BIG BEAR
Whether you’re a California native or a rustic-loving transplant who often relishes a wintery escape to the mountains, you’ve probably heard of and perhaps even spent time in Big Bear, California. If you haven’t checked it out up close yet, or you’ve only seen it covered in blankets of white snow, it’s time for that to change because Big Bear has all the ingredients for an amazing weekend escape with family or friends, any season of the year.
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Just a short 2-hour drive or so from LA, Big Bear is one of Southern California’s premier four-season resorts in the San Bernardino mountains, along the south shore of Big Bear Lake. The unincorporated town of Big Bear City is surrounded by the San Bernardino National Forest and has a population of roughly around 5,000. However, over 100,000 people are said to visit the year-round resort destination many weekends of the year. The warmest month is July, with an average daily temp of around 64 degrees and January seems to be the coolest month, with an average daily temp of 34 degrees. Because of the high elevation, approx. 7000 and 8000 in some areas, the region usually receives a significant amount of snowfall, which is great for avid skiers and snowboarders.
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Big Bear is not just for winter sports; although, Snow Summit and Bear Mountain are both fantastic destinations and we’ve spent nearly every winter skiing there. There is so much to do every season of the year. In summer, the primary attraction is fishing in beautiful Big Bear Lake, full of trout, bass, and catfish. Hiking, kayaking, mountain biking, water skiing, pontoon boating, and horseback riding are also popular forms of recreation. If you’re not into being physically active or you just need some “relaxation” time, you can come to enjoy the beautiful scenery and ambiance of the mountains, take a helicopter ride or dine at one of the many places to eat in the uber-cute and idyllic Big Bear Village.
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WHERE TO STAY
Santa Monica Macaroni Kid was recently invited by Bluegreen Vacations to come enjoy one of their only resorts in California, The Club At Big Bear Village. The Big Bear Village, Ascend Resort Collection is considered to be part of the Bluegreen Vacation Club, a flexible, points based, deeded vacation ownership plan that accommodates families with top-notch service and an array of amenities. When there are available units, these incredible 2, 3, and 4-bedroom Villas and Presidential Suites are available to the public online. It’s so incredibly easy to find a weekend to stay there either by searching Google for The Club At Big Bear Village, or looking for 2-night minimum stays on sites like choicehotels.com or expedia.com and entering your desired stay. We played around with a couple dates while there just to get an idea of pricing and we found a few weekends offering amazing deals. We will probably be booking another weekend for our family as well during the ski season.
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Our weekend away was spent with a few other Macaroni Kid publisher moms and one child each. We wanted a small intimate group so we could experience as much as possible and get to know one another in the process. It turned out to be an incredibly fun weekend and we’ve all decided we liked each other enough to meet up again in the future.
The Club At Big Bear Village kindly gave each of us our own 3-bedroom villa with private two-car garage, gourmet kitchen, family room with giant flat-screen TV, multiple fireplaces, balconies with BBQ’s, complimentary wi-fi, washer/dryer and oversized Jacuzzi tubs in each of the three bathrooms. Guest services and a concierge were available at the Clubhouse from 8am – 11pm. The Clubhouse included a huge Fitness Room, Library, Billiards Room and Great Room for parties and special events, and a cool Kids Room and separate Toddler Room full of fun games for all ages. Outside, a seasonal heated pool, Jacuzzi hot tub, and children’s pool meant we could stick our hair up and our sunnies on for some tuning out and relaxation.
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The hospitality of the resort was top-notch. Upon arrival, we were given an activity calendar for the resort, which included things like checking out a board game for Family Game Night or going on a Scavenger Hunt around the property. Ask them for the Scavenger Hunt list or the Selfie Bingo game,…so FUN! Hot Coffee is made every morning and popcorn smells fill the air every day around 3:30PM. Go find a hiking trail, play cornhole, or read a book in front of a cozy fireplace, all sound amazing! The Club At Big Bear Village did everything they could to make sure our every need was taken care of, all with genuine congeniality and smiles!
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WHAT TO DO
Our hosts made sure we had a great time during our weekend stay and booked a fun day for us all at the Alpine Slide, which offers year-round family fun. We also went to the Gold Rush Mining Adventures for one of the most unique, immersive, and exciting interactive rock and mineral experiences. Before we left Big Bear, my daughter and I headed to the Big Bear Alpine Zoo, which is a wildlife rehabilitation and sanctuary for indigenous animals of Big Bear. We had so much fun at all of the places. You can check out our adventures in our Instagram and IG Stories and here is a little bit of info about them as well, plus other fun options for your next visit to Big Bear.
Alpine Slide At Magic Mountain - The Magic Mountain Recreation Area, home of the world-famous Alpine Slide is Southern California’s only authentic bobsled experience.Take one ride ($6) or multiple rides ($25) down the quarter mile track during any season of the year. Enjoy a beautiful view of Big Bear lake as you take a relaxing chairlift up to the start of the track. You can experience the scenery and the thrill of the slide. For more fun, soar down the mountain in a seated zipline called Soaring Eagle. Drive Go-Karts or play miniature golf with friends. In summer, relax on the Alpine Water Slide and in winter, board the Magic Carpet and have a fun packed day of tubing.
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Gold Rush Mining Adventures – Pan ore like a real miner – this unique adventure is not only perfect for all ages, but everyone can experience a Eureka moment while participating in Geode breaking or Gemstone and Fossil panning activities. No "prospector" leaves empty handed and no two bags of mining ore or paydirt are exactly alike. You’ll be able to take home the best souvenir in Big Bear. We did! Check out our panning experience on Facebook. There’s also a cool instagrammable “ghost town” to explore and take photos in near the parking area. We’ve never experienced anything like this place and both the kids and moms absolutely loved every minute!
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Big Bear Alpine Zoo – Founded in 1959, serves as a rehabilitation facility for both mountain and nearby communities. With a successful release rate of nearly 80%, injured animals are nursed back to health and orphaned babies are weaned onto solid foods and then released back into the wild. They also provide extended care if needed, promoting the animals to ambassadors, and connecting guests of the zoo to wildlife.They have over 120 animals, representing 60 species, and daily opportunities are provided for guests to get up close and personal and experience the animal enrichment programs. Be sure to visit their website as they are open daily (weather permitting) and always offering fun extra-curricular and seasonal experiences like photography contests or “Flashlight Safaris” at night.
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Other Seasonal and Year Round Options (For more info or to get more ideas, visit BigBear.com or @visitbigbear on Instagram):
Fall Colors Segway Tours with Action Zipline
Bear Valley Farm Tours
Big Bear Charter Fishing
Mountain Bike Rides
Mystery Maze at the Moose Lodge
Oktoberfest (seasonal)
Zombie Laser Tag
Horseback Riding
4x4 Off-Road Tours
Live Action Escape Rooms
Bowling Barn
Helicopter Tours
Hiking
Golf
Camping
WHERE TO EAT
Our hosts treated us to several dinners, which were amazing. The Oakside Restaurant and Bar, right next to the resort, was a family-friendly place which offered California Cuisine, great service, and excellent food! They have live music Friday and Saturday nights too. We ate in the private loft, but the outside firepit bar looked awesome too.
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We also ate at El Jacalito Grill, another family owned restaurant that served traditional Mexican dishes made from scratch with only the finest ingredients,… and wow was it delicious! We always have headed here for Mexican food when we’ve stayed in Big Bear.
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On our last night, we ate at Saucy Mamas Pizzeria, a vibrant, Italian pizza stop that also offers outdoor seating and was mama mia delicious!
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We stopped at a couple places for breakfast too and you can see those on our Instagram IG stories. So many delicious places to eat and here are a couple other options to choose from when you head to Big Bear, including TEDDY BEAR, AMANGELA'S, 572 SOCIAL KITCHEN & LOUNGE, THE OLD GERMAN DELI, BLACK DIAMOND TAVERN, and the PEPPERCORN GRILLE.
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There are spas, churches, banks, grocery stores, pharmacies, fast food places, and night time entertainment too. Big Bear has everything you need to have an absolutely awesome vacation!
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We had so much fun and will most definitely be back during the winter to ski. However, after our autumn-getaway, I think Big Bear is the perfect place to visit any time of the year. Staying at The Club At Big Bear Village was a highlight and making reservations is both easy and affordable. We’re thrilled to have been hosted guests of the Bluegreen Vacations resort and The Club At Big Bear Village. Looking forward to seeing them again soon!
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Please check out our Instagram (@chaninvictor) and our Facebook (@santamonicamacaronikid) for all the great photos and memories of our stay in Big Bear!
We have a paid partnership with BlueGreen Vacations and The Club At Big Bear Village; however, all opinions are our own.
