Last year I fell in love with the south of France while traveling through Europe (see this post for one of my favorite stops). A true highlight of visiting Provence during the Summer is experiencing the incredible lavender fields. Due to the current pandemic, traveling to France this Summer was sadly out of the question. Thankfully we have a very special spot to enjoy strolling through organic lavender fields located less than an hour from Los Angeles.

123 Farm

Located at Highland Springs Ranch and Inn, 123 Farm is a fully organic and pesticide free farm whose goal is to eliminate anything potentially harmful from the food we eat. Each Summer they celebrate the beginning of lavender harvesting season by hosting an annual lavender festival. This year the festival had to be canceled due to COVID-19, but the beautiful lavender fields have been opened to the public to explore and enjoy (with pre-purchased admission).

The Lavender

All of the lavender grown here is completely organic. Three varieties of lavender - Provence, Angustifolia, and Munstead grow throughout the property. This lavender is used in aromatherapy products, floral arrangements, and culinary delights. Locals can purchase a wide variety of products at the farm Marketplace…and if you aren’t local, fear not – you can also shop online here.

Olive Groves

The purple is stunning, and it’s wonderful to see bees buzzing around 20 acres of rich fragrant lavender, but there is even more to enjoy. No visit would be complete without a stroll through “Lovers Lane,” a hidden olive grove consisting of over 750 olive trees. The shaded path displays historical pictures and information about the property, like the fact that these trees were planted over 100 years ago and they still produce a substantial harvest of olives.

Highland Springs Ranch and Inn History

During the early 1800s the area surrounding Highland Springs Ranch and Inn was known as the San Gorgonio Rancho, an outpost for the San Gabriel Mission. In 1884 the property was purchased and a three-story hotel was built called Highland Home. In 1927 the property was sold and renamed Highland Springs Resort as a health and wellness resort. Highland Springs Ranch and Inn carries the distinction of being Riverside Counties first historic landmark, marker #001. An exceptionally talented young horse handler named Wyatt Earp would regularly stop here, several John Wayne movies were filmed on the Ranch property, and Bob Hope, Elizabeth Taylor, Ernest Hemingway, Roy Rogers and Albert Einstein were all fans and frequent guests of the ranch.

Know before you go:

• Tickets must be pre-puchased online here.

• Time slots are available Wednesdays through Sundays from 10am to 5pm.

• The fields were originally scheduled to be open though July 19, 2020, but the dates have been extended through at least July 26th.

• Parking is free with paid admission tickets.

• A full lavender menu offers a wide array of lavender themed desserts, cocktails, and more.

In Summary & Behind the Blog Video

Thanks for strolling through the lavender fields with me, and here’s hoping next year we will be enjoying the Lavender Festival together! For another perspective, see my Behind the Blog video below…and until next week, I hope you find adventure and encouragement wherever you go!

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