Gambling

Try your luck at the slots or at the gaming tables in one of the local casinos. Intimate Cahuilla Creek (951-763-1200) is just minutes away in Anza. Down the hill in San Jacinto is Soboba (951-665-1000) featuring 2,000 slot machines, over 20 table games, three restaurants, a 12,000 seat entertainment pavilion and one huge sports lounge. A bit further afield are two larger resort casinos — Morongo (800-252-4499), 45 minutes away in Cabazon, and Pechanga (951-693-1819), an hour away in Temecula.

Mountain Drives

Wind your way along Scenic Highway 243 and enjoy the breathtaking views, or drive through Idyllwild neighborhoods to see charming mountain homes, from small log cabins to large hillside estates. Surrounded by National Forest land, Idyllwild is smack dab in the middle of some of the loveliest countryside to drive through in southern California.

Shopping

From cabin comforts to snuggly boots and hats, from faux-finished décor items to Asian imports --all can be found in the unique village shops of Idyllwild. Take home antiques and decorative accessories, or locally produced honey, jams and jellies, candles or candy. For an even greater variety, take a 45-minute drive to the 100-plus stores of the Desert Hills Factory Outlets. Click here for a store listing.

Visit Palm Springs

Known for its many golf courses, Palm Springs is a nice day trip from Idyllwild, offering a number of interesting sights and sounds. Ascend 8,000 feet to the summit of Mt. San Jacinto in the world's largest rotating tramcars on the Palm Springs Tramway. See one of the world's largest collections of flying WWII airplanes at the Palm Springs Air Museum, or attend a three-hour, razzle-dazzle, song and dance vaudeville-style extravaganza at the Palm Springs Follies. Check out the Palm Springs website for more detailed information.

Wine Tasting

Located an hour away from the Inn, Temecula is California's only prominent American Viticultural Area south of Los Angeles. Just four short miles off of I-15, the beautiful Temecula Valley wine region is surrounded by gently rolling hills and dramatic mountain ranges. The region's tasting rooms and gift shops are open to visitors year-round, and most wineries offer tours. Read more about Temecula wines and wineries on the Temecula Winegrowers Association website. Be sure not to miss charming Old Town Temecula during your visit.