Lagonita Lodge - RCI Review #2

The Lagonita Lodge lies right next to Big Bear Lake. The lodge has a variety of rooms to stay in, so far I have stayed in three different room types. Many have a view of the lake and / or a balcony. Our last room had a full kitchen, dining room and an ample living room. All have had a fireplace which was a nice perk during the winter. There is a game room with a pool table and a separate enclosed outdoor jacuzzi which is great after a long day on the slopes. The staff is very nice and accommodating.

Downtown is only five minutes away and is full of shops and restaurants. The slopes are about ten minutes away, you have your choice of Snow Summit or Bear Mountain which was formerly called Gold Mine back in the 80's. Farther away toward Lake Arrowhead is Snow Valley as you head back down the mountain.

Quick Tips:

Big Bear is a great weekend destination, it boasts sunshine over 300 days a year. This makes "spring" skiing quite enjoyable and it is not out of the norm to see people skiing in swimsuits during this time. In the winter you can ski or board at Snow Summit or Bear Mountain. Both resorts have concerts at the base of the mountain throughout the ski season. You can also cross country ski, snowshoe, take a sleigh ride or go intertubing down the mountain. I do not recommend taking the the "Polar Bear" plunge into Big Bear Lake from the dock at the Lagonita Lodge during winter and this advice comes from personal experience.

When the snow melts the mountains turn into adventurous mountain bike trails. You could also take the Miss Liberty paddewheel tour boat which cruises around the lake. Big Bear is also a great spot to go camping or hiking.

Best Way To Get Around:

Most people that come to Big Bear drive there from southern California so they would already have a car. If someone were to be vacationing here from farther away you would still need to rent a car from whatever airport you flew into, which would probably be one in the Los Angeles area. If it is snowing be sure that you have snow chains or "Ponch" and his buddies at CHP may not let you up the mountain.

The Lagonita Lodge lies right next to Big Bear Lake. The lodge has a variety of rooms to stay in, so far I have stayed in three different room types. Many have a view of the lake and / or a balcony. Our last room had a full kitchen, dining room and an ample living room. All have had a fireplace which was a nice perk during the winter. There is a game room with a pool table and a separate enclosed outdoor jacuzzi which is great after a long day on the slopes. The staff is very nice and accommodating.

Downtown is only five minutes away and is full of shops and restaurants. The slopes are about ten minutes away, you have your choice of Snow Summit or Bear Mountain which was formerly called Gold Mine back in the 80's. Farther away toward Lake Arrowhead is Snow Valley as you head back down the mountain.

Chad's Place is located in the heart of downtown Big Bear and I have been frequenting this establishment since 1984. You will find a wide assortment of patrons and everyone is welcome. While there is slight biker motif and clientele you will also find doctors, lawyers, housewives and stock brokers. As the bartenders tell you, "It is THE entertainment spot in Big Bear" and the bartenders will tend to tell you stories if they're not being too slammed with business. Chad's usually has live entertainment with a number of different bands throughout the year. It's also a great place to shoot pool or just plain hang out. As legends go, Chad's goes back to World War I and is one of Big Bear's oldest businesses.