One word describes the Lilacs...FANTASTIC! After looking at the pictures on this site for a month, during a drive home from work I got a wild hair and decided to try to book a night or two on a whim. Martin was VERY easy to work with. We made all of the arrangements on my drive home, I executed the documents an hour later, and three hours later checked in. The cabin is perfect. It's very rustic, full of character making it one in a million. The place was very clean. I did not notice any pet hair as the previous poster indicated. The BBQ was filled with gas. We immediately threw on a couple of steaks, opened a bottle of red, got the fireplace blazing & candles lit, no cell phone, no Internet. Need I say more? In the morning we were greeted with stunning views. Beautiful, colorful birds everywhere & a deer grazing down by the pond. We opted for a brisk morning hike, then down to Doane pond for the rest of the afternoon. This place is perfect & we will be frequenting The Lilacs as often as possible.

Had a great experience! The cabin has everything you need to getaway from a fast city life.. Everything was in good working condition Lots of attention to detail My favorite part was the authentic fireplace which made it a real cabin in the woods experience. Took my dog and she was safe and enjoyed relaxing on the deck @ back. I liked dealing directly with the Owner who was very helpful and made sure I found the cabin Plus gave me lots of tips on what to do during my stay @ Palimar Mtn. I would stay there again without hesitation Thanks Martin!

Maybe June was a bad month, but I TOTALLY agree with Paul's review. Martin was a nice guy, but NO info was given about check in procedure. I assumed the 'care taker' ( I use the term loosely since it appeared no care had been taken of this place) would be there, but she wasn't! We had to drive half way down the mountain since there is no reception at the cabin and thank goodness I was able to contact Martin because it was 8 PM and we had very tired cranky kids! We finally got in and were severely disappointed! It. Was. Dirty. Really. Really. Dirty. I have kids, so I am by no means used to spotless! but it honestly looked as if it hadn't been cleaned in quite some time. We were told to 'leave things at least as nice as we found them' when we left. It would appear that is all the cleaning that gets done here. The fridge had some strange pellet looking things in the drawer and we never figured out what it was. We had to clean lots of cobwebs up. The floor was so slanted my 2 year old nephew lost his balance and hit his head on the wall. Also, don't make the mistake of asking the guy at the first house once you hit the dirt road where the cabin is (remember we got NO instructions for check in and that included no directions). He was literally the rudest person we've ever had the dis pleasure of running into. My husband, who is the nicest person you'll ever meet nearly punched this man when he began insulting his mother. In the end, my sister and brother in law left a day early. Once they left, we decided to go to the Marriott and try to redeem this vacation. I really do hate to leave such negative feedback, but t was truly the dirtiest, most disappointing place we've ever stayed!

Had a great experience! The cabin has everything you need to getaway from a fast city life.. Everything was in good working condition Lots of attention to detail My favorite part was the authentic fireplace which made it a real cabin in the woods experience. Took my dog and she was safe and enjoyed relaxing on the deck @ back. I liked dealing directly with the Owner who was very helpful and made sure I found the cabin Plus gave me lots of tips on what to do during my stay @ Palimar Mtn. I would stay there again without hesitation Thanks Martin!

Maybe June was a bad month, but I TOTALLY agree with Paul's review. Martin was a nice guy, but NO info was given about check in procedure. I assumed the 'care taker' ( I use the term loosely since it appeared no care had been taken of this place) would be there, but she wasn't! We had to drive half way down the mountain since there is no reception at the cabin and thank goodness I was able to contact Martin because it was 8 PM and we had very tired cranky kids! We finally got in and were severely disappointed! It. Was. Dirty. Really. Really. Dirty. I have kids, so I am by no means used to spotless! but it honestly looked as if it hadn't been cleaned in quite some time. We were told to 'leave things at least as nice as we found them' when we left. It would appear that is all the cleaning that gets done here. The fridge had some strange pellet looking things in the drawer and we never figured out what it was. We had to clean lots of cobwebs up. The floor was so slanted my 2 year old nephew lost his balance and hit his head on the wall. Also, don't make the mistake of asking the guy at the first house once you hit the dirt road where the cabin is (remember we got NO instructions for check in and that included no directions). He was literally the rudest person we've ever had the dis pleasure of running into. My husband, who is the nicest person you'll ever meet nearly punched this man when he began insulting his mother. In the end, my sister and brother in law left a day early. Once they left, we decided to go to the Marriott and try to redeem this vacation. I really do hate to leave such negative feedback, but t was truly the dirtiest, most disappointing place we've ever stayed!

One word describes the Lilacs...FANTASTIC! After looking at the pictures on this site for a month, during a drive home from work I got a wild hair and decided to try to book a night or two on a whim. Martin was VERY easy to work with. We made all of the arrangements on my drive home, I executed the documents an hour later, and three hours later checked in. The cabin is perfect. It's very rustic, full of character making it one in a million. The place was very clean. I did not notice any pet hair as the previous poster indicated. The BBQ was filled with gas. We immediately threw on a couple of steaks, opened a bottle of red, got the fireplace blazing & candles lit, no cell phone, no Internet. Need I say more? In the morning we were greeted with stunning views. Beautiful, colorful birds everywhere & a deer grazing down by the pond. We opted for a brisk morning hike, then down to Doane pond for the rest of the afternoon. This place is perfect & we will be frequenting The Lilacs as often as possible.

My wife and I spent two nights in this not so 'cozy romantic cabin, in June 2014. We spent the first afternoon cleaning the kitchen in order to eat without having the fear of becoming sick. The refrigerator had a fowl odor obviously from left over foods and really needed cleaning. The cabin floor is sloped downhill giving one the sensation that the structure is about to fall over the cliff. The floors were covered with debris and an abundance of animal hair of various colors and lengths. After one evening in the cabin, our socks were totally soiled and full of animal hair. Cobwebs along with dust decorated the windows, walls and ceilings. It appeared that fallen leaves had not been removed from the balcony in weeks.

We loved our weekend at the cabin! There is great hiking trails nearby and a good restaurant down the road. The bed was very comfortable and we got to bring our dog along. We sat on the patio and the temperature was nice and cool. I liked it much better than big bear or Idyllwild. Martin the owner called to see how our stay was going. The fireplace was super cozy!

My wife and I spent two nights in this not so 'cozy romantic cabin, in June 2014. We spent the first afternoon cleaning the kitchen in order to eat without having the fear of becoming sick. The refrigerator had a fowl odor obviously from left over foods and really needed cleaning. The cabin floor is sloped downhill giving one the sensation that the structure is about to fall over the cliff. The floors were covered with debris and an abundance of animal hair of various colors and lengths. After one evening in the cabin, our socks were totally soiled and full of animal hair. Cobwebs along with dust decorated the windows, walls and ceilings. It appeared that fallen leaves had not been removed from the balcony in weeks.

We loved our weekend at the cabin! There is great hiking trails nearby and a good restaurant down the road. The bed was very comfortable and we got to bring our dog along. We sat on the patio and the temperature was nice and cool. I liked it much better than big bear or Idyllwild. Martin the owner called to see how our stay was going. The fireplace was super cozy!

We loved our stay at the Lilacs cabin. It's a great getaway from urban chaos. It's quiet, and the air is clean and fresh, and the drinking water is fantastic. We loved the peace and tranquility of the area. Sue, the resident caretaker, was both helpful and unobtrusive. We found the cabin clean and welcoming upon our arrival. This is more of a destination cabin - Palomar is quiet and relaxed. We visited both the Palomar Observatory and the state park nearby, but the best part of our stay was just kicking back at the cabin and enjoying the many birds and the fresh air. We were able to bring our dog, something we really appreciated.

We loved our stay at the Lilacs cabin. It's a great getaway from urban chaos. It's quiet, and the air is clean and fresh, and the drinking water is fantastic. We loved the peace and tranquility of the area. Sue, the resident caretaker, was both helpful and unobtrusive. We found the cabin clean and welcoming upon our arrival. This is more of a destination cabin - Palomar is quiet and relaxed. We visited both the Palomar Observatory and the state park nearby, but the best part of our stay was just kicking back at the cabin and enjoying the many birds and the fresh air. We were able to bring our dog, something we really appreciated.

This would be a 5 star review for a really fantastic experience, but there was one issue. I rented the cabin for a girl's weekend away. It was an great process to work out the rental agreement, and I felt confident we could get to the cabin and find the keys. All my questions were answered in a timely manner. Sue greeted our first car of girls and was very helpful showing us the lay of the land and helping us find the parking down the hill. The cabin itself was really charming and surprisingly spacious. The sun room was where we spent most of our time and it was so comfortable and had a great view. The beds were great for a cabin, all the rooms were nice and clean, there were tons of blankets, the loft was great and really, everything met or exceeded our expectations. However, we were a group of 10. So while we were prepare to clean up after ourselves, we weren't really prepared to do ALL of our own dishes. When we had finished our first meal and I went to load the dishwasher, I discovered a post-it on the inside telling me it was broken. If I'd been informed of this in advance I might not have been so caught off guard and bothered. We manned up and did all our dishes and left things as we found them, but it was bothersome to me enough that it bumped it down to 4 stars. So, if you care, ask if the dishwasher has been fixed when you go to rent. Other than that, this place really was AWESOME. And our group is seriously thinking about making this a yearly destination.

This would be a 5 star review for a really fantastic experience, but there was one issue. I rented the cabin for a girl's weekend away. It was an great process to work out the rental agreement, and I felt confident we could get to the cabin and find the keys. All my questions were answered in a timely manner. Sue greeted our first car of girls and was very helpful showing us the lay of the land and helping us find the parking down the hill. The cabin itself was really charming and surprisingly spacious. The sun room was where we spent most of our time and it was so comfortable and had a great view. The beds were great for a cabin, all the rooms were nice and clean, there were tons of blankets, the loft was great and really, everything met or exceeded our expectations. However, we were a group of 10. So while we were prepare to clean up after ourselves, we weren't really prepared to do ALL of our own dishes. When we had finished our first meal and I went to load the dishwasher, I discovered a post-it on the inside telling me it was broken. If I'd been informed of this in advance I might not have been so caught off guard and bothered. We manned up and did all our dishes and left things as we found them, but it was bothersome to me enough that it bumped it down to 4 stars. So, if you care, ask if the dishwasher has been fixed when you go to rent. Other than that, this place really was AWESOME. And our group is seriously thinking about making this a yearly destination.

We couldn't get to the cabin the first night our our five-night stay because a blizzard dumped a foot of snow at the top of the mountain. But we made it to the cabin the next day, and the snow made this 100-year-old cabin feel even more remote and cozy. Because of the snow, we couldn't park near the cabin, but we were there for hiking, so it was part of the adventure. I'd summarize this rental as precisely like borrowing the rustic family cabin of some friends. It feels like they stepped out yesterday, very personal in every aspect and decoration. This is a great basecamp for taking some serious (or undemanding, as you prefer) hikes in the very nearby (and highly recommended) Palomar State Park. Once the snow had passed, the views were stupefying--including that most rare of sights, a clear view of Catalina, so near you could reach out to it. Bear and lion tracks, lots of deer sighted, plus wild turkeys and lots of cool birds. Be sure to eat at Mother's (nearby; good vegetarian food; great people watching) and shop next door at the General Store. The cabin is not the Ritz and shouldn't be. But you'll enjoy a genuine wilderness experience if you stay here.

At the last minute I decided to surprise my husband with a little weekend getaway for our anniversary. I booked our stay only a couple of days in advance, which wasn't a problem. We live in Los Angeles, so the goal was to go someplace green and quiet. This cabin was exactly what we were looking for - cozy, charming, and rustic. We stayed two nights, cooked all our meals in the kitchen (and on the grill), and played cards together on the couch at night. Our eight-month-old son came with us and he was happy as a clam. We loved seeing the starry sky at night and falling asleep to the sound of frogs and crickets. Part of what keeps the prices so reasonable is that you're asked to wash your sheets and towels in the washer prior to leaving. An easy request and we were happy to do so. We would certainly come back and stay here again. One note - the curtains in the bedroom are rather lightweight and do not do well at keeping out the morning sun (a must for our easy-to-wake eight-month-old). Thankfully we planned ahead, just in case, and brought heavy fabric panels that we hung over the windows. It did the trick!

We just got home from an amazing weekend at the Lilac's. There were 8 of us and the cabin had more than enough space to accomidate our group. The cabin itself is like going back in time. It is filled with wonderful pieces of history that give it a warm feeling that reminds me of my grandparents cabin in Colorado. It has such a homey feel that you are immediatly comfortable. There is a great loft for the kids and a place outside where you can sit around the fire in th evening. During the day you can hear woodpeckers and at night you can hear the owls. The cabin itself sits on a hillside and the views are incredible. Martin was kind and patient with me during the reservation process and always got back to me promptly when I had questions. There is a guestbook filled with wonderful comments from past campers sharing their experiences.

My family and I wanted to stay in a cabin for Thanksgiving this year, relaxing away from the city. We booked our stay at the Lilacs cabin in September. Upon our arrival, the caretaker of the cabin was very surprised to see us; she had no idea we were coming. The owner had actually double booked the cabin. The caretaker told us a family of 15 had arrived earlier that day and left an hour before we showed up. She admitted to us that the family had left early because the place was filthy. If they had not left, what would we have done? Share the cabin with them?? The cabin was very dirty, spider webs everywhere you looked, dust on everything, mice droppings all over the floor and later that night we found out there was even mice droppings on the bed in the master bedroom. When we showed up we were immediately disappointed but we decided to try and make it work since it took us 2 hours to get here...It was Thanksgiving day and we had to start cooking. We were looking forward to the loft that was described oh so nicely, but we were let down. It just had an old mattress with some dirty looking sheets and blankets. The bed wasn't made. Their were huge spiders in the kitchen pots and pans, hair tangled in the shower drains, dead bugs and mice droppings on the bed and between the "cleaner" sheets. We were afraid to sleep there, it was disgusting. I thought about sleeping in the car, but it was freezing outside. The bathroom floor mats were slippery and could be dangerous. The photos listed here are not accurate and we would never recommend this property to any of our family or friends. My family and I were supposed to stay for 3 days....we left after one night.

The Lilacs is an eclectic, cozy, and comfortable home away from home. It is located on a fairly secluded road surrounded by a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere. But it is also exactly centered between the corner general store and restaurant and the entrance to the State Park, so you never feel too far away from anything. My favorite part was sitting in front of that beautiful fireplace with some music and a bottle of fantastic red wine. The owner is also a pleasure to deal with. No need to look anywhere else on Palomar Mtn - you will love this cabin, guaranteed! We will be back!

This is the ultimate peaceful place. Warm, cozy, homey, and very comfortable house and setting. My husband was very tired and not feeling well from our long drive to the cabin, when we entered he said "This is just what I need Deb." We loved it and will be back.