Four Great Labor Day Weekend Getaways

4 Great Southern California Labor Day
Weekend Getaways
Head to the Hills and experience Art, Film, Music, Parades, Nature, Family Fun,
Grape Stomping, and much more.

Julian: This quaint, mountain and gold-mining town in the back-country of San Diego county, has more to offer than it's famous apple pie. A year round destination, Julian is one of Southern California’s most popular getaways. A strong sense of early California will guide you down the wooden sidewalks embracing delightful shop windows, all typical of an old gold mining town. Wineries, horse-drawn carriage rides, gun fight re-enactments, apple orchards, star gazing and cultural events are just a few Julian’s highlights - it’s a dreamy experience for the romantic, the family get together or the nature lover. Summer offers a plethora of outdoor fun including hiking, biking, horseback riding, birding, fishing and camping and Lake Cuyamaca. From quaint Bed and Breakfast Inns to rustic cabin retreats, Julian features a variety of lodging options. It's a scenic drive to Julian - just an hour from San Diego; two hours from Palm Springs; two and a half hours from Orange County; and three and a half hours from Los Angeles and the Arizona border. This Labor Day Weekend offers plenty of fun with arts and crafts shows, and the 8th Annual Grape Stomp & Festa. For more information, click here.

Idyllwild: Idyllwild is nestled in the San Jacinto Mountains, in the midst of miles of unspoiled beauty and pristine forests. It is serene and tranquil, surrounded by natural beauty, making it the ideal getaway--whether you seek romance, relaxation, communion with nature or a family vacation. Strolling through town you will see art studios and galleries, specialty shops and boutiques and a variety of restaurants and coffee shops. Between the numerous galleries and art shows, over 200 artists are represented, earning Idyllwild the distinction of being one of the Best 100 Small Art Towns in America. There is a wide selection of lodging accommodations from elegant to rustic and you can camp, picnic, hike, mountain bike, horseback ride, fish and rock climb - a favorite climb is Taquitz or Lily Rock. Fishing is also a pastime with Lake Fulmore and Lake Hemet within 20 minutes away. Idyllwild is just an hour and a half from Los Angeles, San Diego and Palm Springs. This Labor Day Weekend enjoy the arts at the 5th Annual Plein Air Art Festival, or have some family fun at the Labor Day Family Fun Days at the Idyllwild Nature Center. For more information, click here.

Wrightwood: Nestled in a valley in the east end of the San Gabriel mountains at an elevation of 6000 feet - Wrightwood makes a cool retreat for this Labor Day Weekend. With a history of Indians, Mormons, cattle ranching and apple farming; this small, lively community has now become a mountain getaway for those seeking quaint shops, beautiful scenery, snow sports, camping and general relaxation. Majestic pines, ancient oaks, no traffic lights and four seasons of mountain beauty make Wrightwood the perfect place for families, couples and those seeking quiet and solitude. Summer is mild and balmy, perfect for hiking and biking, and outdoor events. Beautiful views of the desert from high above, beautiful evergreen forests, sunny most of the year, free of smog, traffic, and the stress of everyday life... just 90 minutes from Los Angeles... without the usual twisting, mountain passes to tackle. Over this Labor Day Weekend, enjoy music in the pines at the Wrightwood Mountain Music Festival. For more information, click here.

Pioneertown: Though built as a real town in 1946, it was also built as a movie set by a group of investors who envisioned a 1870’s frontier town that functioned as a living movie set. Western stars including Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Gail Davis (Annie Oakley), Duncan Renaldo (The Cisco Kid), Leo Carrillo (Pancho), Gene Autry, The Sons of the Pioneers (for whom the town was named), Jock Mahoney (The Range Rider) and Russell Hayden, (Hopalong Cassidy movie series) all walked these streets packin’ six guns. Other movie greats including Barbara Stanwyck, Jackie Coogan, Dick Jones, Edgar Buchanan, Tom Skerritt and Barry Sullivan all made movies here from 1948 to 1998. The atmosphere of the ‘olde west’ lives on in the town that has kept most of the original buildings and has it’s own Pioneertown Posse. It is a treat, for young and old alike, to roam the streets; take photos; visit the Post Office Museum; bowl in the bowling alley where the first strike was bowled by Roy Rogers; ride the Rattlesnake Gulch Railroad Line, a one of a kind miniature steam engine replica that takes passengers around the bowling alley and shooting gallery, and relive an exciting part of Hollywood and Western Film history. Over this Labor Day Weekend, Pioneertown is celebrating it's 60th Anniversary with a parade, films showings, gun fight re-enactments and more. For more information, click here.