Kids' Fun at Hidden Valley Retreat!

Hanging out in the Children's Garden

Family reunions, summer camps, group retreats; no matter the occasion, kids love Hidden Valley! With 10 acres of private, natural space, kids have plenty of room to explore. Young ones can splash in the pool, throw frisbees on the built-in frisbee golf course, play board games in the Main House, walk through the Children's Garden, perform skits on the stage, and much, much more! There are bugs and butterflies to be discovered, fresh, juicy fruits to be tasted, and marshmallows to be roasted. Your kids will adore their time at Hidden Valley!

Amanda and Tom's Wedding!

You might wonder why someone would want to have their wedding at Hidden Valley. Well, Amanda and Tom's Wedding Weekend would be the answer! Their celebration was a special day of refreshing fun over Labor Day weekend. From Thursday to Monday, their family and friends enjoyed time spent together creating new memories to cherish. They chose a team of fantastic and creative vendors to make their day a smashing success. A bright color scheme, rustic details, and an array of yummy treats unfolded
 into a perfect wedding in the country.

Amanda and Tom took advantage of a very talented, professional team of vendors to create a unified decor with tons of details. Bright blue, orange, and yellow brought light to the ceremony and reception. Little details like old books, vintage china, and cowboy boots added rustic charm.

To spice up the party, Amanda and Tom invited their friends to play acoustic instruments for the first dance. The group was all smiles as they joined together to make carefree music. Delicious food and yummy pies by Carriage Trade Catering topped off the delightful experience!

Congratulations Amanda and Tom! Your Wedding Day was a smash and we were so pleased to be a part of it! We wish you all the best in your future together. We know it will be long and happy.

Another big thank you to all of the wonderful vendors who made this day possible:
- Photography: Heidi-O-Photography
- Catering: Carriage Trade Catering
- Music: Three Blind Mice
- Planning: Sarah Allen
- Transportation: Wess Transportation (760) 741-9953

5 Great Activities for Your Family Reunion!

We've been inspired by the recent Family Reunions at Hidden Valley Retreat! There is so much fun to be had when your family gathers, and Hidden Valley has lots special activities that you can do together. We've compiled a list of 5 super entertaining activities that you can do during your next family reunion, perfectly suited to Hidden Valley's unique setting:


1. Make Family T-Shirts

• Unite your family into a team by coming up with an awesome T-shirt design for everyone to wear during the trip! The shirts can double as a sweet souvenir-keepsake when everyone returns home. Plus, it's always useful to have a comfortable T-shirt to wear for outdoor activities at Hidden Valley like hiking, fruit-picking, playing, and laying in the grass.

2. Play Lawn Games

• Hidden Valley has lots of beautiful outdoor spaces, and what better way to take advantage of them than by playing lawn games? The property has a built-in frisbee golf course, a horseshoe pit, and a life-sized Jenga set for endless hours of fun! Many families have brought games like bocce, croquet and badminton. One family even brought in a homemade wooden board for a beanbag toss! These games are great for entertaining your family! Everyone will interact and bond in a fun, lighthearted setting.

3. Do a Talent Show/Performance

• There is a reason that so many summer camps organize talent shows and skits... they are a super fun way to keep your kids engaged! Your young ones will run around for hours planning and rehearsing. In the meantime, the adults can effectively participate either by joining the show, or by simply sitting back and watching (who doesn't love that?). Hidden Valley has two outdoor stages, perfect to showcase the skits. Just add plenty of positive encouragement and applause, and you've got a perfect afternoon!

4. Pick Fruit

• Hidden Valley is bursting with delicious mulberries, persimmons, pears, and more. You are free to pick them to your heart's and belly's content! Eat the fruit fresh off the tree, or make a juicy pie with your family. You know what they say: a family that bakes together stays together. You and your loved ones will have fun in the kitchen, and everyone will enjoy the fruits of your labors at the end of the meal!

5. Campfire

• As the evening winds down, treat your family to smore's around the outdoor campfire at Hidden Valley. Sweets are always a hit! You can take advantage of the setting to sing songs and maybe even play guitar. Most impressive of all, you will be enjoying the warmth of the campfire beneath a glittering sky of un-obscured stars. The nighttime view is absolutely breathtaking. 

There are tons of activities to enjoy with your family, especially at Hidden Valley. The property is a spacious, entertaining, private, intimate location. Take advantage of the special time in the company of your family to unplug your computers and turn off your cell phones. Recharge your mind and heart by enjoying these family friendly activities with the people that you love most! 

Janai and Nathan's Wedding

Janai and Nathan had a beautiful wedding at Hidden Valley this past September! Janai is the proud owner of an elegant horse named Beauty. From our first meeting, Janai made it clear that one of her priorities was to include her beloved, hoofed friend in her special day. We were happy to be able to work with her to make that dream come true. The result was a magnificent, entrance! Jaws dropped as Janai rode through the Orchard Gate to the Wedding Circle where Nathan was waiting for her to say their vows.

As you can see from the photos, Janai was plenty enthusiastic about dressing Beauty up for the big day! From coiffed hair to painted nails, Beauty was the image of fine grooming. What a pretty girl! She truly lives up to her name.

Beyond Beauty's magnificence, Janai and Nathan's wedding continued to be a marvelous success. We are always pleased to welcome guests that fully embrace the family reunion aspect of the Wedding Weekends offered at Hidden Valley, and Janai and Nathan's party certainly did! The entire weekend was a special celebration of love and lighthearted fun. The warmth of this group was just inspiring!

Janai and Nathan, we were honored to welcome you and your family to Hidden Valley Retreat. We wish you all the best in your bright future together. And don't forget to keep in touch!