Big Bear City Guide

One of the most ideal perks of living in Los Angeles is it’s close proximity to other beautiful places, such as Montecito, Palm Springs, Oak Glen, Carmel by the Sea, Napa and San Diego; the list goes on and on. But one you might not be as a familiar with is snow capped this time of year with three resorts to ski down and a charming little village in the city center and only 90 minutes away.

Big Bear is a small year round-resort town in the mountains with a beautiful lake and log cabins to match. It’s very family friendly and makes for perfect weekend getaway for anyone in Southern, California looking for a quick escape in a small, no-frills town. This is definitely not as chic and bougie as Aspen, Deer Valley or The Swiss Alps by any means, but a great easy place to enjoy a wintry mountain weekend if you live nearby.

I am by no means an advanced skier, but I’ve gone once a season for the last 6 years and can do most blue runs. While I was there this past weekend I went ahead and hired an instructor again to burns up on my skills, which is totally worth it as it enhances the experience knowing what to focus on. At this point I have fallen in love with skiing and wish I was able to go more consistently to get better, hopefully one day when Parker is bigger!

Where to Stay

Marina Riviera // This brand new resort on the lake and in the center of town just opened and my family and I stayed there on my most recent trip. It’s simple but the most updated resort in town with wonderful proximity to the center of town. The main resort has lake facing views but we chose to stay in one of their two bedroom cabins that came with a full kitchen, fireplace and parking spot just across the road. Unfortunately because of the snow we didn’t have a way to walk to dinner in the Village, but you would definitely be able to from the main resort and be there in five minutes.

Oak Knoll Lodge // We stayed in Cabin #2 on our first trip to Big Bear as Marina Riviera wasn’t open yet and had a great experience. It was a super cute cabin with a fireplace outside and cute porch. It was a nice space for a family and had a hill to sled down right across the road, just not as close to town as I would have preferred given ride sharing and taxis are not very available in town.

Best Western Big Bear Chateau // You might be hesitant by the big brand name but it’s probably the fanciest option in town with an on site lounge, pool, fitness center and set in a scenic woodsy area just a short drive from the center of town. This would probably be my best choice if bringing Parker given it operates closest to a hotel.

Cabin Rental // There are many great house options for rent and here is one I’d consider with family or friends. Depending on the season you might want to consider distance from town, ski resorts and the lake. This one seems to check all the boxes, cabin chair included!

Where to Ski

Big Bear offers three mountain resorts that are all fairly similar in size and both open to skiers and snowboarders alike, but with some differences in terrain. I’ve now been skiing to both Snow Summit and Bear Mountain, both of which I would recommend, but if I were to back again I’d likely choose Snow Summit for myself and hubby and Bear Mountain if I am bringing Parker given they have a large bunny hill to learn on. The third resort, Snow Valley, offers tubing and cross-country skiing additionally but check out their website for more details on the differences. You can also purchase an all-access pass to visit all three resorts which are within close driving distance to one another and you could easily switch to within the same day.

Where to Eat

Peppercorn Grille // We came here for dinner on our most recent trip and loved the service, menu and location right in the center of town. They have a full bar, cozy booths and lots of good options for everyone. My pasta and espresso martini were delicious and my mom loved her crab louie salad. Definitely one of the nicer options and not as ideal for young kids.

El Jacalito Grill // More of relaxed vibe with delicious food and quite a sizable margarita. Arthur and I came here for dinner and loved it, would definitely go back with Parker or friends for the queso dip alone! Also right in town and super convenient for dinner or après.

Oakside Restaurant and Bar // This is another nice option for a nice lunch or dinner and high on my list for next time, however, it’s not directly on the Main Street in the village. They have a sprawling rustic patio that looks amazing in the warmer months!

Moonridge Coffee // Super cute coffee shop/cafe with yummy food and a charming wood veranda out front that I enjoyed my latte on before the drive back home. It’s not in the center of town but definitely worth a stop before or after a day on slopes!

Copper Q // Best cafe in the village with a quaint interior and yummy bagels, pasties and adorable kitchen jams and trinkets to purchase.

North Pole Fudge Company // All the sweets in town live here, I will always love an old fashioned candy shop for some post dinner chocolate truffles!

572 Social Kitchen & Lounge // Haven’t been but it’s right in town and has a more fun vibe with TV screens, cocktails and a large outdoor space to eat, drink and be social.