cities and left with mostly nature.  Many reading this probably live in a place like this.  Hell, I live in a town that has less people than Idyllwild.  But there’s something about a place that isn’t your hometown.  A place that takes effort and time to get to, away from anyone you would normally run into.  

I am now in the car driving home to Utah in one stretch…11 hours!  

Where is your Idyllwild?  I showed you mine, now show me yours.

Lastly, the best lox in the world exist at this location…trust.

Happy 420

Scott X