Big bear is often the place where SoCal locals go to experience snow for the first time: Winter Season: 1. Skiing, snowboarding, hiking, tubing. Spring and Summer: 1. Rock climbing 2. Off-roading 3. Camping 4. Fireworks in 4th of July 5. Lake activities Fall: 1. The same as Spring and Summer except enjoy the village and the gelato+teahouse in town! Highly recommend coming up read more

They don't let you use water stuff if you didnt rent it from big bear. Waste of time and money.

End of April 2025 we spent a relaxful get away celebrating Grandpup's 8 th birthday. T Bebe's mom, Doc, rented a spacious, beautifully decorated and furnished 3 bedroom deluxe cabin from Cool Cabins. Don't be fooled as it gets chilly and we saw lovely flurries the day before we left and a light snowfall overnight. There was a squirrel that greeted us when we first arrived pulling into the driveway. Never saw or heard anyone in the neighborhood. Easy Market was down the street for some canned Starbucks coffee and Iced Tea. We didn't cook our meals but ate out except for one lunch when we brought home pot pies from Pickles that took 90 minutes in the oven. We had a really good breakfast(pizza size pancakes) and dinner(prime rib) which we found on Yelp. The other meals were fine as it was hit or miss in a new place. We came decades ago and the development is amazing. Be sure to drive to the Village beyond Marshall's as there are more shops. We entered a pet store where I bought their version of nose and paw butter for my own fur Bebe. Found some gifts to bring home for the grand kiddies. We even went grocery shopping for ice cream for the pie slices from a bakery. The only let down was our reservations for a one and a half hour paddle boat tour was cancelled cuz they didn't reach their 15 passenger requirement. Not all the shops were open or even the donut place but we did see some wild donkeys. No other critters. Probably we came off peak season but thanks to Netflix and the big screen tv it was all good. read more

See all

Big Bear is one of the cities in California that experience all 4 seasons. As a born and raised Californian, I have been missing out on the textbook "winter" you see in the movies. Before this trip, I had not seen snow! My boyfriend remedied my snow deficiency and planned a long weekend getaway for us here and it was more romantic than I imagined. The context of my review is during a Winter month: January. Before coming here, check out the Big Bear Live Cam on you-tube to gauge the weather. Make sure you have snow chains that are a fit for your car, as the drive up or down the mountain may require it, depending on the weather safety. I also prepared some waterproof boots. I already had waterproof jackets. I had to buy waterproof gloves to handle the snow. I was warned that cotton gloves would soak up and freeze your hands up. Also research can save you a lot of money because there were a lot of slopes and areas where it is free to visit and play to your heart's content. I honestly would have paid to go to do some of the activities that we ended up doing for free. Since it is a tourist town, you can expect some things to cost more. For nonperishable items, we began preparing things the week prior to our trip. On the day driving up, we stopped by to get perishable goods. Find the lodging option that is best for you and your needs. The location and the amenities are important factors that will impact your trip. I absolutely adored the AirBnb we booked. One thing that seems to be unique to Big Bear is that you will be expected to take your trash and dump it at a designated site. I feel like it should be included since you pay AirBnb cleaning fees, but it sounds like a common practice relative to the area. read more

See all

I imagined by the intriguing architecture and decore the food would be matched evenly. Not so! I was disappointed to only find domestic wines on the wine list. A few imports, perhaps a chianti would pare well with the decor. I chose a $13. glass of cabernet which was palatable, yet not even a half of a wine glass full. The only choice for a steak was a N.Y. Strip. for $41. I ordered it rare and got served a medium rare steak. I had a good flavor but the texture of the beef was nowhere near worthy of $41. price tag. The service was mediocre and insincere. Lastly, the receipt showed "Pinot Noir × 4 " (we had ordered only 1)which equated to a $24. overcharge. I feel a small compensation for the overcharge would have been appropriate. Mike.Cross at the piano was very good. He and his music was cordial, inviting and sincere. I want be back. read more

What a wonderful place to unwind and relax. With the greenery and all.. Ahhh you'll enjoy life. You'll appreciate more the beauty when it is not crowded. Lots of hiking places. read more

See all

Too Tired from Holiday trips but I'm also so very Happy that my Son is Happy . We came home and pay our house/ dog sitter and grab Bambam ( our dog ) , then pick up my son's friends and drove straight to BIG BEAR LAKE CALIFORNIA. One of our Traditions every year is to be in this place called BIG BEAR LAKE CALIFORNIA. There are 4 PLACES we come to visit in BIG BEAR and they are : * ALPINE SLIDE * SNOW SUMMIT * SNOW VALLEY * BOULDER BAY PARK These places are the ones with the most SNOW ACTIVITIES that you can find. But among the 4 , the ALPINE SLIDE at MAGIC MOUNTAIN has the MOST KIDS ACTIVITIES, I believe they have 6 to 7 activities to do for Family Fun while in BIG BEAR. Coming in Big Bear we NEVER as in NEVER miss out to pass this place called BOULDER BAY PARK. It's Really Nice to play around, especially when there's a lot of snow. And also we always pass by this place called " THE VILLAGE, this is where you gonna find a couple of good restaurants and shops. BIG BEAR is a really Nice place for year-round activities. read more

See all

Big bear is amazing place to go. So much to do out there. Wonderful fresh air and great restaurants to eat at. I have always loves it

Good mountain, great staff. Terrible layout for tickets, guest services. Lines took 1.5 hours. Sold parking that they did not have. Walked over a mile with a 9 year old and skis. Got into the park at 1. What a joke.​ read more

The Bear is shangri-la Monday through Thursday when its a quaint village in the mountains. Friday and Saturday it's a traffic jam on narrow roads. My review is for those weekdays when the air is clean, you can see for miles, and life is better in any of the 4 seasons. I visited one of my friends who bought a cabin on a private road for $2k back when they were giving them away. Many of the cabins, including hers, are on National Forest land, and no one knew if the government would let anyone keep their cabins. "Get Thee Off!" was a real possibility, so no one made upgrades or investments. That all changed when residents were given 99 year leases. Her neighbor recently sold for $500k. What price tranquility? Now we know. If you need an affordable place to stay, message me. I have another friend who rents his modest cabin (not on Natl Forest land) for a good price. read more

Big bear is a magical place of enchantment and joyful songs sang by birds that have migrated from lands as far as the Canadian frost. Big bear has given life to the thrill seeker, it has given breath to those who are trapped in everyday life. This place is a paradise it's magical it's extravagant a place that only exist in books and fairytales. I love coming here with friends and families simply to get away from the everyday life we all live read more

See all

Perfect place to get away for a few days. It made me rethink the city living aspect and possibly look at a future retirement plan to the mountains. Small enough of a town to feel cozy but just large enough to do a little bit of everything from shopping, hiking, and doing stuff on the lake. I prefer to be here when its not snowing but still dry and cold enough to be brisk and breathe the clean air. Probably will return sooner rather than later. read more

See all

Big Bear offers breathtaking views, as mountain peaks provide the best scenic backdrop for any photography session. Along with Big Bear Lake, and its forest, there is plenty to work with and capture here. read more

See all

Big bear is a greddy and unfriendly town to visitors. The parking lot near the lake is closed on public holiday, how welcome visitors to this town. When you park on the street , it without" no parking" sign, you thought is okay but sure got expensive traffic ticket, apparently set you up. Sure not coming back. If I want to see snow or enjoy ski, Vegas or other town is much better. I will not eat or shop here too, don't want to spend money to this unfriendly town. read more

Big Bear has always been my number 1 ski/snowboard resort in SoCal. It may be because I grew up in the area and I've become fond of it. Either way, Big Bear has always been a great place for all my winter and summer staycation needs. It may be a further drive than Mountain High or Mt. Baldy, but I just can't give up all the qualities Big Bear has to offer. From it's fresh powder and amazing views of the lake, or even the local restaurants and shops near by, it has never been a dissapointment. If you're looking to get away from the city and need a place to relax, I highly recommend Big Bear anytime of the year. read more

I visit Big Bear once a year to hit the slopes. Me and a group of friends always rent out a cabin and wreak havoc, forgetting about the reality that awaits us back home. Big Bear in the winter is beautiful. It gets really cold, but don't bring too many warm things like sweaters and blankets...give yourself an excuse to cuddle. read more

Big bear is so relaxing and it's such a great escape from the city noise. I felt like "one with nature" here! The cabin that I stayed in was huge! In a great quiet neighborhood and wasn't too far from the small towns shopping. This was my first time to Big Bear (2012) and I enjoyed every moment of it. read more

all you dumb ass ppl from la stop coming and complaining about covid when you should be at home

Big Bear bills itself as the area's only four-season resort. Indeed, it's a great place to visit, especially given the high cost of gasoline. It's not too far from just about any Southern California location. There are more big city chains present today than I remember as a junior high student on my first trip up the mountain with a church youth group. The main thoroughfare has a Hallmark, Kmart, Stater Brothers, Vons, Dollar Tree, Starbucks and a number of familiar restaurants like Sizzler, Denny's, KFC, Taco Bell, McDonalds, El Polo Loco, Dominos Pizza and Carl's Jr. There are plenty of activities, some more accessible than others depending on the time of year: fishing, a zoo, a sky chair, skiing (of course!), a marina, paddle boats, a 90-minute riverboat cruise, lakeside parks, campgrounds, hiking trails, the Discovery Center, a shopping district ("The Village"), antique shops and small eateries, many of which are family owned. For a drive of less than an hour you can also visit Lake Arrowhead. No doubt there is plenty more to discover but it will take return visits to uncover all of Big Bear's best kept secrets! Having spent time here two years in a row my overall impression is that it is difficult to get the "BIg Bear experience" during weekdays. This town is ideal for the two-day weekend stay but options narrow considerably during the week, especially during the off-season, in spite of its billing as a year-around destination. My feeling? Big Bear Chamber of Commerce and the local City Council ought to get together on a strategy for keeping visitors spending cash. Firstly, it's near impossible to go to a single spot online or in print that shows all of the area restaurants, activities, lodging and the like. Yelp has by far been my best resource for stringing together a vacation plan. The next best bet is to pick up visitor leaflets upon arrival (for that, stop in to the Visitors' Center and select area restaurants). Notably, a number of the mom 'n pop dining and retail destinations are defunct (with signage, shuttered buildings and visitor literature still referencing them). Still, this town can and does bustle on the weekends, especially in The Village. But what to do for the couple seeking out a calmer weekday scene? Not much, sadly. We struck out driving to places that turned out to be closed. Owners either A) do not post store hours or B) close whenever they feel like it despite whatever hours are posted. Some business owners both in The Village shopping district "get it" -- they offer at least some hours 7 days a week -- whereas others are either closed Monday-Tuesday or Tuesday-Wednesday. Consequently, it isn't easy to stage a one-day "shopper's excursion" because one will need to be in town multiple days to hit all the area shops. Visitors who don't want to miss any of Big Bear's nooks 'n crannies would do well to skip brunch, sleep-ins or breakfasts in bed in favor of a quick bite to eat. Likewise, after-dinner strolls are largely out of the question because the town rolls up early. Even Denny's is not open late, not here. (For late-night eaters, McDonald's is your only 24/7 bet.) Many shops close at hours us "city folk" fail to anticipate, 4:30 p.m. being one of them. My problem with this isn't that businesses don't operate 24/7. Small business owners need time off too! My objection is that there is very little coordination amongst them. For those doing business in The Village, my feeling is that it should operate much like a mall with occupants committed to a common set of operating hours. For those outside The Village it gets trickier but here are my general thoughts, for what they are worth to business operators: Take stock of where you are. Many visitors trek up to Big Bear for the outdoor attractions, whether it is picnicking by the lake, snowboarding or mountain biking, whereas breakfast hours may be spent in area dining establishments, at a campground or in a cozy cabin. As such, it's unlikely for local retailers to obtain an 8-10 a.m. morning crowd the way they might attract 5-7 p.m. foot traffic. Might it make sense to open later and to cater to the after-dinner crowd? In any event, a vacation destination isn't the place to force visitors choose between dining vs. shopping vs. the great outdoors. The right mix of operating hours could facilitate the best of all worlds! I don't know about others but when I'm on vacation I like enjoying things like breakfast in bed, sleeping in late, daytime hours taking in the scenery and late afternoons/evenings exploring local shops before or just after dinner. With so many businesses vacancies thanks to the recession, a savvy citywide business strategy could maximize tourism dollars in the Big Bear community -- true to the spirit of a year-around destination. read more

Be careful which weekend you plan to go up to Big Bear and when you plan to come back. It took me 5 hours to get down the mountain due to the Amount of people on the mountain. read more

beautiful view,freash air, great place to go and get away from the city