Experience the best of Big Bear

Big Bear Lake lies at about 2,000 metres in an alpine valley of the San Bernardino Mountains, ringed by pine and fir. Big Bear Village, with its Alpine-style shops and restaurants, stands on the south shore. The Rim of the World Scenic Byway climbs to the valley from the lowlands, and a gold rush in the 1860s opened the nearby Holcomb Valley.

In winter, snow covers the slopes above the village and bald eagles winter around the lake; in summer boats, kayaks and paddleboards fill the water and trails wind through the pines, including a stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail. The Big Bear Solar Observatory sits on a jetty on the lake's north shore, and the Alpine Zoo cares for injured wildlife. The Mojave Desert drops away steeply to the north.

Cabin-style diners serve pancakes and chili, and craft breweries and bakeries line the village streets. The mountains give a cool escape from the heat of the lowlands in summer, and real snow arrives in winter.