Seniors Enjoy Time In Idyllwild

Idyllwild, Pine Cove, and Fern Valley (neat names huh?) are three adjacent unincorporated communities, of which Idyllwild is the largest. Seniors can find Idyllwild in the San Jacinto Mountains. Small as the town be, it overflows with things to see and do and scenic beauty in all directions.

Idyllwild has earned the designation as one of the 100 Best Small Art Towns in America. Idyllwild was also voted L.A.’s Best Mountain Getaway. The arts thrive in Idyllwild in the form of art, music, and theatre and they all draw in visitors from across the country and across the ages. Idyllwild is loaded with amenities and scenic beauty.

 Senior visitors can enjoy the Mount San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness and the Idyllwild Nature Center. Trails and picnic areas surround this museum focusing on local ecology and Cahuilla Native culture. The Cahuilla are a California tribe, located in the center of Southern California. Most Cahuilla people still live in this area today.

 Seniors Find Palms to Pines Scenic Byway

The summer concert series and the annual 5K and 10K race are highly popular. The International Festival of Cinema is another big draw. “Mile-high Idyllwild” is a popular southern California mountain resort about one mile (1.6 km) in altitude.

Idyllwild is flanked by two large rocks, Tahquitz Peak (with nearby Lily Rock) and Suicide Rock, which are famous in Southern California rock climbing circles.

One of Idyllwild’s attractions is that it offers all four seasons, yet in winter is only an hour’s drive down to the desert on the Palms to Pines Scenic Byway. This 67-mile route will take you from Palm Desert past snow-peaked mountains to Banning Pass.

Palms to Pines Scenic Byway offers a full variety of ecosystems in the Lower Sonoran region. From clusters of desert palms to high country conifer forests and snow-capped mountains, senior travelers can experience a contrast of ecosystems within a short distance. The hill” has been minimally developed over the years and remains a center for hiking, mountain and rock climbing, and horseback riding.

 Seniors Find A Hiking Trail

There are numerous hiking trails seniors can enjoy, with the Devils Slide Trail being one of the most popular. The trail has previously been called “the backdoor to Idyllwild.”

Devil’s Slide Coast contains miles of trail varying from breezy boardwalk strolls and paved pathways to steep and challenging hikes. Hook up your bike and roll along dramatic cliffside trails catching great views. There are opportunities for all levels of cycling.

Idyllwild sits amid tall trees, welcomes artists of all genres and motorcyclists of all ages. The town monument is a wood carving of animals native to the area. Sounds neat doesn’t it!  Yes, seniors, set your GPS for Idyllwild, California’s Natural Treasure. -jeb