Big Bear Lake is a quick getaway outside of Los Angeles & has a ton to offer year round. You can head up in the winter to see stunning snowfall or escape in the summertime for a quiet trip to the mountains. Whenever you go, you’re sure to spend lots of time both relaxing & exploring. Below are the best spots to eat, explore, stay & more from our recent trip to Big Bear Lake.
WHERE TO STAY:
Getaway House: Situated within the San Bernardino National Forest, directly in between Big Bear Lake & Lake Arrowhead, Getaway House is the perfect place to both escape & explore. The tiny home includes everything you could need for a getaway: the coziest bed with a stunning mountain view, food to cook on the stovetop, bathroom complete with a shower, shampoo, conditioner & body wash, heat & AC (for depending on the time of year you’re visiting), an outdoor seating area & fire pit – the list goes on & on. Intentionally, wifi is the one thing they don’t provide however we happened to have limited cell service using data but we chose to try & just put our phones aside. The absolute best part of Getaway House is the view from the bed. The entire right wall of the bed is a window that looks out to the forest & makes for the coziest setting.
P.S. if you want $25 off your stay at a Getaway House, use code “PUBLICLIVES25” at checkout!
WHERE TO EXPLORE:
Ski Spots: Bear Mountain & Snow Summit are the two biggest & most popular slopes in Big Bear. Both provide amazing views of Big Bear village, lake & mountains.
Big Bear Lake: Whether you take a drive or go for a walk around Big Bear Lake, you’re in for a visual treat. While the entire walk around the lake would be about 23 miles, every piece of it is absolutely stunning & a great way to take in all Big Bear has to offer.
Lake Arrowhead: About an hour away from Big Bear Village is Lake Arrowhead village. Another town situated in the forest & on a lake, if you’re spending a few days in Big Bear it’s worth taking a trip to see Lake Arrowhead & all it has to offer.
Hiking: There are so many hiking paths in Big Bear which makes sense since you’re in the middle of a national forest. Some of the best are: Alpine Pedal Path, Woodland Trail, Castle Rock Hike, Stanfield Cutoff, Cougar Crest Trail, & around Big Bear Lake.
Tubing at Big Bear Snowplay: If you happen to be in Big Bear during the wintertime, a super fun activity is tubing at Big Bear Snowplay. It’s a fun way to relax while also taking in spectacular views.
Big Bear Village: Big Bear Village is full of amazing restaurants & cute shops. Our favorite store in Big Bear Village was O Koo Ran which has women’s clothing, funny dish towels, amazing coffee table books, games, puzzles & more.
WHERE TO EAT:
Royal Thai Cafe: We looooved the pad thai at this spot & while it’s situated directly in Big Bear Village we chose to do takeout & bring it back to our cabin which made for such a fun night!
Oakside Restaurant: Another spot in Big Bear Village, this cozy spot has a menu bigger than the restaurant itself. With enough options for the entire family to be happy, it’s also a great spot to take in the snowfall or village views. The veggie wrap was my favorite at this spot!
Other spots we heard were great & will checkout next time are: Black Diamond Tavern, Himalayan, Big Bear Local, Amangela’s Sandwich, Grizzly Manor Cafe, Saucy Mama’s Pizza, 572 Social & Old Country Inn.
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