Camping in the summertime is absolutely a must! And with Alpine Meadows Retreat Center in Angelus…read moreOaks, California near the city of Big Bear Lake it's a place I trust! Alpine Meadows Retreat Center which borders Camp Mountain Chai (pronounced Hi) is a larger spacious multi-level and terrain center as well as site has several bunk cabins, buildings and a main lodge center with tons of ammentinities including soccer field, basketball court, fire circles, mini amphitheater, ropes courses, swimming pool, gathering spot cabin filled with board games, sound system, tv monitors, snacks, popcorn machine, etc. There's a main theater for announcements, shows, classes, etc which is connected to the kitchen and dinning areas not to mention several other facilities. Water areas for refilling bottles or jugs and usually cold water and beverages filled by staff daily. Vending machines with mainly soft drinks only. Plenty of restrooms throughout the entire space in cabins or various rooms and buildings. I was able to attend 9 day event for 4 days with an organization that rented out the area for the duration of 10 days (including set-up and clean-up/breakdown) with the Community of Men enjoying Naturism group and had probably the best vacation getaway gathering retreat camp experience ever especially as an adult lol The group organized some many great events, contest, activities (both in and outdoors), daily hikes, sporting, classes (including zumba and hip hop line dancing - I did both!) and much much more. The meals were amazing including the vegan and vegetarian options that were made available. Tons of BYOB/D made for a huge supply for any and all during social hours and throughout the evening. Everyone at Alpine Meadows, Camp Mt Chai and the C.M.E.N. group did such an amazing job accommodating and providing services through the duration that I can't thank every enough. I'm pretty sure I attended this site in my early teens for a youth leadership and development camp with the Red Cross of America back in 2001/2002 as I had such a sense of nostalgia the entire time including climbing up those massive steps on both the "treacherous" O.O and not so treacherous inclines from the bunk level up to the recreation and rope course areas. Unloading and loading vehicles can be easy as the paths and roads are wide enough for most vehicles to maneuver around, just try not to block the main road for the parking area so vehicles can pass going in or out simultaneously. Enjoy this retreat experience with your group to the fullest, soak of the stars, memories, human interactions and connections and cherish you semi-vacay. Looking up at the stars, spotting beautiful blue jays and breathing in fresh mountain air... It's easy for me to say... 7000+ ft up and away is the way!

Nestled in the mountains, this is a decent retreat center…read more There are a lot of cabins and meeting halls to accommodate multiple groups. The cabins can sleep up to 20 people, but it's not the most comfortable. It's very bare bones and feels old, but everything works. All the beds are bunk beds with a basic sleeping pad; make sure you bring your own sleeping bag and pillow. The bathrooms run on a septic system, so be judicious about what you flush. All the cabins are left unlocked for the duration of your stay, and that's a bit unsettling. We spent 2 nights here, with 30 people across 3 cabins, and didn't have any issues with theft. The meeting rooms come with coffee machines, a giant cooler of water, a fridge, a microwave, and as many chairs as you'll need. There's also a projector, speakers, and a control panel to hook up instruments and microphones. Microphones and accessories are provided by the staff. A wide range of activities are available to help with team building or alleviate cabin fever. There's a basketball court with a bunch of balls, but a vast majority of them are deflated and/or have no grip left. Tackle the rock-climbing wall or the ropes course to overcome your fear of heights. Work on your aim and hunting skills in the archery range, or run around the synthetic turf ball field to improve your conditioning. There's also a pool, some swings, a small jungle gym, and a life-sized foosball table. Meals are buffet style and offered 3 times a day. Breakfast has a cereal bar, instant oatmeal, packaged yogurts, and fresh fruits. The kitchen whips up some scrambled eggs, French toast, pancakes, soy based sausage, and potatoes. Lunch has some pasta, salad, and veggies. Dinner was roast beef and mashed potatoes one night, and rotisserie chicken with rice the other. A full salad bar is offered during lunch and dinner. The food is decent, and I appreciate the effort the staff puts into it, but it's not going to win any cooking awards. Out of everything I ate, the chicken was easily the best. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. A walkie-talkie is provided to your group leader for communication with the staff, and there's someone available at all times. Basic first aid is offered, but anything more serious is 45 minutes away, or 75 minutes to the nearest emergency room. The grounds and facilities are well maintained, but the facilities are in major need of a renovation. The location has very little, if any, cellular service, so communication with friends and loved ones who aren't on site with you can be challenging.

Visiting Reject Ranch was an unforgettable experience that truly touched our heart. From the moment…read morewe arrived, it was clear that their mission to rescue and care for farm animals in need is carried out with dedication and genuine compassion. The animals at Reject Ranch are not just living beings but are treated with the utmost respect and kindness they deserve. Each animal has a unique personality, and interacting with them was a delightful experience that melted our heart. It was wonderful to see how well they were cared for in such a loving environment. A special mention goes to Kady, who was incredibly informative and helpful throughout our visit. Her knowledge and passion for the animals and their well-being were evident, making our interaction both educational and enjoyable. Her kindness allowed us to connect with the resident animals in a meaningful way. Meeting these loving creatures entirely altered my perception of farm animals and emphasized the importance of empathy and compassion for all living beings. We left Reject Ranch with a renewed sense of purpose and a desire to contribute to their mission. I wholeheartedly recommend visiting Reject Ranch. It's a place that enriches your understanding of animal welfare and inspires continuous support. We look forward to returning and continuing to support their wonderful cause, as once you meet these incredible animals, they stay in your heart forever."

From the owner: At Reject Ranch, our mission is to come to the aid of farm animals in dire need, and to provide…read morethem with a safe home through sanctuary or adoption. We strive to inspire empathy and compassion for all animals, by providing opportunities for people to interact with our rescued animals.

I was up fishing in the lake the Saturday morning a few weeks ago when it snowed really well…read more Around 10am we decided it was too cold and windy, not to mention it was snowing like crazy, so we stopped fishing and decided to start drinking. Or actually to continue drinking but someplace warmer. So I called the Legion and was told that they had opened early, since the bartender was worried if she waited till later she would be unable to get there because of the rapidly accumulating snow. Wow! Awesome attitude, one of the reasons why the Legion is so the best place to hang out with the best people in America. We packed up and made our way around the lake and had a great time before heading back down the hill.

Super friendly post! We try and visit different posts when we travel and the folks here were great…read more Have been coming to Big Bear for years and so glad we finally tried it.

Can't believe there aren't reviews for the best and hardest working Chamber of Commerce! As a…read morebusiness owner and Chamber represented business, I feel good in the future of doing business here in town. Great staff and fun events. Free Networking opportunities. Well represented in local politics. Great resource for visitors and locals.

Active participants in the effort to make Big Bear GREAT. Elegant, honest, hardworking group of…read morewomen and men. Inspiring to say the least. Leaders among their peers. Our town is Lucky to have them. Also the mixers are a real pleasure if you have never been. If you haven't yet ...give them a call.

YMCA'S Camp Edward's winter family camping was awesome! We…read morehad an amazing time. All the staff were so friendly and welcoming. We stayed in a cabin with all the kids and it is most definitely an unforgettable memory. The price included cabin, all meals in cafeteria, and lots of activities. We got to shot crossbows, wall climbing with zip line, hiking, arts and crafts, games, s'mores, and of course lots of snow to play in. The whole family really enjoyed everything! It was a magical place indeed!

In such a dark and uncertain time for my wife and I, while our son was in the NICU, the Inland…read moreEmpire Ronald McDonald House was the first beacon of light we experienced outside the hospital. We got to stay there for free, which was incredible due to being right across the street from our son in the NICU. The staff there were kind and very empathetic to our situation, and we got to meet other parents/families who were going through similar struggles. It's a place most people don't know fully about, but when you or someone you know has a child in the NICU, it's amazing that there is this place called the Inland Empire Ronald McDonald House; a place to call home away from home.

Had a great time volunteering here by making meals of love for the families staying here. The kids…read morewere friendly and thanked us for making food for them. They would approach us in the kitchen while we were cooking. Ahhh, my heart. I felt very touched. Penny was kind enough to give my group a tour. They don't advertise their volunteer events so highly recommend checking it out if you're looking for a team bonding or volunteer outing event. They need more volunteers to help with making breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They accept item and monetary donations too. Every donation helps this location non-profit. We will be back for the holidays! Thank you IE Ronald McDonald House!

I had a beyond expectation experience with Mindy and her daughter, even though at the end I didn't…read morechoose to go with the adorable and sweet boys Teddy and Khabib they brought for me to meet and interact with. Mindy provided a very personable, warm and extremely responsive service, made every effort to respond to my inquiry on Adopt-A-Pet and approving my application as well as just answering my questions and chatting with me about my potential cat baby's personality traits and his background story. She responded to emails as late as 11PM on a weekend and her demeanor was always welcoming and reassuring, like an old, caring friend. Mindy's words and actions convey that she truly truly love all of her rescued cat babies and she only wants what's best for them and she works extremely hard to find them good homes. I was very sad that neither cat babies from her rescue matched the particular personality I was looking for (I was trying to fill this big hole in my heart with the tragic loss of a stray cat named Cookie I cared for) and I really wished that given all the hard work she and her daughter put into, I'd adopt either Teddy or Khabib. Despite these big, affectionate sweet boys were not the best match I was searching for, I don't think any less of them, I sincerely hope they will find their forever home they deserve and I cannot be more grateful for Mindy's time, patience and understanding she's extended me and my family. If I had more capacity for an additional cat baby in the future after finding THE ONE, Mindy and her rescue is the first place I'd check out. If you are also searching for your feline soulmate, please look no further!!

I was going to leave this place a 1 star review. But after messaging back and forth, and actually…read moreunderstanding a few things. They get a 5 star.. I went to Petsmart to adopt a kitten names Cookies. I filled out the application, and was told by Petsmart to call them and see if I could get an immediate answer. I called them 17 times, no answer.....I was livid... I was even more upset when I get the notification via text message, that they would not allow me to adopt Cookies because I said we would "Declaw" if he started scratching or getting aggressive....I didn't even know what that meant...Again, I was pissed... We were messaging back and forth for well over 30 minutes and they explained to me what declawing was, and why it was bad for cats. Thank you, I was given useful information of something I knew nothing about. Granted, Cookies, was going to live his best life with us, but it wasn't meant to be. On to the next.

Julia Rodriguez/ parenting teacher has been known to make false reports to social workers and…read morepolice. Do not say anything to anyone in this organization that could possibly be twisted into something reportable. They pride themselves on abusing their "mandated reporter" status. If you have a DCFS Case, definitely do not deal with this agency for any services, they are designed to help build a case against you. beware!

Various programs that support and help underserved youth in the Inland Empire! My experience has…read moremostly been with the summer programs but I got a good impression of this place. The staff work hard to make children aware of health and substance abuse.

I had an excellent experience with Mykel doing my TV installation and couldn't be happier with the…read moreresults. From start to finish, communication was clear, prompt, and professional. He didn't just show up to mount the TV--he offered expert advice on the best placement for viewing, height, and overall setup, which made a huge difference. The installation itself was flawless and truly exceeded my expectations. Everything was done efficiently, neatly, and with great attention to detail. On top of that, the pricing was very reasonable for the level of service and expertise provided. Much lower than I had expected! If you're looking for a knowledgeable, reliable, and fairly priced TV installation service, I highly recommend Lange's TV, PC & Sound. I would absolutely use them again!

Mykel and his son installed two soundbars in quick time and offered excellent advice about other…read moreservices available. I will surely use his services in the future. Excellent.

This is the best Camp my kids ever been to!! They absolutely loved it, staff was happy and…read moreenergetic with kids Leaving electronics and all the commotion of the Valley behind this camp is a secluded Natural Amazing place. I was apprehensive to leave my kids for the first time on a away camp but the camp staff assured me my kids would have fun and boy they did... fishing, fire camps, archery, rock climbing, lake kayaking, hiking, swimming and just being around nature took my kids breath away my son literally told me "I never felt so peaceful like this week before" Definitely will be signing them up next year, thank you Sandra and all the staff for providing such a fun place for kids to be kids again, definitely a 10.

We had a mixed bag of adventures at Camp Nawakwa. Lol…read more There were a wide variety of activities and we had a camp staff to lead us in each. We loved the nature hike we had "Jelly" (a couple of our groups got rained out-obviously to no fault of the camp), we enjoyed archery, paint ball sling shots with "Stitch", painting wood necklaces, drama circle, and an amphitheater with breathtaking views of the the sunset. We loved our hike to the lake for canoeing. I too thought the pool was chilly but it was clean! Their swim rules seemed to be really intense to me. "No jumping off the edge of the pool" hmmm ok. In my opinion overly cautious. However, the Rock wall was a blast, equipment was in good condition. Hatchet throwing was hard, but fun. I wish the hatchets were sharp enough to grab the wood. It was rare anyone stuck one into the log rounds. Some combination of wood being too hard or axes not balanced correctly made that activity a struggle. We enjoyed trying. The team building activities were thoughtful and stretched our girls as individuals and forced team unity. Maybe my favorite part of all of camp. They lost a star for food quality and portions but the staff was always in good spirit. I also wish our group had the entire cafeteria to ourselves as we often were low on space at tables and often went outside as our designated seating was full. But the food was served on time and they got a lot of people food in timely fashion. They were organized. Our cabins were dry when it rained and i felt safe from the elements and wildlife that can live nearby. Some mattresses were thicker than others. I was comfortable enough for a week of camping. The plumbing struggled at times but not sure that was the camps fault or the 85 GIRLS who MAY have not disposed of things properly. Lol Overall I think with some retraining on camp cooking and a minor tweak here and there this would be a 5 star camp. The location was beautiful. The staff was friendly. The activities were super fun!