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Big Bear is an area of natural beauty and offers travelers a multitude of attractions all year round. The alpine site has a colorful history and an abundance of natural beauty, and is one of the country’s skiing & fishing landmarks.
If you are a couple seeking a romantic cabin in the snow, a family or group seeking a wide selection of outdoor pursuits, Big Bear offers it all.
Big Bear, CA includes great attractions such as Snow Summit, Big Bear Mountain, and Big Bear Marina. The top romantic getaway for two is the Almost Paradise cabin. Children will find endless activities in The Treehouse, and groups will find Lake View a perfect venue.
Natural trails abound and skiing attractions are like nowhere else in the US. Check out our top picks for the best hiking trails in Big Bear.
Rainbow trout are aplenty in the Big Bear Lake waters, as well as Bass and Channel catfish to keep your line busy. If you seek a destination with something to offer all tastes in a picturesque small town locale, please read on to find out which vacation rental to choose in 2021.
Table of Contents
Big Bear: A Short History
Big Bear is a picturesque city found in the San Bernardino Mountains on Big Bear Lake‘s shore. The San Bernardino National Forest surrounds the area in natural beauty and offers spectacular scenery and pursuits for all seasons.
The Serrano people originally populated Big Bear for about 2000 years before the first arrival of Benjamin Wilson. The area gets its name from the large number of Grizzly bears that used to populate the area.
Big Bear Lake is a human-made dam created in 1885 and is home to many fish species and is a great tourist attraction.
Big Bear has a colorful history, as it was the site of the California Gold Rush and one of the first skiing attractions in the country. Big Bear falls within the Sierra Nevada mountain range and offers some of the most world-famous terrains for skiing and snowboarding.
Some Attractions in Big Bear, CA
- Big Bear was the heart of the California Gold Rush, and prospectors erected the first gold mine camp in the area in 1859. The Holcomb Valley Tour is a driving tour of 12.5 miles of stunning terrain and sites of cultural and historical significance.
- The Big Bear Historical Society offers a fascinating museum with historical artifacts, and your kids will love the Gold Rush Mining CO, where they get to pan for their own gold.
- Magic Mountain Alpine Slide offers authentic bobsledding and a magic carpet ride to the top of the slopes. There is even a Mineshaft Coaster to thrill your partner or kids with 360° corkscrew turns.
- Big Bear Snow Summit offers 240 acres (97.12 hectares) of skiing pleasure and 18 skiable miles (28.97 kilometers) for all experience levels.
- Bear Mountain Golf Course offers top tier golfing facilities with a breathtaking backdrop of mountains.
- Big Bear Fishing and Boat Rental offers fishing in abundance with charters, pontoons, or just plain old riverbank fishing. You can also take advantage of wakeboarding and waterskiing opportunities to keep yourself busy.
- Big Bear Mountain Resort offers not only state-of-the-art snowmaking systems for a guaranteed skiing adventure but also provides a lift-served gravity-fed bike park.
Best VRBO Rental for Couples
Almost Paradise: A Big Bear Getaway for Two
Almost Paradise lives up to its name and provides everything a couple needs to enjoy a romantic adventure in paradise. The cozy wood cabin is rustic and charming, with a spacious deck and spa to soak up all your city woes.
The cabin comes fully equipped with a gas fireplace and even Netflix on a 50″ HDTV for those chilly nights. The cabin is a perfect fit for two, with one bedroom sporting a rustic log queen bed and a charming living room to curl up in front of a fire. You can even bring your furry best friends as long as they are well behaved.
Things To Do Nearby for Couples
- Almost Paradise is less than ¼ mile (< ½ kilometer) from Big Bear Lake, where you can kayak, canoe or waterski if the weather permits. Otherwise, you can catch yourself one of the many rainbow trout that love the clear deep waters of the lake.
- The cabin is only 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) from The Village, where you can find restaurants, clubs, and stores to refill on champagne and other crucial provisions.
- Almost Paradise is less than a mile (< 1.6 kilometers) from the famous Alpine Slide and just over two miles from Snow Summit to ski your hearts out.
- Castle Rock Trail is a perfectly romantic day hike and winds its way through beautiful rock outcrops and majestic pine forest.
Best VRBO Rental for Families
Big Bear Family Getaway: The Treehouse
The Big Bear Family getaway is a stunning log cabin with three bedrooms that sleeps up to eight people and is perfect for the ultimate family vacation. The upper deck in the quaint knotty pine cabin has a cozy hot tub and large deck for stargazing or family gatherings.
The cabin is nestled beautifully between pines and makes guests feel like they have stepped back in time.
The beauty of this 5 star rated cabin is perfectly situated for hikes and skiing and is central to several activities your kids will love. They even offer sledding on the property for extra fun and two separate areas to relax and play games or watch TV (in case mom and dad need some quiet time.)
Things To Do Nearby for Families
The Treehouse is close enough to the Big Bear Alpine Zoo (0.2 miles or 0.32 kilometers) that you can hear the wolves howling in the starry night. The zoo is a great attraction for little ones, to show them the grey wolf, grizzly, and even a snow leopard up close. They even offer flashlight safaris so your kids can experience the nocturnal creatures at night.
The Treehouse is also close to the golf course, the Big Bear Marina, and the Alpine Slide that is always a winner with the younger kids.
Snow Summit is less than 2 miles (< 3.22 kilometers) away to teach your children to ski.
You may take a family hike on Bear Mountain State Park less than a mile (< 0.80 kilometer) away from the cabin for a variety of activities, including:
- Shaded picnic sites
- Museums and Zoo
- Biking
- Outdoor ice skating rink
Best VRBO Rental for Groups
Lake View in the Pines Sleeps 14
This newly built, three-story wood cabin lies in Iron Wood Estate, which boasts some the best lake views in the area while still being close to all the best attractions in Big Bear. This cabin covers 4,300 square feet (399.48 square meters) and offers plenty of room over three floors to share your space with your group without being on top of each other.
The six generously sized bedrooms have five bathrooms with plenty of open shared spaces to mingle and share. With over 1,200 feet (365.76 meters) of deck space, the luxury cabin offers a rustic charm while still providing a top-tier location for groups with refined taste.
The cabin offers:
- A hot tub
- Theatre room
- Billiard table
- Wet bar
- Large living room area
Details are everything, and the cabin has extras in spades. From an eight-burner Viking Stove to a home theater with leather upholstered reclining seating.
In keeping with the setting, the cabin even boasts its own taxidermy collection of buffalo, antelope, and other animals. With exceptional views and a central location, this cabin gets the best rating for space while still being in a larger group.
Things To Do Nearby for Groups
- The cabin lies less than two miles (< 3 kilometers) from Snow Summit, a skiing and snowboarder’s paradise. Snow summit has over 27 trials that accommodate all skiing levels so that your group can all have fun on the slopes at their own pace.
- Big Bear Marina is less than half a mile (< 1 kilometer) from the cabin and offers various water sport and fishing activities, including chartered boats and pontoon hire.
- Big Bear Golf Course is a short drive from the cabin, where groups can spend the day teeing off in the top-rated golf course.
- A couple of minute’s drive from the spot, Bear Mountain offers a host of activities for groups, such as hiking beautiful alpine landscapes and other outdoor adventures.
- The Village in Big Bear offers a variety of eateries and fine dining options, as well as bars and AV Nightclub is a great spot to let your hair down.
Conclusion
Big Bear certainly has something for everyone with enticing activities all year round.
Whether golfing, sliding, skiing or sledding is your passion, or you wish to wonder at the beauty of the alpine landscape is up to you. The Alpine setting’s singular beauty is perfect for romance, family, or gathering with close friends to share unforgettable times.
