Something new to do in Big Bear

Actually, Big Bear has something for everyone no matter what time of year you come. Of course, there are several ski resorts for those who chose to swoop down the snow-covered slopes. Summer months are every bit as busy. The lake is manmade – a dam was built in 1884 to flood the high valley floor for both recreation and more practical purposes. Though the lake isn’t as pristine as nearby Lake Arrowhead, there are public beaches, as well as windsurfing, water-skiing, parasailing, sailing and fishing. For mountain bikers, Snow Summit has the sky chair, which is essentially a ski lift to which they attach your bicycle so that you can up the mountain, and take an exciting ride down the dirt trails. We watched! As it happened, we were there when a professional competition was in progress.

Quick Tips:

Because I’m a history buff, I was interested in revisiting the picturesque Holcomb Valley...again! Thank heavens our friends had a 4-wheel drive SUV, as the roads are now rutted and rocky. For those of you who would like to see the old mining area (complete with a hanging tree, mine shafts, and a replicated miner’s shack), but who lack a hearty car, there are jeep tours available through Big Bear Jeep Tours.

There were quite a few people hiking through the valley, but I’d check with the local Park Rangers before doing this, as the San Bernardino Mountains are filled with rattle snakes certain times of the year. (I ought to know, as I was nearly bitten when I was with the summer camp group!) We spent nearly the entire day in the Holcomb Valley, and it was a wonderful adventure.

Best Way To Get Around:

The only way to get to Big Bear is by car. You’ll need one there, too.

Room prices are seasonal and even higher than we paid at certain times of the year. Although this is probably the prettiest and classiest hotel in Big Bear, we didn''t care much for our stay here. The walls were paper thin and we could hear every word spoken coming through them. We had gone to stay there for a restful weekend, but with a crying baby in one of the rooms, likely no one slept. It''s overpriced when one considers there is little mountain experience here. Adequate, nicely furnished rooms, but no trees, no view, an okay restaurant (also overpriced).

Their prices, like all others in Big Bear, are seasonal, so do check with them when booking a room. This is a lovely, small hotel that sits on the edge of the lake. Many have views of the water, and there''s a private beach in front. Auto Club rates this as a 3 diamond resort. They even have a pool and jacuzzi.

On another stay in Big Bear, we went all out and stayed at the nicest hotel in the area. It was a wonderful experience. This hotel is gorgeous, with crystal chandeliers, marble and gilt gold columns, antique furniture (even in the rooms), a very popular nightclub, and a lovely restaurant with Italian blown-glass light fixtures. I would recommend this hotel to anyone who wants a deluxe Big Bear experience. It's located near the ski slopes, and it's quite popular in the winter with skiiers (who have a slightly larger pocketbook, that is).

This is our favorite restaurant in Big Bear, and we never miss an opportunity to eat there. It's quite popular and often crowded, but worth the wait. Try the appetizer of garlic/cheese bread, which is actually a thin pizza crust covered with, yes, you guessed it -- garlic and white cheeses. Share it, as it's pretty good sized. I also enjoy their eggplant parmesian, all of their pizzas and pastas. If you like outdoor dining and it's one of those lovely, breezy days in Big Bear, there are tables in a patio area.

On our last visit to Big Bear, we decided to try something new. The Mongolian Palace's all you can eat buffet was a perfect solution to "something new." For anyone who hasn't tried a Mongolian BBQ, there is a huge assortment of cut up meats and vegetables to choose from. They give you a largish empty bowl and set you loose. After chosing things you like and piling your bowl as high as possible, you hand it to the chef, who stir fries it on a huge grill. There are sauces involved, though very little oil for those who are health conscious. The finished product is heaped back into your bowl, and waiters bring pocket breads and rice to your table to accompany your meal.

Mongolian Palace was a great change of pace for us, and we'll be back on our next visit.

Since 1944, the Teddy Bear has been one of Big Bear’s most popular eateries. For as long as I can remember, I’ve stopped at the Teddy Bear for breakfast on the way to the ski slopes. The pancakes are about the best you’ll ever have--light and fluffy in that melt-in-your-mouth way that’s so hard to find. The Teddy Bear boasts that their food is like home cooking, and indeed it is. The menu is remarkably varied, and everything I’ve ever eaten there has been delicious. While in Big Bear last weekend, we decided to eat lunch there. We had never tried their much-touted fresh baked pies. This time, we splurged and ordered a piece. The slice of the French apple pie a la mode was "to die for." We were only sorry we hadn’t discovered Teddy Bear’s pies years ago!

The only drawback is that this popular restaurant is small, and if you get there during their peak hours, you’ll likely have a wait.

The Discovery Center is fairly new, and many people don't know about it yet. It looks much like other visitor centers at national parks. It's small, but well worth a visit. The gift shop is very nice and has plenty of variety.

Although the camp sites at Big Bear do get booked up fast, there are some very nice places to bring your RV or tent. East Flat, Barton Flats and San Gorgonio Campgrounds are all along Highway 38 (the back way into Big Bear). Alpine Camping Service takes reservations, and their phone number is 909/794-3074. There aren't any hook-ups, but there are public restrooms, flat areas for your camp sites, tables, and shady areas.

If you prefer staying right on the water, Holloway's Marina and RV Park is on the South Shore. Their phone number is 1-800-448-5335. They do have hook-ups, BBQs, a laundry room, playground for the kids, and advertises to be the best value in Big Bear ($25 go $40 a night). This is much more luxurious than the campgrounds tucked further back into the forest.

Many hikers and mountain bikers trek into the back country of Holcomb Valley. There are even guided tours available. The Discovery Center has free maps available. For hikers, each trail is rated from very easy to difficult. Many have picnic areas. One very intriguing hike is to the Solar Observatory. Though the distance (round trip) is about 3-1/2 miles, the path is asphalt with a "very easy" rating.

Castle Rock Trail, which is moderate to difficult is one of the most popular hikes in Big Bear. Parking at the trailhead is limited and requires a pass which can be obtained at the Discovery Center. Beware, however, that at the end of the trail, the going gets tough and steep, but the view is wonderful.

Okay, so I still haven't sold you on paying a visit to the Holcomb Valley. Go to the Discovery Center and ask for a map of the Gold Fever Trail Self-Guided Tour. Besides giving you a brief overview of the area's gold rush history, it will guide you to some of the more interesting sites.

When I visited the former gold diggings as a child, I recall collapsed buildings. Now, however, there's little left besides the reminents of a few buildings. For instance, Two Gun Bill's Saloon was once a large log structure that served the area as a saloon, dance hall and bordello.

The Hangman's Tree, a large Juniper, looks like something out of Poltergeist! Reportedly, 40 to 50 murders occurred in this now-peaceful mountain meadow. Although there seems to be some dispute as to whether or not this is the actual Hanging Tree, legend has it that every time a man was hanged there, the branch was sawed off to mark the occasion. This Juniper has a large number of sawed off branches, so who knows!

We hiked up a trail to see the original gold diggings, which we enjoyed very much. We also took a side trip to visit Wilbur's grave and pond. Wilbur was one of the original miners in the area, and his gravesite is covered by a mound of pine cones. Nearby is the small lake named for him, a beautiful high meadow marsh and small pond filled with vegetation -- a very nice surprise to be sure.

Don't miss the remains of Lucky Baldwin's gold mine. The stamp mill operated until 1923, and much of the equipment remains. Baldwin became a famous historical figure in California history. Baldwin Park, for instance, is named for him. Another tidbit of Baldwin history is that he married the daughter of a Mexican rancho owner, thus inheriting a great deal of land. Lucky Baldwin built the house used on the t.v. show Fantasy Island and lived there with his bride. The house in the area known as Santa Anita is now the Arboretum, and the beautiful Victorian house has been preserved.

The Captain’s Anchorage is one of Big Bear’s finer dining establishments. This local landmark, built in 1946, looks like a setting out of an old movie. Rustic with an old log cabin feel, I especially loved the river-rock fireplace and paintings painted directly onto the support beams. More importantly, the food is outstanding, though a little on the pricey side.

But the most unusual thing about Captain’s Anchorage is its history and its resident ghost, George.

Actor Andy Divine, famous for his role as "Jingles" in the television series, "Wild Bill Hickcock," built the restaurant, calling it the Sportsman’s Tavern. The walls are still adorned with photos of Hollywood’s rich and famous who have eaten there. Through the years, the establishment changed hands, experienced a fire, and developed a checked reputation as a gambling house that offered a little something extra in the bedrooms upstairs. But it was during Andy Divine’s ownership that a man named George worked as the restaurant’s accountant. Legend has it that George was caught embezzling and subsequently committed suicide. Of course, there’s always the added remark, "though he died under mysterious circumstances."

I spoke with several employees who have personally experienced George’s eerie presence. Chairs, which have been neatly arranged around the upstairs tables, are suddenly in disarray. Things are moved around on the bar. There are often cold spots in the upstairs hall where George’s office was located, and the women who work there are afraid to go upstairs at night, for fear that they’ll feel his hand on their shoulder. Has anyone actually seen the mischievous ghost? Apparently so...though the employees on duty the night of my visit hadn’t seen the apparition themselves.

Whether you’re hunting for ghosts or simply want a terrific meal, I would recommend having dinner in the restaurant (the shrimp is especially yummy). After dessert (try the "ship wreck"-- a gooey brownie, topped with ice cream, chocolate and caramel sauce, whipped cream and pine nuts), ask the bartender to take you on the "ghost tour."

The Captain's Anchorage is located at the intersection of Highway 18 and Moonridge Road near the ski slopes. Phone number: 909-866-3997. Reservations are recommended. Dinners come with salad bar and soup, potatoes or rice, and bread. Chicken dishes, like the delicious lemon chicken picatta, run from $15.95 to $18.95. The most expensive item on the menu is filet mignon stuffed with Dungeness Crab, topped with artichoke hearts and tomato, smothered in bearnaise sauce...at a hefty price of $29.95.