Big Bear is a great place for rest and relaxation or an adventurous outdoor experience. Treat yourself to all the pleasures that Big Bear has to offer; starting with a stroll in the Village, maybe even a relaxing stop in a day spa, or simply read a book by the lake. You can enjoy a fine meal at one of Big Bear's premier restaurants, local pubs or quaint cafes. For the more adventurous, you will find a variety of exhilarating activities fit for every season. There is much so to do in Big Bear, you'll call it a year round "Playground."

Snow Skiing Boating Fine Dining Fishing Hiking & Mountain Biking

Off Roading Horse Back Riding Get Married Other Attractions Big Bear History

Racing down snow-covered slopes or gliding down gentle hills made especially for tubing, it is easy to see why Southern California's local mountains are a blast for families. From children squealing with glee on the bunny slopes to blazing speed down the "Miracle Mile" run you get is all in a quaint mountain community called Big Bear Lake, California.

Big Bear Lake is very well known to Californians for winter vacations, and the rest of the country has yet to learn of our best kept secret. Amazingly, nestled in the San Bernardino Forest, Big Bear is less than two hours from Los Angeles and three hours from Las Vegas. Literally you can go from warm a sunrise at home to a mountain of fresh powder in a matter of hours.

Skiing and snow boarding at Bear Mountain and Snow Summit are the main attractions, and there are several snow play venus through the valley. Boutique shopping and fine dining make a trip through the Village a must when you visit Big Bear. What helps set Big Bear apart from other ski resorts is our "family-friendly" atmosphere.

More than 75 different trails and runs guarantee the beginner to black diamond skier a more than satisfying day on the mountain. Skiing can be fast and furious because there are 23 lifts and four high speed chairs; and it doesn't have to end when the sun goes down. On certain nights, skiing under the lights is available - another terrific experience. Need ski equipment? Several ski shops in town have rental skis, boards, and other equipment.

From action-packed adventures to easy-going times, visitors at Big Bear can be found racing across the lake on wave runners or jet skis, kayaking or canoeing along the lake's coves and inlets, skimming the water on skis or wake boards, or sailing with a little help from the constant lake breezes. Another one-of-kind experience is parasailing at 7000' to experience a completely different perspective of Big Bear Valley's vast beauty. Instruction is offered for most water sports at all skill levels.

For the less adventurous, narrated lake tours are offered onboard the Big Bear Queen paddlewheel boat or the Spanish galleon replica, the Big Bear Pirate Ship. Meadow Park Swim Beach is open daily and has protected areas for children to enjoy splashing in the clear lake waters. Adjacent, there are play areas for volleyball, tennis and barbecues.

In Big Bear, the list of fine restaurants in nearly endless. From your basic hole in the wall cafe to exquisite mountain fresh cuisine, Big Bear offers some of the finest food in Southern California. There's something for every pallet and several specialties that you can only find in Big Bear. Some of my personal favorites are:

Big Bear Mountain Brewery and Restaurant Big Bear's Old Country Inn Desi's B's Bar-B-Q	Sweet Basil Bistro Sonora Cantina Cowboy Express Steak House Madlon's Restaurant

The Resort Association has a complete list of restraints in Big Bear Lake.

The success rate for catching fish in Big Bear Lake is tremendous. Big Bear Lake is a first-rate trout fishery because its depths allow trout to thrive, even in the heat of summer. Therefore, it is one of only a handful of Southern California lakes to get planted with rainbow trout. The Department of Fish and Game regularly stock the lake from April to October with approximately 2000 lbs. of rainbow trout every two weeks. Several marinas offer boat rentals, bait, tackle and licenses, docks and repair services. Launch ramps are found at all marinas and the north shore public ramps.

Mountain bikers from around the globe come to Big Bear Valley to experience a sport created for the mountains! This world-class mountain biking region has more than one hundred miles of trails and Forest Service roads to satisfy bikers of all ages and skill levels. Hikers find an abundance of hiking opportunities. Some of the more notable trails are:

1. Cougar Crest Trail,
2. Pine knot Trail,
3. Champion Lodgepole Pine Trail,
4. Castle Rock Trail,
5. Sugarloaf National Recreation Trail,
6. Grays Peak Trail and
7. The Woodland Trail.

Hikers and bikers wanting more convenient access enjoy a relaxing ride up to the 8200' summit on the Snow Summit Scenic Sky Chair, a great place to get a straight-on view of San Gorgonio. There are plenty of world-class, cross-country trails designated for experienced bikers, moderate trails for intermediate riders, or beginner-friendly trails with easier riding terrains for the less experienced.

There is another enjoyable way to explore scenic Big Bear Valley and the hundreds of miles of back country national forest surrounding the lake. Big Bear Off-Road Adventures takes visitors on back country tours into areas normally seen only by hikers.

Explore Big Bear's peaceful winter setting by horseback. A relaxing ride into the wilderness is a splendid way to connect with nature and enjoy the pleasantries of the fresh mountain air. These exciting trips range in duration from a couple of hours to a full day's adventure to historic Holcomb Valley, Butler Peak, and Rose Mine.

Get Married! Of course, who could resist a lakefront wedding. Imagine the bride and groom beneath a lakeside arch covered with flowers, a gentile breeze caressing the water as they profess their vows in a garden setting. Several venues in Big Bear offer complete wedding packages but only a few offer lakefront settings. The Edgewater Inn and Resort caters to small parties of 50 or less and provides intimate lakefront weddings covering every detail from start to finish. The Robinhood Resort is our recommendation for 50 to 120 people and the Marina Resort or the Northwoods Inn will provide for those grand parties of 100 or more. Have your wedding planner contact us to arrange all the details of your very own lakeside wedding. Need a wedding planner? No Worries! Just call us.

A visit to Moonridge Animal Park makes for great family fun. Open weekends year-round and daily throughout the summer, the 11-acre Park serves as temporary quarters for orphaned and injured wildlife until they can be returned to their natural habitat. Permanent "residents" include a family of Grizzly bears, bobcats, wolves, mountain lion and snow leopard, as well as dozens of smaller animals, such as coyotes, foxes, eagles and other birds. A pair of bison, reflecting the ancient wildlife of the region, also lives at the Park. Both guided and self-guided tours are available and provide an excellent first-hand look into mountain wildlife and the delicate balance of nature.

Adjacent to Moonridge Animal Park, golfers find their own alpine paradise at Bear Mountain Golf Course, 9-holes of mountain meadows, streams and challenging fairways. Open May through November; this regulation course is located at the base of Bear Mountain Ski Resort. Balls fly higher and farther at Bear Mountain Golf Course.

Big Bear Valley was first occupied by the Serrano Indians approximately 3,000 years ago. In 1845, while in pursuit of Indians, Benjamin D. Wilson discovered and named Bear Valley because "the place was alive with bears!" In 1860 William Holcomb was hunting bear and discovered gold instead! What followed was Southern California's largest gold rush.

Big Bear's first dam, completed in 1884, was soon followed by the Valley's first hotel in 1888. In 1949 the first ski resort opened and Big Bear Lake soon became Southern California's favorite mountain getaway.

Hollywood also has a history in Big Bear. Since the filming of "The Call of the North" in 1914, so many motion pictures have been shot in Big Bear Valley that it has been called "Hollywood's back lot."

"Paint Your Wagon," "The Parent Trap," "Bonanza," "Kissin' Cousins," "Yukon Gold" and "Dr. Dolittle" are just a few of the memorable films that have been shot on location in Big Bear Valley.

• Big Bear Lake Resort Association Information
• Pleasure Point Marina Web Site
• Big Bear Marina Web Site
• Bear Mountain Resorts Web Site
• Big Bear Off-Road Adventures Web Site
• Bear Mountain Golf Course Web Site
• Moonridge Animal Park Web Site
• California Department of Fish and Game Web Site
• The San Gorgonio Wilderness Association
• How to Catch Rainbow Trout
• Local hikes Web Site
• Coleman Outdoor Adventure Guide Web Site
• Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Big Bear

Just say, "Put me on the EDGE!"