Getaway

Destinations for your Next Family Vacation Getaway

When planning a family vacation getaway, the choices can be overwhelming. What should you do? Where should you go? To make life easier, these questions should be answered before you start planning. Let’s take a few minutes and help you answer these questions before you get started with the planning.

What Should You Do?

How does skiing fresh powder of Vail’s Blue Sky Basin, or relaxing in the white sand of Hawaii’s beaches and hitting a hole in one at one of Myrtle Beach’s many golf courses sound to you? Ski, beach and golf vacations are great choices for families.

Skiing Vacations

Many resorts offer a plethora of activities for you and your family. While you are skiing fresh powder, your children can be supervised by a certified ski instructor while enrolled in ski school. After that lesson, you can meet up with them and they will be happy to show you what they learned. When the day ends, be sure to explore the town. Ski towns are notorious for some of the best shopping and fine dining. If you want to take a day off from skiing to catch your breath, try ice skating, toboggan runs or just sit by a fire with a good book. When it comes time to plan a ski vacation, try to plan at least 5 to 6 months ahead of time. This is when you can find the best deals and you shouldn’t have to worry about the hotel you want to stay in, completely booked. I have found that a little research goes a long way. After you choose your hotel, see if they have any packages or specials available. Most of the time hotels and resorts will offer a bit of a discount on lift tickets and other activities. If a special or package is not available, make sure to buy your lift tickets in bulk to save some money. Try to buy a 3 or 4 day pass versus buying individual tickets each day. Often times, these lift tickets will be good for more than 1 resort in the area.

Ski Vacation Destinations.

The Rocky Mountains of Colorado offer many good resorts to choose from. Some favorites include Telluride, Vail and Breckenridge. Telluride Ski Resort was built in the 1970′s and along with it came cultural events, festivals, music and more. People come to this town year after year for the wonderful skiing and other fun activities.

If skiing is what you are all about, Vail is the place to go! It has just been named number 1 for the 14th time in 19 years in Ski Magazines “Top 50 Resort Guide”. Vail offers world class skiing, fabulous nightlife and many fine dining options.

Breckenridge is a 147 year old Victorian town. People flocked to this town in the 1800′s in search of riches in the form of gold. Now this town is a haven for skiers of all types. This town offers many activities for families and travelers.

Beach Vacations

Beach resorts can be perfect for your next family vacation getaway. Some of the best resorts are in Mexico, the Caribbean, and Hawaii.

Mexico

Los Cabos is one of Mexico’s most popular vacation destinations. It is located at the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula. Los Cabos features luxury hotels, championship golf courses and some of the best sport fishing in the world. Other activities include snorkeling, scuba diving, surfing, kayaking and much more.

The Caribbean

The Cayman Islands offer many things for many people. 99% of the travelers visit Grand Cayman Island. It is easy to see why people go here. Of the islands this island offers the most when it comes to resorts and hotels. The fabulous snorkeling and scuba diving is not to be missed. When diving, you will think you are in a pet shop aquarium. The fish are abundant and the stingrays are gentle and fun to watch. If time permits, rent a Jeep and cruise around the Island.

Hawaii

Hawaii offers many choices for the traveling family. Each island is unique and offers something for everyone. Kauai is less touristy but still offers much to do. The surfing and snorkeling are not to be missed. Be sure to take a day and drive up to Waimea Canyon. This canyon offers many photo opportunities, and spots to get out and hike near beautiful waterfalls. Maui offers white sand beaches perfect for sunbathing and relaxing. Maui also offers great sightseeing and wonderful shopping. Of the islands, Hawaii, also known as “The Big Island” is the largest. Here you can visit the only active volcanoes of the Hawaiian Islands. You will also find wonderful resorts, pristine beaches, great nightlife, fine dining and shopping.

Golf Vacations

Right about now, you may be thinking “How can a golf vacation be good for my whole family?” Well, many golf resorts offer more than just golf. While you are out hitting the lynx, your family can be enjoying a beach, pool, or shopping. When you are done on the course you can meet up and head to one of the many fine dining establishments near your resort. Many golf vacations can be combined with a beach getaway. Mexico, Hawaii and the United States offer some of the best golf near some of the best beaches. These resorts offer many different specials and packages that can be tailored to fit your specific wishes.

Whatever your next vacation entails for you, you will not be disappointed with any one of the recommendations above. Be sure to see all you can see. The bottom line is to enjoy yourself and relax!

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Bend, Oregon: Great American Vacation Getaway?

When you think about great American vacation towns, Orlando, New York, Las Vegas, or San Diego might come to mind. But what about Bend, Oregon? Unlike the previously mentioned cities, saying, “I’m off to visit Bend,” is likely to get you a quizzical look as if to say, “Where the heck is Bend?” lest you mention the state where it resides.

While Bend, Oregon might not be a place you have to worry about booking lodging months in advance for, nor is it the hotspot that Miami and other big towns are, its central location in Oregon, where it transitions from the Ponderosa Pine forest to the Great Basin high desert plateau, is an ideal vacation spot for active folks or families that want to cram as much fun into a getaway as they can.

Though you won’t have easy access to some huge theme park, raceway, or gambling mecca, you will be able to enjoy the site of Pilot Butte, a volcano that is located within the city’s boundaries. Bend is a youthful town that is growing into its own within the tourism industry. And don’t worry about Pilot Butte. It’s extinct.

A Short History

Founded just a century ago in 1905 around a community of 300 residents, Bend was originally a crossing point on the Deschutes River where it got its economic start as a logging town. Its name comes from “Farewell Bend,” the name used by early pioneers to indicate the spot in the Deschutes River where it was shallow enough to be crossable on horseback. After a development company was founded, a community began to form.

Modern Day Tourism

Today, Bend is considered a gateway for access to many outdoor activities which include mountain biking, hiking and camping, fishing, rafting, and rock climbing just to name a few.

Although Bend still relies partly on its logging roots, producing wood products, tourism is one of its largest sectors. The local ski resort brings in vacationers from all over the west coast. Other tourist attractions include a well-known microbrewery, the Cascade Lakes (providing great viewing of the Three Sisters volcanoes), and the Bend Film Festival.

The local ski resort is one of the most profitable tourist destinations in the city, which helps support businesses providing lodging in Bend, Oregon. Though because of its seasonal nature, the ski resort isn’t quite the city’s largest employer. That distinction goes to the healthcare industry and the local hospital.

Nevertheless, tourism is a very large part of Bend’s economy and in large part responsible for the town’s success.

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Cheap Romantic Vacation Getaway Choices: The Best Places and the Best Prices

Well money may not be able to buy happiness, but having money put you in a much better position to be able to visit the places where being happy seems to be as natural as breathing.  What you might be surprised to learn is that not all of those places have to cost you an arm or a leg?  You and that special other person can have the romantic getaway of a lifetime in one of the following places (which will make you even happier because it costs so little!)

 South Padre Island:  During your romantic getaway at South Padre Islandyou can bask on a sandy beach against the backdrop of sapphire waters, or stroll barefoot along the beach as the sun sets over the Laguna Madre on the Gulf of Mexico.  Just make sure you avoid taking your getaway during spring break, and you’ll be delighted with the quiet atmosphere.  The La Copa Beachfront Resort’s $180  “Lovers Escape” package includes two nights with complimentary champagne and chocolates, along with dinner for two at one of the resort’s two restaurants, and continental breakfast.  Relax in the hot tub or pool.  Unwind from your days activities with a glass of wine at Happy Hour.

Amelia Island, FL – There are few places as inviting to romantic couples as Florida’s Amelia Island, where a stroll along Centre Street with its quaint shops can be followed up by a delightful ride in a horse-drawn carriage ($89) through the historic streets of the Fernandina district.  Stay where the Rockefellers, the Carnegies, and Ulysses S. Grant himself stayed at the Florida House Inn where a charming room with a four-poster bed will cost you only $109 a night during the week.  If a pet is a part of your life as a couple, bring it along!

Myrtle Beach, SC:   For $153, you and your partner can have a romantic night at the Grand Shores Ocean Resort; The Grande Shores Resort, located on the Oceanfront in beautiful Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, features generously-sized one, two, and three bedroom condominiums to comfortably accommodate every size family, golf and vacation group, as well as affordable hotel rooms to fit every type of budget. This one-of-a-kind Myrtle Beach seaside resort redefines the idea of vacationing by providing the absolute friendliest staff along the Grand Strand with completely unobstructed coastline views along the Northern shoreline

Quebec, Canada- If you want to spend your romantic getaway in a place where you’ll have a real reason to snuggle, why not consider the $295 per person Deep Forest package, good for two nights and three days!  Your dogsled ride will give you a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and you can warm up afterwards with your complimentary Lac-à-l’Eau-Claire special coffee at the Inn’s bar.  Ice skating and cross-country skiing are sure to work up an appetite, but fortunately you’ll also have two buffet breakfasts and two four-course dinners!

Each of these destinations offers you, and that special person in your life, a romantic getaway without breaking the bank at the same time!!

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Cabins For Rent, For A Romantic Getaway

I and my wife always travel on our vacations. We always want to do something different, but we end up in the same places. And we always end up more stressed out, because of the hectic cities, clogged up beaches, a bunch of people walking around… So we decided to really do something different on our last vacations.

We were tired of the usual city trips that we take every year, so we looked at mountain cabins for rent. We finally settled on a cabin in the smoky mountains, and headed out their on the 16th of May. Boy, were we in for a treat.

The reason that, of the all the mountain cabins for rent we chose that one had a lot to do with the picture. There were bigger, more imposing mountain cabins for rent, more luxurious destinations, but something about this particular cabin really captured the imagination. It looked like a hunting lodge settled under imposing, gigantic virgin pine forest. In the background there was just the tiniest sparkle from the pond behind it, glistening with light filtering through the tree.

When we got there, we were more than pleased with our choice of mountain cabins for rent. The “pond” was huge. It was really more of a lake. The only thing that made it at all pond like was the stillness of the water and the presence of lily pads and swamp grass on one side. Although there were other mountain cabins for rent by the same company around the area, only one of them was in view, and that one was better than half a mile away, on the other side of the pond. It was possible to sit outside and feel like you were completely alone, far away from all of the toils of civilization.

The best thing about mountain cabins for rent is if the companies renting them are modern enough to advertise them on the internet, the cabins themselves are likely to contain all of the modern amenities. If you want, you can even find mountain cabins for rent with satellite TV in the middle of the Smokies! Personally, I think that this is pointless, and our cabin didn’t even have television, as it would have disturbed the wonderful solitude of our surroundings, but it did have good insulation and adequate heating and cooling, as well as wonderfully warm showers which increased the relaxation of our vacation.

All in all, mountain cabins for rent are a great idea to consider for your next trip. There is no place with fresher air, or quieter nights, no better place to get away from it all than a quiet mountain cabin. If you prefer more luxury cabins you will find them, some have Internet access or a sauna with Jacuzzi and a honeymoon suite. The latest trends of cabins show that the fishing and hunting cabins are the most luxury ones.

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Fire Lookout is the Ultimate California Getaway

If you’re the type of traveler who truly likes to get away from people – who puts a high premium on quiet, uninterrupted peace, and who will not go into withdrawal if you have to go a night without television – then have we got the place. The Morton Peak Fire Lookout is now booking overnight stays for people just like you.

You could hardly find a more unique getaway than staying in a working fire lookout. During daytime, the lookout is staffed by volunteer lookout hosts who have attended classes to learn just how to spot forest fires. Most likely you, too, will gain a little insight into this valuable Forest Service activity, as well as learn about the animals, plants and features of this particular part of the forest.

The U.S. Forest Service views the lookout rental program as a way to generate a little good PR at a time when they have to keep telling people that services may be more limited or more expensive due to tight budgets. For just $75 a night ($85 on a weekend) you get your own “cabin on stilts” with a zillion dollar view and solitude to match.

We called the Big Bear Lake Resort Association to reserve our night and found out this is the only lodging of its kind in Southern California. The lookout actually is just at the edge of the San Bernardino Forest and, if you’re coming from the Los Angeles area, it will save you about 45 minutes off the normal two-hour drive to Big Bear.

We picked up our keys and signed our waivers at the Mill Creek Ranger Station in Mentone, only about five miles from the tower. The forms tell you that a trip to the tower is “inherently dangerous” – although if you can climb a steep set of stairs, you’ve eliminated about the only real danger we could see.

The last three miles up to the lookout were on a steep, rutted road – perfect to at least get some use out of your SUV’s 4-wheel drive – you know, the 4-wheel drive you paid thousands extra for just because it seemed cool. We should admit, though, it probably wasn’t even necessary to kick it into 4-wheel; 2-wheel drive will get you there, too.

At the end of our journey was a small clearing on a mountain top with, as advertised, a 30-foot tower and a 14X14 “cabin” on the top. Maybe a more apt description would be an aircraft control tower on stilts, as the cabin had windows running the length of every wall, looking in every direction.

We climbed the short two flights of stairs – they’re steep, but not especially challenging – and were greeted by Jeff Palmquist, the Morton Peak Lookout Leader. It’s Jeff’s job to recruit and help train an all-volunteer force that operates this lookout in addition to six other towers in the San Bernardino Forest. We learned from Jeff that this particular tower, elevation 4624 feet, was built in the 1930′s, then burned down and rebuilt in 1960. It eventually went out of service and into disrepair as the Forest Service cut back on its paid lookout program, but was rebuilt in 2001 with a $5,000 government grant and a volunteer work force.

On our visit, Palmquist was part lookout host, part activities director as he prepared us for our night in the wilderness. He talked about the animal sightings in the area – ground squirrels, mountain lions, bobcats, road-runners and “a bear that we think lives right over that knoll” – many of which have migrated to this area because of fires in nearby parts of the forest. He showed our six-year-old the fine art of chasing tarantula spiders from their ground holes. He demonstrated the use of the Osborne Fire Finder, a device used to plot on a map where you are seeing smoke or a fire. He showed off a compost outhouse that he calls “the best toilet in the national forest.” Oh, and he showed us how to secure the lookout so no person or animal could ever visit us in the middle of the night.

Soon we were ready for our night at the edge of the world. About 5 p.m. – the end of his shift — Palmquist drove down the windy road, locked the heavy tubular gate behind him, and we were on our own in the forest. There was an awesome silence, then a slight breeze rustling the two pine trees next to our tower. As the sun dipped slowly, the nearby mountains darkened while, at the same time, the city lights below us came alive. The juxtaposition seemed unusual – here we were perched on a mountainside all by ourselves, yet below us were the lights of nearly the entire Los Angeles basin.

The lookout is small, but comfortable for a couple or perhaps a couple with one or two small children. There are just two twin beds, but space enough to roll some blankets out onto the floor if you need to. There’s no running water in the cabin, no refrigeration, no power. Cooking is restricted to the picnic table outside and you must haul in your own gas stove because fires and charcoal briquettes are not allowed.

As the sun set, we found ourselves playing a family game, a rewarding alternative to the usual time spent in front of a television. Soon it was dark – or as dark as it was going to get with nearly a full moon – and we spent some time studying a sky where constellations and planets were as clear as we could ever remember. A satellite moved slowly overhead. Soon it felt like time for bed, even though it was just 9 p.m. We drifted into a restful sleep as the cool summer air flowed through our screened windows.

Morning came early to a lookout with shade-less windows on all sides. We were up and hiking by 6 a.m., enjoying the 70-degree temperatures that on this August day were sure to reach the mid-90′s later in the day. Soon it was time to pack up and head down the long, winding dirt road to the bottom of the hill just as the next day’s volunteers were headed up to the lookout to act as sentinels for yet another day in the forest.

In a half-hour we were back in busy city traffic – we had felt like we were so far away, yet we never really left civilization.

AT A GLANCE

WHERE: The Morton Peak Lookout is located off Highway 38, overlooking the cities of Yucaipa and Mentone. It has views of Mill Creek, Forest Falls, Mt. Palomar, Keller Meadows, Keller Cliffs and the San Bernardino Valley.

WHAT: A fire lookout station that is still used to watch for forest fires in the San Bernardino Mountains.

WHEN: Year-round, weather and fire-permitting.

WHY: If you’re looking for a totally remote location, an unusual getaway experience and spectacular 360-degree views, you’ll understand why as soon as you arrive.

HOW: For more information on reservations at Morton Peak Lookout, call the Big Bear Resort Association at 1-800-4-BIG-BEAR or visit www.bigbear.com. If you are interested in volunteering for the lookouts, contact Jeff Palmquist at 323-567-1479. Lookout volunteers take 16 hours of instruction and sign up for two four-hour shifts each month during fire season.

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Looking For a Mountain Getaway? Try the Cabins at Broken Bow Lake, Hochatown and Beavers Bend

Have you and your family been searching for the perfect mountain lake getaway, with fishing, kayaking, canoeing, mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding and more attractions available nearby? Look no further than Broken Bow Lake, Hochatown and the Beavers Bend State Park area, nestled between the Ouachita and Kiamichi mountains of Southeastern Oklahoma – just across the Red River from Texas. For your next vacation, consider renting one of the many cabins nestled in pine forests, which offer mountain and lake views. Located only three hours from Dallas, Texas, the area is serene and peaceful, with many outdoor activities available year-round.

Water Activities

For those who enjoy the water, the choices are almost limitless. Jet skis, paddleboats, canoes, and kayaks are available for rental. For those with large families or planning family reunions, you can even rent a houseboat. For a thrill, try parasailing over the sparkling lake or scuba diving. Broken Bow Lake also offers an incredible fishing experience. If you want to try your hand at rainbow or brown trout fishing, the Lower Mountain Fork River has some of the best trout fishing in this region of the United States. If you are a novice fly fisherman, don’t worry – several fishing guides in the area can assist you with learning all the appropriate techniques and skills to fly fish.

Free Activities

The Broken Bow Lake area also offers many free activities for all ages and interests. Those interested in nature and science can tour the Forest Heritage Center Museum, which explores the history of logging in McCurtain County. You can also go bird watching at the Red Slough or see a dinosaur at the Museum of the Red River.

For food and wine lovers, try a tasting of local wines at Girls Gone Wine, sample delicious freshly made fudge at the Whip-Poor-Will Sweet Shoppe, or visit the Waterfall Creek Pecan Farm at Idabel.

Kids and adults alike will enjoy watching a chainsaw sculpting demonstration at Hochatown Junction Station or listening to thrilling campfire stories at the Beavers Bend Amphitheater.

If you are into history, you might want to visit the remnants of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Trail of Tears, view some of McCurtain County’s 17 historical markers, or see Native American artifacts at the Gardner Mansion or Indian Memorial Museum.

Other Activities

Whether you are an adventurous type or simply wanting to relax, several other options await you at Broken Bow and the Beavers Bend State Park area. For animal lovers, the wildlife viewing is spectacular – deer, turkey, and even raccoons. For those wanting some relief from life’s everyday stresses, several day spas offering massages are also nearby. For those wanting to explore the beautiful scenery of the surrounding forests, climb into the saddle and go on a horseback trail ride at one of the nearby stables.

Cabins at Broken Bow Lake

At the end of the day, return to your secluded cabin. Your choices of lodging at Oklahoma’s premier vacation spot are endless, from small cottages, to rustic fishing cabins, to elegantly furnished log cabins that can sleep large families or groups. Many have hot tubs, big screen televisions, fireplaces, privately stocked ponds, and some even allow pets. For honeymooners or those just wanting privacy

If you and your family want a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, consider spending time at one of the cabins at Broken Bow Lake, Hochatown and the Beavers Bend State Park area. Take a deep breath and let the relaxing quiet of the surrounding forests and mountains soothe you.

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Sandy Lane Resort – A Fantastic Getaway Option

A beach vacation is something all of us can use, as it provides time away with the family, friends, or just that special someone. Beach vacations are also a great way to unwind from the pressures of life, and just have a blast.

All around the world, there are literally hundreds of places that you can choose for your beach vacation. You can choose from beaches in the United States, or choose to go overseas to more tropical climates and romantic beaches.

Those of you who are looking to get away with a husband or wife, would find the Maui to be the perfect beach vacation. Located in Hawaii, Maui is one of the most romantic beaches in the world. Also well known for honeymoons, Maui offers you plenty of breathtaking beaches with plenty of other things to do as well.

Another well known area for a beach vacation for couples is in Barbados. The Sandy Lane resort is paradise for honeymooners or really anyone. Offering a combination of privacy, numerous activities, and first class service, the resort is located on the west coast of the island of Barbados.

Sandy Lane also offers three golf courses and a 47,000 square foot spa. The resort also offers a white sand beach and the Caribbean Sea.

The island of Barbados offers tropical climate with year round temperatures that stay between 75 and 85 degrees. The non stop flights to Barbados take around 4.5 hours from New York City, making the island one of the best beach vacation spots from the East Coast.

The country club at Sandy Lane Resort is a golfers’ paradise. The resort spa, fronted by a waterfall and swimming pool, offers guests a combination of relaxing and healing therapies from the Far East, Caribbean, and even Europe. For the ultimate in spa indulgence you should try one of the nine VIP treatment suites with a private landscaped garden and three hydrotherapy pools.

The 112 resort rooms are both luxurious and very spacious, with each one offering a plasma television and high speed internet access. The hotel also provides 24 hour room service, and maid cleaning
service twice a day.

If you plan to go on a family vacation, the resort offers the Tree House Club, which is a special facility designed for children 3 – 12. Kids here can experience exciting thrills, such as swimming with turtles and easter egg hunts. The resort will also offer you and your family a number of exciting water sports, tennis, and even shopping.

The signature restaurant, L’Acajou, serves French cuisine that features fresh island seafood and other local treats. The restaurant also offers you an open air setting on the waterfront, that offers you breathtaking panoramic views.

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Idyllwild is Easy Mountain Getaway in Southern California

While living in or visiting Southern California, a trip to the mountains is closer than you might think. The San Jacinto range offers a stark contrast to the warm, arid climate just a few miles away and, for that reason, places like Idyllwild have become popular getaways for people who want a taste of the four seasons.

Not too much of a taste, mind you. This is a great place to try out that four-wheel drive and see if it’s worth the extra money you paid for it. The fact is Southern California residents, for the most part, don’t need four-wheel drive.

So up these weekenders go to the windy roads and steep ridges that take them 5,000 feet, 6,000 feet and higher above Hemet, the nearest city of any size in this part of Riverside County. The community of Idyllwild is set in amongst the pine trees that Mother Nature has combined with oak and spruce to create a powerful allure for people who grow weary of what passes for trees in Southern California’s cities.

During winter, most visitors are more than happy to return to warmer climes after their weekend dalliance because shoveling snow is just not one of the things Southern California residents are programmed to do. Many of them think it’s better to get just enough exposure to the snow and frigid temperatures to appreciate why they are willing to pay the high price of living in sunny Southern California – and then go home.

That’s why about three-quarters of the residences in Idyllwild remain vacant most of the time. It’s a city of vacation cabins – most now going for more than $300,000 – and at any given time there are only a few of them being used. Only about 2,000 hearty souls choose to reside on “The Hill” as Idyllwild has become known over the years even though as many as 50,000 visitors on a weekend day can make it tough to find a parking spot anywhere close to downtown Idyllwild. Yet no one seems deterred – people flock to Idyllwild because it’s so close and yet so different.

The “Yosemite of the South,” another common nickname for Idyllwild, has grown up sporadically over the years. There have been a few attempts at major resort developments in the area – ski hills and golf courses were part of some plans – but nothing big has really taken hold. So today you find a mountain village with a few earthy folks willing to brave the elements, and then a whole bunch more of those weekend vacation warriors who turn around and head for sunny L.A. in time for work Monday morning.

There are no big resorts — the accommodations range from smaller motel-type units to “executive’ vacation homes. There are several bed-and-breakfast or country inns as well as cabin motels offering mini-cabins mixed with several others on the same property.

For our recent trip, we chose to rent a three-bedroom “cabin” about three miles outside of Idyllwild. It really was as large as a house, but with its cedar interior, two fireplaces and a free-standing wood stove, this house gave every bit the impression that it was in fact a cabin. It was well furnished with a complete kitchen and all dishware and utensils, a living room with a comfy couch, lounge chair and satellite TV and plenty of deck space to gaze out at the spectacular – albeit slightly obstructed – view of the mountainsides and valley below.

Muir’s Mountain Vacation Rental set us up with a cabin that was exactly what we wanted – a true mountain retreat that was nicely separated from any nearby cabins on wooded property that gave us a true feeling of seclusion. Built just in front of a massive boulder, we hiked just a few yards higher and could gaze out on views that stretched all the way to the Pacific Ocean. The views from inside the cabin were great, too, and enhanced by the ample use of picture windows on the upper two floors.

On this particular trip we were content to spend much of our weekend at the cabin. We spent a lot of quiet time reading and just soaking up the atmosphere, or playing with our five-year-old, choosing to leave the television turned off so we could focus on being a family more than we sometimes do at home.

Even though this was a January trip, we visited Idyllwild at a somewhat atypical time when there was little snow on the ground and no need to crank up our own four-wheel drive. Skies were clear and blue but temperatures dipped down to the 20′s in the evening. We were thankful we had brought lots of warm clothing. Daytime temps were in the 40′s and 50′s, just cool enough to feel like we were a continent away from our home near San Diego.

We enjoyed spending some time in downtown Idyllwild where there seemed to be an endless variety of shops and a steady stream of visitors. There were shops selling anything you can imagine and in some unusual combinations. California Street Collectibles, for example, sells Christmas ornaments, dolls, Harley merchandise, Nascar merchandise and – financial planning.

We enjoyed strolling the streets of Idyllwild, where we discovered such fascinating attractions as the old-time theater – the “Rustic” – which shows just one movie three times a day, but leaves the snack stand open for passersby to enjoy popcorn with real butter. Just down the street is the homemade candy shop which had nearly a dozen people waiting to go inside. Even the ice cream shop a few doors down was enjoying brisk business despite the cool temperatures.

In the town center is the Idyllwild Tree Monument, a 50-foot totem pole that was carved by chainsaw in 1989 as an effort to salvage a dying 400-year-old ponderosa pine. The monument depicts an eagle, mountain lion, squirrel, raccoon, American Indian, coyote and butterfly and, interestingly, is the final resting place of Ernie Maxwell, a longtime Idyllwild civic booster and founder of the local Town Crier newspaper.

Art galleries are also a big part of Idyllwild and there are no fewer than 17 of them for visitors to tour. In fact, Idyllwild is included in a new book “The 100 Best Art Towns in America” by John Villani.

We stopped by the Idyllwild Historic Society Museum, a historic 1920′s summer cabin that now has exhibits pertaining to the Idyllwild area. It turns out that the area was first settled by the Cahuilla Indians some 2500 years ago and followed by the first mining prospectors in the 1850′s. Ranching and farming came a few years later and, by 1875, there was a significant lumber operation in Idyllwild. The museum also depicts more recent history when, from the 1920′s through the 1960′s, several Hollywood films were shot on location in the area.

We enjoyed the La Casita Mexican restaurant, but there were several other dining options. Other choices in the area include Greek and Chinese as well as several steak and seafood restaurants, pizza restaurants and more.

When we go back in summer, we will take advantage of many of the outdoor activities that Idyllwild has to offer. Lily’s Rock – a.k.a. Tahquitz Rock – is a dramatic rock face visible high on the mountainside that symbolizes the rugged outdoor beauty so prevalent in this area. Several hiking trails take visitors deeper into the forest, including the Pacific Crest Trail. There are, in fact, 272,000 acres that have been set aside and designated as the Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument.

AT A GLANCE

WHERE: Idyllwild is just west of the Palm Springs area and is easily reached on Highway 243, accessible from Highway 10, the main route to Palm Springs.

WHAT: Idyllwild and nearby mountain communities represent an easy-to-get-to four-seasons getaway that is just a couple of hours from Los Angeles.

WHEN: Year-round. Summers are sunny and pleasant. Winters can be cold and occasionally snowy.

WHY: It’s a charming mountain village with a wide selection of accommodations and tourist services. The scenery is spectacular.

HOW: For more information on Idyllwild, visit www.idyllwildchamber.com or phone 888-659-3259. For more information on cabin rentals, visit www.idyllwildcabins.com or phone 877-270-3285. If looking for a room rather than a cabin, the Atipahato Lodge comes recommended. Visit www.atipahatolodge.com or phone 888-400-0071.