Idyllwild Pine Cove | Stepping Right Into Autumn! 🍂

Took a four-day Thanksgiving trip to Joshua Tree and made a detour to the charming town of Idyllwild for a quick getaway — just about two hours from LA 🚗💨 Not too far, not too crowded — perfect for enjoying some quiet fall vibes in a unique setting! Lake Fulmor: A tiny lake you can walk around in just five minutes — worth a quick stop! 🏞️ Note: A permit is required, but a National Park annual pass also works. Indian Vista Scenic Overlook: Another nice spot to check out along the way 👀 Donaldson Futuro House: A quirky UFO-shaped house — you can pull over and snap a quick photo 🛸📸 Idyllwild Nature Center: Lots of trails start around here! 🥾 We hiked the 3.5-mile Perimeter Trail — beautiful and peaceful. Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail: A 5-mile out-and-back trail with nice views and gentle slopes — saw many people gathering mistletoe to take home! 🌿💚 Idyllwild Area Historical Society: A small but interesting local museum 🏛️ Idyllwild Gardens: A cute plant shop full of greenery — fun to browse 🌵🌼 Idyllwild Park: On weekends, there’s a farmers market nearby 🧺 From 2–4 PM, you can even meet and pet Max — the town’s golden retriever and honorary mayor! 🐕💛 Food Highlights: 🍳 Breakfast at Mama's Egg House was great — they serve both Mexican and classic American dishes. ☕ The Sunflower Bakery & Cafe is also highly recommended — their omelette was delicious! 🌮 Dinner at La Casita (Mexican) was solid too. 🍣 Lunch at Idy Sushi Rolls (Korean-run Japanese spot) was just okay. Heads-up: The tap water in town tastes odd — even affects soup broth. Better to bring bottled water! 💧 There’s also Mount San Jacinto State Park — a 6.7-mile trail leading to Suicide Rock, but we ran out of time and didn’t complete it 🏔️⛰️ Such a cozy little town — sad that this lovely holiday is coming to an end! 😊🍁 #AroundLA #LAWeekend #Idyllwild