Friends in Palm Springs told us they occasionally escape the summer inferno by driving up to Idyllwild, a sweet Alpine hamlet nestled at a cool 6000 feet in the San Jacinto Mountains. Our first surprise was discovering that Idyllwild is an art colony with over a dozen galleries; the second surprise was the Peaceful Mountain Inn. Tucked away on a couple acres, it offers perhaps the best mountain views in town along with hiking trails and landscaped grounds for lingering with a cup of coffee or glass of wine. Our room was clean and cheerful and handsomely decorated with artwork by the innkeeper, Robert Bush, a painter/sculptor of some renown. Robert is as affable as he is talented and made our stay very comfortable with tips about local dining and activities. Our spacious double room was $95/night and included a fridge, microwave, fireplace and those gorgeous views. The inn has ten rooms including a fully-equipped apartment, free wifi and a spacious deck for barbequing and/or hanging out with your fellow guests. If you want hospitality, quiet and simple, cozy charm, this one's for you.