Southern California offers many recreational opportunities. Although the western boundary of the region is marked by the Pacific Ocean, to the east are mountain ranges of varying elevations where people can escape the inland heat in the summer or enjoy winter sports. Small mountain towns offer food, lodging and entertainment all year long.
Idyllwild is a small town in the San Jacinto Mountains,southwest of Palm Springs. The elevation of Idyllwild is 6,800 feet and is a favorite destination all year long for Southern Californians who want to escape the heat of summer or go skiing in the winter. Idyllwild has resorts and hotels for any budget, along with many restaurants, shopping and boutique stores. The University of Southern California sponsors a jazz festival called Jazz in the Pines in Idyllwild each summer. The proceeds fund scholarship programs.
Access to Idyllwild is off Highway 74 on Highway 243 north of Mountain Center. San Jacinto State Park is just north of Idyllwild. Hiking and bicycling trails are plentiful in this region.
Julian, a historic gold-mining town, lies at 4,235 feet in the Cuyamaca Mountains northeast of San Diego. Julian residents see snow occasionally in the winter and summer temperatures are in the 80s. Hotels, bed and breakfasts, cabins, and resorts offer overnight stays for tourists. The town is famous for its apple and pear orchards, and visitors can pick their own fruit from September through October.
Julian is also known for its art galleries. The town has several historic museums, or visitors can hike in the wilderness surrounding the town. Private four-wheel-drive tours are available for visitors.
Big Bear is about 100 miles east of Los Angeles off Interstate 10 or Highway 210. Its elevation at 7,000 feet gives it four distinct seasons, each of which provides many activities for people to enjoy. Winter skiing is especially popular at Big Bear because it can receive significant amounts of snow in the winter. All kinds of food and lodging can be found at Big Bear. Big Bear Lake has boat rentals, and any type of recreational watercraft can be used on the lake.
