This place is super beautiful, clean, and best of all barely has any people. I don't know why I haven't been here yet, but I would say it probably has a lot to do with being so close to Joshua Tree. It's a not so hidden gem. Most people want ski resorts with their mountains, so this place manages to avoid heavy tourists and thus completely avoid commercial chain stores. No Starbucks, McDonalds, Subway, etc. Just little mountain shops and nice people. 

THIS is what Royal Robbins used to prepare himself for El Cap. 1k foot multi pitch and the center piece for Idyllwild. There are all kinds of rad stories about this beautiful granite cone. Will be stoked to climb stuff like this in the future and that some of my friends have crushed this.