PERFECT LA GETAWAY & PROPOSAL STORY

Sometimes you just need to get away! This is something I really needed in January, when I was feeling overwhelmed with work and life. My boyfriend and I started planning a couple day getaway for Martin Luther King weekend, and felt that the mountains were calling us! We looked into Air BnBs and various resorts in Lake Arrowhead and Mammoth, finding that most places required us a three night stay since it was a long weekend. However, we stumbled upon a quaint little town called Idyllwild, which neither of us had heard of, and booked a two day stay.

Idyllwild was the perfect weekend get away from Los Angeles! The drive was only about two hours, but had us feeling like we were in a completely different world. Idyllwild is in the San Jacinto Mountains, just past Riverside and Hemet. It is a tiny town, with limited cell service, no Ubers (well maybe 1 Uber, but that's a story for another time) and beautiful views.

We rented a cottage on Air BnB and absolutely loved it the moment we walked in the door. This was my first Air BnB experience and everything about it was great. There was a large backyard, with seating and a jacuzzi, a reading nook made just for me, and a massive kitchen. Before getting up to Idyllwild we stopped at the bottom of the mountain to pick up some groceries, wine, and cheese. Since neither of us had been to Idyllwild we were not sure if there were would be a grocery store with full access to what we needed for the weekend.

Idyllwild has a small village area with boutiques, trinket stores, a brewery, a winery, and a pizza shop. We spent some time there enjoying the tastes of the town, and especially loved Idyll Awhile Wine Shop, where we watched football, enjoyed wine, and listened to live music. Idyllwild Pizza Co. was another highlight of the weekend, with delicious pizzas, pastas, and calzones. We went twice during the weekend and enjoyed it just as much both times.

While Idyllwild had a ton to offer, my favorite thing about it was the hiking. While I love to hike whenever I travel, this excursion was particularly special because WE GOT ENGAGED!





Within a couple hours of getting into town we decided to go for a hike. Prior to getting into town I had looked up a few hikes. I really liked the Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail because of the length, views, and pictures others had posted on Instagram. Halfway up the hike we found a stunning view and stopped to admire it and take some pictures. While engrossed in the scenery, Jared started talking to me about his love for me and his vision for our future. Before I could even process what he was saying, he was down on one knee with a ring in front of me, asking me to be his wife. Of course I said YES!

This proposal was the PERFECT way to start our weekend getaway. While Idyllwild is a stunning trip for anyone in the Los Angeles area, it will always be a special place to us because it is the place where we started forever together.