For a New Englander who misses fall, Idyllwild is pretty much the perfect getaway from LA. Just two hours away and suddenly there’s a chill in the air, colorful leaves, and an excuse to wear a fleece.
Of course, my first concern when traveling somewhere new is always the food. Will there be any good gluten-free options or am I about to spend the next two days fending for myself?
Luckily, Idyllwild did NOT disappoint. Here’s where we stayed, what we ate, and a few places you should bookmark.
Day 1: Check-in & Italian Food
Where we stayed: Pinetree Hotel
Pinetree Hotel was the perfect little getaway. The cabins are super cozy and best of all, dog-friendly! So naturally, Lumi got to come along too.
What I loved most are all the wellness amenities. A yoga studio, pool, sauna, cold plunge, pickleball, and ping pong. Could spend a fun afternoon just at the hotel without even exploring town!
Dinner at Ferro
Ferro came SO highly recommended and it was probably the restaurant I was most excited to try.
This was a tough one for me because I had two polar opposite experiences in one meal.
Starting with the positives, the gluten-free pizza was AMAZING! The crust was perfectly fluffy with that smoky char from the wood-fired oven. Absolutely would order again. The pasta, on the other hand, was disappointing. We ordered the GF cacio e pepe and sadly it was undercooked and the sauce was pretty watery. I get it, GF pasta can be tricky to get right. But especially after how good the pizza was, I was expecting more. 🥲
The verdict: Come for the GF pizza and skip the pasta.
Day 2: Pancakes, Pine Trees & the BEST Dinner of the Trip
Brunch at Mile High Cafe + Alpaca Coffee
We started the morning picking up brunch from Mile High Cafe & coffee from Alpaca Coffee.
Mile High Cafe had the fluffiest buckwheat pancakes. Delicious! They weren’t overly sweet but came with not one but TWO servings of maple syrup so you can truly choose your own adventure for sweetness.
The iced vanilla latte from Alpaca was good too! A solid start to the day.
Ernie Maxwell Trail
After brunch, we headed to the Ernie Maxwell Trail for a little hike with Lumi. Super easy, low-lift walk. We walked about 45 minutes in and back without doing the full trail. Good enrichment for both Lumi AND us!
A little shopping in town
One of my favorite things about Idyllwild was wandering around town and popping into all the little shops.
A few worth checking out:
Speakeasy Bookmarket: An aesthetically pleasing little bookstore.
Art Dept: The cutest arts & crafts store.
El Sereno Mercantile: A beautifully curated general store.
Mountain Paws: A little stop for the doggies.
Wildland: A wellness shop with skincare, candles, and home goods.
Dinner at Cafe Aroma
Hands down, the BEST meal of our trip.
First of all, the setting. A gorgeous wooden cabin with twinkle lights everywhere. Almost like a little fairy house.
But what really sold me? A separate gluten-free bread basket. The LUXURY!
We ordered the gluten-free chicken cordon bleu pasta and ribeye steak and this was genuinely such a perfect meal. Some of the best GF pasta we’ve had at a restaurant! The steak with chimichurri sauce and a dirty martini? The perfect bite + sip!
We finished with their pumpkin creme brulee which was good but reminded me that I’m not really a “pumpkin person”. Still scratched the itch of wanting a little sweet treat post dinner.
The verdict: a MUST on your trip to Idyllwild.
Day 3: One Last Breakfast Before Hitting the Road
Raven Hill Bagels
I was pleasantly surprised to find a spot with gluten-free bagel sandwiches!
Raven Hill uses Canyon Bakehouse GF bagels with plain, sesame, and everything options. I ordered the sausage, egg, and cheese and it hit the spot!
My only complaint is that I’m not a big fan of souffle eggs in my breakfast sandwiches and prefer a fried egg. But beggars can’t be choosers and I’m just happy to have a GF bagel option!
After breakfast, we spent a little more time wandering around town before heading back to LA.