Big Bear Lake is Awesome!

See a show at the PAC; we've got Broadway stuff, people!

There's a solar observatory, since Big Bear gets an average 300 days per annum of sunshine.

Ski at Summit, board at Bear. One lift ticket is good at both mountains. Get there early, or you're in for a hike or a cold shuttle ride.

Quick Tips:

There are three ways to reach Big Bear: Highway 330, the front way; Highway 38, the side way; and Highway 18, the back way. Most people take the front way through rim of the world. This is not the best way! 330 is one of the deadliest highways in the U.S.; it has rock slides, and the curves are dangerous.

The safest way is up the 18. You only have 20 miles of mountain road, and it has very few rockslides. Come up using the 15 to Victorville, then Bear Valley road into Lucerne Valley, hopping on the 18 for your mountain ascent. The best thing about this route is that you get a lot more "civilization," i.e., gas stations and fast food joints. But if you want scenery, take the 38! It's safer than the 330 too.

Don't rent your equipment at the resorts! It's a lot less for the same thing at the rental shops throughout the valley! There are lots of places to stay; your best bet is probably renting a house. It works out to about half the price of a hotel. There are lots of agencies that handle house rentals up here.

Best Way To Get Around:

The main road through the valley is Big Bear Blvd, which has just been repaved (oct '05). We've got a bus that goes "down the hill" twice a day and a nice visitor's trolley. Walking around town's not really feasible since the valley is very long. We've got two car rental places: Enterprise on the Blvd and Airport Rental at, you guessed it, the airport.

It's a small plane-type airport, but it does have some charter service, and that's only a half hour to LA! There are a couple of taxi services, but your best bet is to bring your car, preferrably a nice 4x4, so you don't have to buy chains. (The restrictions rarely go beyond R2-chains unless it's a 4-wheel-drive, so you probably won't need chains if you bring a 4x4.)

The suites are very nice, with a sunken living room and private balcony. The room had two TV sets and a spacious bathroom. The staff is accommodating and friendly. The outdoor pool is nice in summer. Stillwell's restaurant downstairs is wonderful, with gourmet meals and quiet atmosphere. Located right in the village, it's great for a day spent walking and shopping. There are three bars in the Village, and the hotel is walking distance from parks and hiking trails. My father stayed here. He's very discerning and loved it.

My dad stayed here on another visit and liked this place even more than Northwoods. Check it out at www.knickerbockermansion.com.

It's a lovely place with great views. They stayed in the carriage house suite. The room was gorgeous and roomy, with a gas fireplace and massive bathroom with a whirlpool tub. The chef was world-class and the common areas were comfortable.

They've got everything you could want, including history. The Knickerbockers were one of Big Bear's founding families, and this place was their private residence. It was built in 1920 and became a B&B in the '80s. The current owners purchased it in '98 and redid pretty much everything.

Knickerbocker Mansion is a few blocks from the village but feels isolated and off the beaten path, since it's in a residential area. You *can* walk to the village, but I wouldn't recommend it in the winter, as it's uphill from the village and there are no pedestrian paths for a few blocks. If you've got a dog allergy, this isn't for you, as their "kids" live here too, an English sheep dog and a standard poodle. Both dogs are friendly and affectionate. I let my 3-year-old cuddle them without fear, as they're sweet and well behaved. Overall it was a great place to stay, but book early! It's popular, and they've only got 11 rooms.

Check it out at MoonridgeZoo.org! It's a smaller zoo, but they're raising funds to build a much larger zoo, as their lease is up and they gotta go! So come out and support them, as most animals are rescues. They've mostly alpine creatures native to the mountains, but there are a few non-native animals, like bobcats and snow leopards, bears and bison, and lovely wolves and eagles. The benefit of a small zoo is that the kids don't get as tired and you can get within 2 feet of most of the animals. Try that at the LA zoo!

Check it out at www.chads-place.com. Chad's has been in the same spot since 1915, and it's been there since before Big Bear was Big Bear. There's a lot of history and pride at Chad's. It's not too big, not too small. On Saturday night during the ski season it's packed like a sardine can. The mixed drinks are cheap and strong, the rock bands are loud, and the locals are friendly. Wear whatever, dressed up or down, and you'll feel comfortable. If you smoke and it's winter, bring a coat, because you've gotta puff outside, state law. The bands are almost always good, and you'll know the songs they're singing. It's a comfortable, fun place to meet a wide variety of people. You won't break the bank, and it's right in the village. You can't miss it--just drive up Village Drive until you see the Harleys and neon.