This past weekend, I visited Idyllwild, CA with my family.  Idyllwild is a hidden gem nestled in the San Jacinto mountains; about a 45 minute drive from Palm Springs. It has a small town feel; filled with locally owned shops, restaurants, and beautiful views.  The temperatures were chilly , but inside a fireplace kept us cozy, and outside it was a chance for this Phoenix dweller to dawn much beloved sweaters and scarves.

Idyllwild’s artsy vibe reminds me much of Sedona. Idyllwild offers several galleries and is included in “One of the Best 100 Art Towns in America”. For that reason and more, I’ve put it “on the list” of places I want to revisit to explore further (and I’m already thinking it might be a great place to hold a future weekend yoga retreat!) Idyllwild is also located near Lake Hemet…opportunities for camping, hiking, mountain biking, and rock climbing abound. In the past, Idyllwild was voted America’s cleanest forest. In the present, they still appear majestic and unspoiled.

The purpose of this particular trip was a promise I had made to my twin boys who have special needs to a “Day out with Thomas” (the tank engine) event this year. Not a terribly peaceful or yogic activity, but one that had been promised and the weekend had come to deliver on that promise (being impeccable with your word). The “Day out with Thomas” event was being held in Perris, CA.  Instead of staying in a hotel in Perris (there were limited choices), we were able to get a cabin, Harmony Bridge, for the weekend in nearby Idyllwild. Since I have a large family (mom of 5) I often find that staying at a time share or cabin/house/vacation rental meets our needs for space and beds (and our budget) better than splitting the kids between two hotel rooms.  I survived the Day out with Thomas event (it was actually extremely organized and my kids had a blast), and was able to get in some beautiful outdoor yoga practices and a couple of hikes.

Tree pose among the trees. “Tarot Magick” leggings by teeki~Boho shirt and blanket (it’s a poncho) by Old Navy, infinity scarf from Anthropologie

View in downtown Idyllwild.

Cabin.  A home for the weekend.

Into the woods…

 

The view from the back upper deck of Harmony Bridge; forest as far as the eye can see.

This trip, I had to keep my hikes and my yoga practice mild due to fighting an upper respiratory infection prior to the trip (my kids had all had it the week before and graciously shared it with me). A trip to urgent care before departure for some medication, and some time spent in nature proved to be the two best medicines in the world for my body and my spirit.

For more information on Idyllwild, click here.

For more information on joining me for an Arizona yoga retreat, click here.