I've been here twice now for their music in the woods concerts in the summer and both times, it's…read morebeen a blast. There are hiking paths around which I haven't done yet. There is a small parking lot if you are one of the earlier folks there for that day. It's a little building where they do have restrooms. Everyone is friendly.

The Big Bear Discovery Center is a place of just that…read more.. Discovery!! A place where Nature is the Star, but Nurture is equally as important. A place where the Great Outdoors is embraced and being one with Nature is encouraged by all. Welcome to the Big Bear Discovery Center! While visiting our friends at their cabin in Beautiful Big Bear, we decided to take the kids to the Discovery Center to see what it was all about. Upon walking into the building, we were immediately immersed into the wildlife that makes up this areas landscape. From the avian wildlife, to the reptiles, to the large mammals that call Big Bear Home, the Discovery Center gave a great snapshot of what nature lives in these mountains. In addition, the various types of rock, plants and trees were also on display which showcased the unique landscape of the region. On the back part of the building, there was a decent sized gift shop where your young explorers can browse all of the nature related toys, books and gear to be a Jr. Ranger. But the fun didn't stop there... Out front, they had a table for kids to do a hands on activity. The day we went, kids could make their own bird feeder using a pine cone, peanut butter and bird seed. After making our homemade bird feeders, we took a short walk to the other side of the building where they had an outdoor area called Nature Discovery Zone where kids could play, dig, build things. There are other activities on site, but this is all we did on our visit. If you find yourself in the Big Bear area and have young kids, definitely a good place to come check out. They do have some snacks and drinks inside the gift shop, but I didn't see any actual hot food to eat. There are picnic benches and places you can sit and relax if you want to pack a lunch and eat in the outdoor area. Now... Who's ready to Discover the behind the scenes of Big Bear!

Took my girlfriend to Big Bear for the first time, and decided a boat tour would be a great thing…read moreto do. The tour was fantastic! I was surprised how much I learned about Big Bear on this tour. Our tour guide/narrator was great! (I believe his name was Hayden) My girlfriend and I were the only people on the upper deck of the boat because of the rain, so I was constantly asking questions during breaks in the narration. The process of setting this trip up was super easy from start to finish. I would highly recommend it to anyone.

Took the Miss Liberty for the 4th and it was a great experience. Check-in was easy, the boat was…read moreeasy to find, and we had a perfect view of the fireworks. They sell snacks and drinks on board (chips, water, energy drinks, beer, champagne and more), which was super convenient. Staff was friendly and on it the whole time. I'd definitely do this again for fireworks. Clean bathrooms on board as well. Guys if you read this, please add a 'Lady Liberty Venmo.'

yaaay thank you riddle routes! our group was looking for an…read moreactivity that allowed us to check out big bear village and learn history, riddle routes met us where we needed it! we learned about big bear history and saw so many big bear landmarks we hadn't seen or understood! this was an awesome experience, their customer support is also very kind and helpful. there was an initial issue after ordering but their support got me on the right path very quickly. thank you!!! i would very much recommend the big bear riddle route!

First off, our group consisted of adults only, and this was not our first scavenger hunt…read moreexperience. We received a Groupon for this, and yet even with the discounted price, we didn't really feel it was worth the cost. Had we actually paid $38 retail price for this, I would have been extremely disappointed. Their website had technical issues when trying to redeem our purchase. When we finally got through, the "app" was really just a link to an online survey site that asked you questions and you filled in the answers. It was really this low-tech website that made us feel as if it was a cheap experience. As for the questions themselves, some of them were interesting at best and some of them were very easy. This might make it nice for a family with young children, but for a group of adults, we didn't find it challenging enough. I did, however, enjoy some of the corny jokes and random facts. There was also some obvious advertising in it, which, again, made it feel like a cheap experience. Overall, I'd say if you're willing to pay the money, it makes for an interesting stroll through Big Bear. Otherwise, it's not a "must do" experience. As I mentioned before, this was not our first scavenger hunt experience, and if I were to rank all the scavenger hunts we have done, this would probably rank the lowest.

We did the "Dark Legends of Big Bear Hike" with Shauna and Howie during October. Wow was a fun…read moreexperience. The hike was at night and we were able to see the beautiful night sky, tall pine tree outlines in sky and a view of the lake. My husband and I had a blast listening to spooky big bear stories. You will be in for some fun surprises!!!! Shauna does day hikes for groups or private. We are going to book a day hike since we want to explore more of Big Bear after our fun experience!

Shauna is truly an expert guide. She makes sure her guests are prepared for the hike. She's…read moreincredibly informative about everything from plants to historical people, how the trail got to be there, where to find historic buildings, all about the lake, the local trails programs, even where to eat. Her enthusiasm is boundless. You can tell she loves what she does. She's also a Wilderness First Responder, CPR certified, and a member of the local search and rescue team. She carrys a full pack just in case anything happens while you're out there!

Been up to big bear at least four times in the last couple years but I've never really paid any…read moreattention to the helicopter tour advertisements, posted all over town. I guess I just always thought it would be way too much money. This time, while we were up here, I happen to be thumbing through the Big Bear guide book to the Valley at the hotel and came across the ad for these tours. Pricing was super reasonable, especially for a helicopter ride, which I would think is something on everyone's bucket list, or at least on mine anyway. We took the Kilo tour and even though it was a fantastic tour, for me and the kids, the best part was the takeoff and landing so if I were offering anyone advice on which tour to take, I'd suggest the Romeo. Once you're in the air, as you can imagine, you get a beautiful view of big Bear. The entire ride from takeoff to landing was super smooth. Cash is king up here so make sure you bring cash to get their excellent discount. The owner is the pilot and is a super experienced and a fantastic guy that really loves his job. I'm so glad that he decided to create this business so that folks like me can experience such a great activity.

We were so excited to see Big Bear helicopter reopening. We took the Tango Tour and had a thrilling…read more30 minute ride all around the Bear Valley. Such a fun and memorable experience. A must do!

Cap'n Paul was very friendly and nice even though there was only 4 in our party. I liked the…read morecelebrity stories in big bear.

Our family made our first trip up to Big Bear in late July, and the heat was pretty intense--even…read morefor being up in the mountains! Renting a boat from Big Bear Marina turned out to be the absolute highlight of our trip and far exceeded our expectations. We rented for an hour and a half to cruise around the lake, and the cool breeze out on the water was an instant relief from the hot weather. Even our two teenagers didn't complain once--which is a major win! They thoroughly enjoyed the ride and loved connecting to the Bluetooth speaker the marina provided so they could play their own music. It set such a fun vibe that I even found myself trying to dance on the boat (much to everyone's amusement). The heat eventually drove us home a day early, but this boat ride made the trip worthwhile. It's the one thing we'll definitely do again the next time we visit Big Bear!

An Absolute Must-Do in Big Bear! My daughter and I had the…read moremost incredible experience with Action Zipline Tours! From the moment we arrived to the final zipline, the entire experience was flawless, exhilarating, and deeply memorable.A massive shoutout to our guides--Cameron, Caroline, and RJ.They were absolute rockstars! They took the time to meticulously follow and explain every single safety measure, which completely set our minds at ease and allowed us to just enjoy the thrill. Not only were they highly professional and safety-conscious, but they also made the entire tour incredibly fun, engaging, and interesting with their great energy and local knowledge. A special thanks to the owner, Alexis, for running such a fantastic operation and hiring such efficient, top-tier staff. It's clear that guest safety and satisfaction are the absolute highest priorities here. If you are visiting Big Bear, do not miss out on this tour! We will definitely be back.

This was so much fun. The staff was great and fun! I would definitely recommend doing this but go…read morestraight to the website. They took pics as we went along as well. I would definitely do that again.

This was hands down one of the best tours I have ever experienced. It is a bit daunting to think…read moreabout finding the tour group off a Joshua Tree parking lot at night, but the logistics and communication by Molly and Tony were exceptional, with Cuz onsite. They are also quick responders to any questions. Every aspect of the experience has been perfected. I don't know much about astronomy and figured this tour would help point out some constellations for us. It was SO much more, full of Tony's impassioned stories from different cultures about the stars . His enthusiasm is contagious and knowledge is impressive. The tour is totally unscripted yet packed with great stories and just the right amount of interaction. It is a great and inspiring story how the business was developed. They offer drinks and snacks as well as blankets and gravity chairs, with flameless candles lighting where to step. The two other highlights for us were the UFO military grade goggles that make the stars and planets pop as they did for our ancestors, prior to light pollution. The equipment is clearly state of the art. The slow exposure portrait Tony takes at the end is absolutely beautiful and frameable. I left wanting to do further research on the stars, and would repeat these tours again for sure.

If you're into seeing the night sky the way God intended for us to see, then these are the guys to…read morehookup with. You will see things that will not only educate you, but will blow your mind. Tony is a great storyteller and his sidekick Kevin is hoot as well. It made our whole stay worth it. When we come back we'll be hooking up A2WS again.

Very terrible rental company. I tried calling numerous times and there was no one available to…read moreanswer my call. Then after many hours passed, I had completely lost the desire to even rent a boat I get a text with a link to the pricing and inventory page. Is this a joke? These guys apparently are getting a quick return on their investment, because $9,000 for a days rental for a Mid-Level Mastercraft is absolutely insane! Might as well use that for a deposit on purchasing one yourself.

Went here to rent a boat on the whim, got a fishing boat for 2 hours shortly after for $105 otd!…read more The crew is very nice and helpful! Would definitely come back and utilize their rentals again!

This was one of the most unique and incredible experiences…read more I found Selena on AirBnB Experiences and after reading the reviews knew I had to participate in Forest Bathing. We met at a public parking lot and she drove us in her SUV up into the mountains, to her secret spot in the forest. She provided lots of interesting, educational info along the 15 minute drive. Once we arrived, the experience started. She guided a moderate hike into the forest, showing us all of her favorite things. Fresh water brooks, waterfalls, unique, bold, and beautiful trees. The hike was fairly moderate, Indian Jones-esq at times, nothing too crazy, but not easy. As a plus size/not very active girl, I was able to do it. My 62 year old mom kept up fairly well too! Selena took lots of short breaks for us to catch our breath (elevation for flatlanders is rough!), gave us lots of educational info about what we were seeing, smelling, and hearing. She even provided us with a few edible plants along the way. The hike up to the fresh water source was truly spectacular. Once there we emptied our water bottles and filled them with the ice cold fresh water and guzzled it down. So crisp and clean and YUM! The hike back was just as refreshing. We then spent some time wind bathing, cutting chords, and energy healing, followed by 35 minutes of quiet time meandering the forest on our own. Afterwards we drank a fresh brewed tea Selena had made using ingredients she collected along our hike, and some healthy snacks and more fresh water, which she provided. It was 3 hours of really amazing, energizing, active, relaxing, healing Forest Bathing and for $40pp it was well worth it!