This review is long over due however, very necessary for me to write about Big Bear Lake Visitors…read moreCenter. Big Bear at large is close to my heart because its easy for me to get to from LA County proper. I ski at Big Bear (Or Snow Valley or Snow Summit) when the snow permits. It's an easy drive for me to and from LA. But lately, over the past 3 years, I've been so in love with Shadow and Jackie, the Bald Eagle celebrity natives. OK- here is my story: My travel buddy and I drive from LA and made a couple stops along the way (One was in Ontario for a party we attended) and the second was Snow Summit to check out the ski conditions. However, my main purpose was to visit and get a real live view of Shadow and Jackie, the bald eagles. The Big Bear Lake Visitors Center was the place to gather your information. They gave us the best times to look for Jackie and Shadow but more important, they have their volunteer rangers who set up long range telescopes over at Fawn's to view the magnificent birds. There is a board at the entrance which lists all activities around the area; for hikers, bikers, eagle viewers alike. Merch for sale Informative with respect to the native animals, birds and the li,e Ample parking Clean restrooms

We just popped in to see what was inside as we were visitors in big bear and were pleasantly…read morepleased with what we found! That was neat. They had a display on the eagle nest, as that is such a popular thing with people, that included a live feed. The folks behind the information desk were very friendly and helpful. We really enjoy the photo area, you can have your picture taken and put over three different backgrounds, with choice of emailing or having the picture printed out right there for you to take with you. Kind of nice to have a physical picture for a change as everyone seems to just provide digital these days. Great place for information for any visitor to big Bear!

Where does one go when they're looking for directions to find shadow and Jackie?…read more #flylikeaneagle Here is my story I have been watching the bald eagles in the big Bear San Bernardino territory. I have been watching them for a few years now. Little did I know the big bear discovery center provides information on every type of animal in the area, every type of bird in the area, every type of everything in the area, is found at this discovery center My first visit there and definitely not my last, I plan to learn more about the majestic bald eagles that fly around the big bear San Bernardino mountains Also, in the vicinity are many hiking trails so, are you hikers take note to this review About an hour and a half outside of Los Angeles proper you can get to the big bear vicinity. Do your due diligence and find out all the other experiences you can receive from this area. Make your pic and get additional knowledgeable information from the big Bear discovery center. Go there, be there, or, be square

I have been coming here for years, but this was the first time we tried the guided hike. The walk…read moreis not long or hard, but it was fun and very informative. The visitor center has snacks and drinks for sale, clean restrooms, and a few small activities for kids. This is a great spot to hike, take a break during a bike ride, or just stop by and enjoy the area.

Great time on the Zipline in Big Bear Lake. As seniors the tour guide & support help us feel…read morecomfortable & safe. Jim S

We recently planned a family trip to Big Bear and booked a tour with Big Bear Zipline for a very…read morespecial celebration involving multiple family birthdays. Unfortunately, due to a mistake on our end when marking our calendar, we missed our original booking date. We absolutely acknowledged and took full responsibility for the error, and respectfully reached out to Big Bear Zipline to explain the situation and see what options were available to salvage the experience. As shown in the attached screenshots, we approached the situation kindly, respectfully, and understanding that businesses must balance policies with customer service. We shared that we were not asking for a free experience, but simply hoped for some understanding given the circumstances and the significant payment we had already made. Despite our efforts to find a middle ground, the business remained firm, reiterating that although they "have compassion," they would not accommodate further without additional payment. While we respected their right to enforce their policy, the interaction felt very transactional, and sadly did not reflect the spirit of hospitality we had hoped for when planning a meaningful family trip. We received one email when we purchased the tickets two months ago and one phone call 10 minutes before our scheduled reservation. In the end, it may have been a blessing in disguise. We explored other activities around Big Bear that felt incredibly welcoming, fun, and family-oriented -- experiences that created beautiful memories we will cherish for a lifetime. We share this review not out of anger, but to offer honest feedback: mistakes happen, and sometimes, a little flexibility and kindness could leave a much bigger, positive impact on families looking to create lasting memories.

Love this company! We booked the most amazing cabin in 2023 and are heading back again, of course…read morebooking through them. The entire process is seamless and the team is so pleasant to work with, especially Ally. Ally truly goes above and beyond. She's incredibly informative, thoughtful, and makes sure you have all the intel you need before your trip. She even shared helpful local resources like bensweather.com for updates from their local meteorologist and pointed me to where to check road conditions, then followed up with an email including everything to make it easy. She also gave the best cabin recommendations tailored to what we were looking for. You can just tell she genuinely loves helping people. She makes you feel less like a customer and more like family. Pro tip: it's way more affordable to book directly through them than through Airbnb or other third party sites. Highly recommend!

I had an amazing experience with Ally and Ernesto at Destination Big Bear. I was in a really…read morestressful situation after I lost my ID at an Airbnb, and they went above and beyond to help me navigate everything. They were patient, professional, and genuinely cared about making sure I was okay and taken care of. What could've been a nightmare turned into a smooth experience because of their help. I'm so grateful for their help and highly recommend Destination Big Bear -- especially Ally and Ernesto. True customer service like this is rare. Thank you both so much!

My husband & I had a wonderful date night staying at Castlewood Cottages recently. We stayed in the…read morehaunted manor cabin. The attention to detail was beautiful & the room was sparkling clean, bed & pillows were soft. We had an amazing night stay , thank you so much!

I have had these cottages on my list for YEARS. When we first pulled up I was a little worried…read more This place doesn't look the best from the outside, just being very honest. Then we parked and the check in area was locked so we started to panic but luckily someone came right away. The maps given for directions were poor but that was the end of the bad. The room was amazing! It was huge and beautifully decorated. They also had cute costumes in the room for you to use to dress up and take pictures. The room was very well cleaned and this is greatly appreciated, especially since the room was large and had a running water feature. Can't wait to come back and stay in another room.

Was very pleased with efficiency and courtesy by Lake Patrol over this past weekend…read more Curious, for safety shouldn't buoyies be lit, especially at 5 mph wake zone and entrances to Marinas?

Thank You Lake Patrol On Big Bear Lake…read more @musicmamamakesmovies8122  When my husband and I got married way back in 1986, we invested in a really tiny little 1 bedroom cabin up in the Moonridge area in Big Bear Lake. A few years later, we were able to upgrade to a larger home. And then 15 years after that, we finally found our dream getaway home on the lake. It is an A-frame cabin located on Mallard Bay Lagoon. Because the lake level is dependent on water from rain and snow, there have been some years where our lagoon has completely dried up. It is more a muddy meadow than a lagoon and people can and do walk through it. When we first bought the cabin, the lake level was all the way up to the grass at around 16 feet, and it was awesome for canoeing, paddle boarding, and swimming. Because it is a protected 3 mile an hour "No Wake" lagoon, you don't have speed boats going by. So a lot of people find our peaceful lagoon and come in to swim or have lunch and just chill on their boat. We also get a lot of paddle boarders and canoes. Fortunately this year the lake level in our lagoon is up to 8 feet. And that is enough for us to get our boat and canoe set up at our dock. So during that summer and early fall, we love to take the boat out on the lake, big bear lake is 16 miles long and almost a mile wide at the widest part. So there is a lot of lake, a lot of people who go boating on it and a lot of potential problems. We have seen boats break down in the middle of the lake and have been able to assist a few people in trouble. We've done about a dozen rescues over the years. They have included a couple who fell off their JetSki and couldn't swim, and another tourist unfamiliar with the lake who managed to ground their boat on dry land! We have felt honored to have been in the right place at the right time to help with these rescues. But the real heroes for lake rescues are the Lake Patrol guys. They patrol the lake in their silver boats and are available for almost everything. Including issuing speeding tickets, warnings for not having enough flotation devices, citations for not having the proper permits displayed on the boat and other annoying stops. But this video is a tribute to their amazing rescues for thousands of boaters who have found themselves in various types of trouble out on the lake. These skilled and professional Lake Patrol guys are essential to keeping people safe because as I mention it in the text captions for this video, people can be stupid! I don't want to single out teenage boys, but you know who you are! Anyone can have engine trouble run out of gas or simply get lost. And our awesome Lake Patrol is there to assist, sometimes even within seconds or minutes, but you never have to wait too long to get help from them. And they are so awesome about helping everyone enjoying this beautiful lake. This particular video was inspired by a Lake Patrol boat and officer who was towing in our neighbors boat. It had come loose from the ties and was apparently floating out to the deep water when the Lake Patrol caught it and brought it back to the dock. Curt and I were just about to head back to Northridge, I was out on the deck finishing closing up for winter and saw him bringing the boat back. So I did what I always do, which is bring out my trusty iPhone and film his kind deed. Thanks Lake Patrol! This video is to let you know how much you are appreciated!

Great location if you want to stay in the village area in Big Bear! Staff is friendly and the rooms…read moreare cozy and clean. Feels like you're in a cabin since it has a living room and kitchen area! Overall wonderful experience:)

Stumbled upon this place via Booking.com after driving to all possible campgrounds in the area and…read morehad no luck in finding a site for the night. I've circled this village more times than I can count and I would have never known this lodge existed. Tucked in the center of the Village with its own parking lot, this location is prime. Who would've known this lodge existed next to my favorite tea & gelato place. Check in is a breeze, the owners live on site. The room we booked was good for 6 and for the 3 of us, it was huge. One masters bedroom with a king bed and the bathroom, outside in the living area was a twin bunk, and a queen sofa bed. Fully functioning kitchen with the basics. A clean fridge and stocked with towels and the built in shampoo, conditioner, soap dispenser. This place doesn't have a/c but they provide fans and it stayed cool enough. Within walking distance to the lake, restaurants, and convenient stores. The rates are very reasonable, they even offered us a great discounted price if we stayed an extra night. We'll take up on that offer next time. Free WiFi, you just need to ask for the PW upon checking in. The only downside for light sleepers, is that if you keep your windows open, you can hear people hanging out on the streets next to the bars after hours... but we didn't mind. Great service & staff was very accommodating.

Thank you sky ride team for all your help to accommodate an urgent same day ride for us down to LA…read morefrom big bear on a Sunday afternoon. Genevieve you have shown such a great customer service with care and patience for our sudden last minute ride request. Andrew our driver was so friendly, nice person, and such a great and safe driver. I can't stop thanking you sky ride for your help accommodating a sudden and safe ride with such a friendly nice staff.

Beyond helpful with an urgent pickup for my celebrity client. The driver Gerald went above and…read morebeyond what was asked. Waiting for the client after drop off to help watch his bags while he got his rental car. I will for sure be using them again!

Perched where the rugged timber meets the glassy expanse of the lake, Hotel Marina Riviera is a…read moremasterclass in atmospheric alchemy. It feels as though a chic, mid-century modern salon collided beautifully with a high-toned, rustic American West outpost. The architecture honors the soaring terrain of Big Bear, using clean, geometric lines that trace the slope of the mountains, while the interior hums with a quiet, bespoke luxury. Smooth, high-end finishes--polished walnut and rich leathers--marry flawlessly with the coarse honesty of native stone. The crown jewel of this alpine sanctuary is its sublime wellness experience, an immaculate haven for the body and spirit. Here, the contrast therapy is poetic magic. You can purge the high-altitude chill in the deep, enveloping heat of the saunas, or melt into the bubbling, starry embrace of the outdoor hot tub. For the ultimate awakening, the shock of the pristine cold plunge cuts through fatigue like mountain air, shocking the senses into absolute, vibrant life. Steps away, the sparkling pool acts as a gateway to the elements. For those who hear the siren call of open water, the seamless transition from resort luxury to an open swim across the vast, pristine lake is utterly liberating. Through it all, the views are a visual symphony--the lake stretching out like hammered silver, cradled by a dark fortress of pines. The staff embodies the very spirit of the altitude: completely chill, attentive, and entirely devoid of pretension. From the crackle of the lakeside fire pits to the curated aesthetics, the vibes are flawless, offering an elevated, restorative sanctuary in the sky.

The staff are very nice but the pool is dingy and the rooms feel like a motel 6. If you pay the…read moreexorbitant fee for a cabin, expect to be across an extremely busy street from the actual hotel with no crosswalk, unless you wanna walk two blocks to the nearest light. Our cabin and our friends cabin we're both up against the cabin housekeeping must do laundry and the front porch had bags of garbage stacked on the front porch up into the ceiling so we felt like we were living in a garbage dump. There were no towels by the pool despite requesting twice. This didn't just happen one day this happened all three days that we were there. The cushions on the pool seats were disgusting and they felt too dirty to sit on. Housekeeping was sparse and as of this writing at 4:30, I had to request, they still make up the room. Tonight they're hosting a holiday event and as hotel guests, we will not have access to the restaurant or facilities unless we pay an additional $280. This is an overpriced motel six with very kind staff.