Jessica’s Big Bear Lake Guidebook
Food scene
This is our favorite family Mexican Restaurant. It's past the Village so it's never busy. The staff is friendly and the food and drinks are Delish!
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Azteca Grill Mexican Restaurant
40199 Big Bear BoulevardThis is our favorite family Mexican Restaurant. It's past the Village so it's never busy. The staff is friendly and the food and drinks are Delish!
Just around the corner from the cabin is the best donuts in town!
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Dank Donuts
42612 Moonridge RdJust around the corner from the cabin is the best donuts in town!
Sightseeing
Fun park for the kids! Just on the other side of the field is a Zipline that's easy for the kids to use. Bring a football or soccer ball and spend some time relaxing in the field. There's McDonalds on the corner so easy to hang out here for a picnic in the park. :)
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Ski Beach Park
41216 Park AveFun park for the kids! Just on the other side of the field is a Zipline that's easy for the kids to use. Bring a football or soccer ball and spend some time relaxing in the field. There's McDonalds on the corner so easy to hang out here for a picnic in the park. :)
So fun to see up close these mountain animals. Just a short stroll from the cabin, makes this easy to visit without parking issues. Easy loop around the zoo for the family. Bring your lunch and hang out at the jungle gym middle of the zoo. Fun for the whole family. Go early as that's when they are awake for feedings!
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Big Bear Alpine Zoo
42801 Club View DrSo fun to see up close these mountain animals. Just a short stroll from the cabin, makes this easy to visit without parking issues. Easy loop around the zoo for the family. Bring your lunch and hang out at the jungle gym middle of the zoo. Fun for the whole family. Go early as that's when they are awake for feedings!
For easy to moderate hiking with the family, head straight out the front door and go right on Cedar, Left on Poplar St, and walk straight onto Bristlecone Trail. No need to drive! Bring your boots or shoes you don't mind trashing as it can be muddy in spots!
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Bristlecone Trail
42789 Willow AveFor easy to moderate hiking with the family, head straight out the front door and go right on Cedar, Left on Poplar St, and walk straight onto Bristlecone Trail. No need to drive! Bring your boots or shoes you don't mind trashing as it can be muddy in spots!
Family Fun
Fun for the whole family! Full bowling lanes, fast food, snacks & beers. There are some arcades, but the games don't always work and the quarters go fast! But if you're here to bowl, you'll have a great time!
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Big Bear Bowling Barn Inc.
40625 Big Bear BlvdFun for the whole family! Full bowling lanes, fast food, snacks & beers. There are some arcades, but the games don't always work and the quarters go fast! But if you're here to bowl, you'll have a great time!
Just a heads up, while you may want to boat, float or fish, the lake is not warm! Like never. It's always cold, so be prepared to dip a toe to cool off, but that's it! :D
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Boulder Bay Park
39080 Big Bear BlvdJust a heads up, while you may want to boat, float or fish, the lake is not warm! Like never. It's always cold, so be prepared to dip a toe to cool off, but that's it! :D
If you have kids, save the after lunch or dinner dessert and go straight here. So fun to explore all the new and vintage candy, treats and ice cream. There's something for everyone of all ages!
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Village Sweet Shoppe
40736 Village DrIf you have kids, save the after lunch or dinner dessert and go straight here. So fun to explore all the new and vintage candy, treats and ice cream. There's something for everyone of all ages!
Tipps für Reisende
Was einpacken?
Avoid Grocery Stores
If you're driving up on a busy holiday weekend, my advice is to definitely shop down the hill, pack a cooler with your main meals and snacks for your stay. There's only two grocery stores that could take you 30mins to an hour to check out on busier mountain days. Restaurants, even for an easy pizza, are 2 hours some days! Otherwise eating at the mountain grill is the best day option for food. Non-holiday weeks, you're ok :)
Was einpacken?
Bring a SnowTube or Sled
To save some $$$, bring your own sled from costco or walmart and enjoy the national parks that have open sledding. This can be pricey in the touristy areas that charge you handsomely for this. Prepurchasing the sleds before will save you a ton! And the parks and open areas are free to use!
Verkehrsmittel
Straight Line A-B
If you're wanting to hit Summit mountain, go straight down Cedar to Switzerland. This is a direct shot to the parking lot at Summit. You will avoid the main roads traffic. BUT bring snow chains as this is NOT a groomed city road. And earlier is ALWAYS BETTER.
Mit Kindern reisen
Dollar Store
Save space in your car. Pack their favorites, but leave the rest behind. This Dollar Store has some fun little trinkets and art pads etc to entertain the kids at the cabin for cheap. And you won't be upset if they break them or lose them. Save the car space and head to Dollar Store :)
Verkehrsmittel
Busy Weekends Wait Out the Crowd
On busier weekends, try to avoid the hot times between 9:30 - 4:30 pm. If you need to grocery shop do it late at night the night before. Locals tend to go after 9pm to get in/out. It's better to pack your food but if you have to go pick something up, either go to the nearby deli marts or go after the rush late at night.
Buche vor der Abreise
Rent Gear in Advance!
If you wait til the morning of your mountain fun to get your gear, expect a long wait!
PrePlan your ski and board rentals ahead of time. Best time to go is after 2:30 to pick up your gear for the next day's use. You'll go straight in and out, little to no waiting at all! Then the next morning you have all you need to hit the lifts when they open :)
Nützliche Sätze
Support Small Business - Rental Shops
Avoid the crowds and inflated pricing by checking out some of the local rental shops instead. They have great gear too and you may save a little and avoid long waits in busier seasons. #SupportLocalShops