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Escape the frantic pace & pressures of urban life
for a relaxing & romantic getaway with the “bears”
at Big Bear Lake. Once you leave Orange County to
climb the San Bernardino Mountains and enter the
village of Big Bear Lake, the only things you need
to watch for are “bears.” You can’t avoid them.
Wherever you look, you’ll see “bears,” not the
grizzlies that once made Big Bear famous (they’re
gone), but Teddy Bear Pantry, Big Bear Candy, Super
Bear Arcade, Brown Bear Gifts, Bear Factory
Clothing, Big Bear Threads, Bear Skins, Boo Bears
Den, Beary Special Gifts…And these are just some of
the “bears” in the village.
There’s so much to discover in Big Bear that your
head will spin:
―You can see and learn about bears and many other
animals at the famous Moonridge Zoo (near Bear
Mountain; it’s open year-round) and the Big Bear
Museum (open from Memorial Day through the second
Sunday in October, off Greenway Drive by the
Airport), and the close-by Discovery Center.
―You’ll learn more about bears, the beautiful lake,
celebrities and movies filmed in the area by taking
a boat tour. One of the neatest trips is aboard “The
Pirate Ship,” which has been featured in films,
including “Time Bandits.” The 43-foot long,
1/3-scale galleon “sails” by famed Cartoon Voice
Noel (son of Mel) Blanc’s home (He shouted out
“What’s up, Doc?” when we went by). Capt. Pyle and
Pirate Don showed us the mountain retreats for
Olivia Newton-John, Michael Judge (creator of “King
of the Hill”), Richard Karnes (“Home Improvement”),
Woody Harrelson, Shirley Jones and many more as well
as where movies were filmed like “War Games,”
“Frankenstein” and “Shane.” They also give excited
fishermen aboard tips on where to catch Trout, Bass
and Catfish. Check with the Visitors Center for
various lake tours and times: 1-800-4-BIGBEAR.
―A
Bed & Breakfast Inn invites romancers and
relaxers. The Alpenhorn Bed & Breakfast, a four
diamond award-winner, features two acres of secluded
Alpine forest and incredible cooking from innkeepers
Robbie & Chuck Slemaker. The immaculate facility at
601 Knight Ave., which even has an alpenhorn, was
created to be “the type of place we’d like to
visit,” said Chuck, a former corporate executive who
flew over 135,000 miles a year.
―On around the lake in Big Bear City is another
tremendous Bed and Breakfast—Gold Mountain Manor,
1117 Anita Ave. Built in 1928, the historic log
mansion has been enjoyed by several Hollywood stars,
whose autographed photos testify to fondness for the
manor and its hosts. There’s even a Clark Gable
Room, in honor of the Academy Award-winning Actor
and his bride, Carole Lombard, who honeymooned in a
nearby cabin after their 1939 wedding. The stove
from that cabin is in the beautifully-decorated
room. Vivacious Manor Owner Cathy Weil, an avid
outdoors lover, shows guests where to hike, fish,
bike, ski and loads more activities.
―Big Bear features outdoor adventures for all ages
all four seasons, including skiing and snowboarding
at Snow Summit and Bear Mountain, golfing at Bear
Mountain Golf Course, Off-Road Excursion Trips to
see Gold Mining (which got its start in the
mid-1800s), Hiking along the Pacific Crest Trail,
Water & Jet Skiing—to name a few.
―One of the favorite things visitors to Big Bear
like to do is Eat. If you’re there in the Fall you
might think you’re in Europe since the fabulous
Oktoberfest (which just celebrated its 35th
year by the lake) offers log cutting, beer stein
carrying and a lot of other types of fun contests to
go along with the German-style food and drink. You
can also relish great German food as well as wonderful
Bar-B-Q ribs and chicken at the Old Country Inn,
41126 Big Bear Blvd. If it’s cowboy food, music and
atmosphere that you’re after, Cowboy Express, 40433
Lakeview Drive is a proven winner. There are a whole
lot of other delicious destinations for whatever
your food & drink desires are. Ask a local for their
favorite.
―If Art is your passion, there are some interesting
spots, including Timothy Wolcott Gallery featuring
fine art photography at 40700 Village Drive in Big
Bear Lake and Serenity Place, a fine arts and craft
destination at 1028 West Big Bear Blvd., Big Bear
City. Owners
Cindy
Jones and Louis Weiner
feature new artists in exhibits that change monthly.
―No matter what it is you’re looking for, the
experts to ask are the really friendly team at the
Big Bear Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center & Big
Bear Lake Resort Association, 630 Bartlett Road. The
Business Office and Visitors Center are open from
8am-5pm PST Monday-Friday, and from 9am to 5pm
Saturday and Sunday. You won’t find any nicer,
caring people anywhere. They’ll ensure you’ll have
the time of your life and find just what you’re
looking for. They all consider strangers friends
they haven’t met yet. Give them a call
1-800-4-BIGBEAR or pop in for a visit .It “bears”
checking out.
Debbie Stock and Craig MacDonald are travel
journalists whose work has appeared in Sunset
Magazine, Los Angeles Times, San Diego
Union-Tribune, Orange Country Register and numerous
other publications. You can contact Stock through
this web site. MacDonald can be reached through
Sierra Heritage magazine where his book,
California Gold Rush Glimpses, is sold.
Have you been to Big
Bear Lake lately? In the winter the mountain resort
provides snowboarding, snow skiing and tons of
cold-weather fun
while in the autumn, the crisp, cool air offers
opportunities to experience colorful leaves turning
to gold
and nights where you can actually wear a coat
outdoors!
Big Bear Lake has
changed! Not only are there a host of upscale Bed &
Breakfast resorts, there are also activities
throughout the year such as Oktoberfest, horseback
riding, mountain
biking, boating, shopping at Farmer's Market, art galleries,
dining and even wedding elopement in the very
romantic pine-scented wonderland. Big Bear Lake is a
destination to explore—the rising star of the mountain resorts.
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