Easter Sunday falls on April 21st this year, and it’s a great time to plan a family getaway to Big Bear. We still have some of our most popular cabins and estates available for that weekend, but it’s usually a very busy time for us. Here are a few things you can look forward to during your stay.
On Saturday the 20th, Bear Mountain is hosting a free Easter party. The fun will include an Easter egg hunt, live music, a bounce house, games, photos with the Easter Bunny, and face painting. The fun starts at 4:00pm and the fun continues at sundown with a free Movies in the Meadow screening of Hop. This PG-rated mix of live action and computer animation tells the story of a young bunny more intent on becoming the drummer in a band than actually becoming the Easter Bunny. It’s a great way to wrap up the fun of the day. Get all the details at the Bear Mountain website.
Most local churches will be holding special Easter Sunday morning services, so this can be a great time to refresh both your mind and spirit by starting the day out at with your family at church. Here are some links to some local churches to get more info on their events:
Calvary Chapel Big Bear
Community Church Big Bear
St Joseph’s Catholic Church
Big Bear Presbyterian Church
Shepherd In The Pines Lutheran Church
For a more complete list of area churches, use this link.
After church, our favorite destination is Sunday brunch at Stillwells. This feast is an annual event for many families, and you’ll quickly see why. The menu includes prime rib, ham, crab cakes, an omelette, waffle and pasta bar, desserts and salad, and endless champagne and mimosas for the adults in your party. The meal is served from noon to 3pm and kids under 3 eat free with a paid adult. Due to its popularity, reservations are required and seating is limited. For more info visit Stillwells website at this link, or give them a call at (909) 866-3121.
Big Bear has many other fine dining options to choose from as well. We’ve also heard good reviews about the Peppercorn Grill, the Teddy Bear Restaurant, and The Pines Lakefront.
You can easily book your Easter getaway online or view all of our Big Bear cabins and luxury estates at this link. Or give us a call at 310-780-3411, and we’ll help you choose a great property for your holiday vacation or getaway. And if you’d like to explore any of our other destinations, you can be assured that we’re committed to providing top quality cabins, estates, and condos for your next vacation getaway. Here are links to our other properties in Nuevo Vallarta, Mammoth Mountain, Park City, Southern California Beaches, and La Quinta.
Be sure to mark your calendars for the weekend of April 20th for the Ultimate Big Trout Derby at The Pines Lakefront. This is the first and biggest trout tournament of the year. The fun starts on Friday the 19th with signups and the Youth Fishing Club will be on hand to teach some of the variety of fishing techniques that may lead to winning this event. There will be weigh ins both Saturday and Sunday and prizes awarded for the biggest fish caught by qualifying youth and adults. Get more details online at 
Want to have less traffic and shorter wait times on the slopes? Your weekday getaway to Big Bear typically sees much faster repeat runs on the slopes, and fewer overall crowds throughout the city. This means faster service in restaurants, more room to move around in Village shops, and a generally less rushed and crowded experience.
Ski season is a big deal, and some guests encounter traffic congestion getting to and from Big Bear. Isn’t one of the reasons you’re planning a getaway is to get away from that? Well, you’re weekday getaway will usually see much faster travel times and less time sitting in traffic getting here and home. Wouldn’t you like to smile as you pass the traffic tie ups heading the other direction?
Once a year Big Bear attracts those brave souls who actually arrive with the intent to immerse themselves into the frigid winter waters of Big Bear Lake. While we’re definitely more inclined to dive into a glass of red wine next to a comfy fireplace during these cold days, this annual activity helps support a great cause. The 8th Annual Big Bear Lake “Polar Plunge” for Special Olympics takes place on Saturday, March 2nd. This is a great cause and a lot of fun. And best of all, you can be a sponsor, and never even get near the water. Check out the ways to participate at their website: 
On March 8-10th, you’ll want to attend the Supergirl Snow Pro at Bear Mountain. This is a top-level Boardercross (SBX) and Half-pipe competition with the world’s top female pros and a slew of up-and-coming amateur talent. The event is designed to not only showcase the best female snowboarders on the planet, but also to also serve as a developmental contest to help locate, nurture, mentor and encourage the next generation of aspiring snowboarding pros. Free to watch. For info on participating, visit their website at 
There’s certainly nothing wrong with candy and flowers, but they can be a bit lacking in a full expression of exactly how much that special someone actually means to you. And while these may be an important part of your loving celebration, there’s so much more you can do to make sure Valentine’s Day is a memorable event that more fully expresses your feelings. This is where we come in, and how we can revolutionize your celebration.
Imagine a great day alone with your sweetheart. You started the day with a gourmet breakfast in one of the little cafes in Big Bear Village. You strolled among the great little shops afterward picking up a few little souvenirs to remember the day. You found a great bottle of wine in one of the shops, and you bought it to enjoy later while you relax in the hot tub at your Five Star Vacation Rental. It was a bit cold outside, so you returned to the cabin and started a nice fire going in the fireplace. Later, you cooked her favorite dish in the gourmet kitchen of your Five Star Vacation Rental. You smile that the flowers and candy you bought are sitting on the table nearby, and are glad you choose to much more this year.
Big Bear’s annual bald eagle count continues during February. This event is a great chance to get out in the forest and catch a glimpse of these majestic birds. You’ll be volunteering for the Forest Service to count the number of bald eagles wintering in the San Bernardino Mountains. Dress warm, and bring your own binoculars. Meet at the Big Bear Discovery Center between 8AM and 8:30AM. For more details, call 909-382-2790.
The Cave has some amazing live bands appearing during February. The fun kicks off on February 2nd with an evening devoted to “Beatles versus Stones.” Also this month you can catch Joshua Radin, Yachtly Crew, Orleans, and more. Get more info on tickets and showtimes on their website: https://thecavebigbear.com/
Big Bear Snow Play
Big Bear Alpine Slide
The glow from Christmas is still around, and many of us are enjoying our last few days with distant relatives. We’re a few days away from New Year, and it’s a time many of us start to think about how we hope to see the new year unfold. We may make resolutions, and many of them are important. Get in shape, spend more time with family, read more, learn a new language, and so on. It’s also a time we reflect on the past year and how far we’ve come.
At Five Star Vacation Rentals, we’re constantly trying to make sure every guest has a vacation experience that’s better than any they’ve had before. We select our properties carefully to find ones that embody a luxurious pampered feeling and give our guests a time they can be transported to a type of experience that many people only dream of. In this past year we’ve had the honor to help families plan weddings, honeymoons, vacations, retirements, and reunions. We’ve seen office outings and church retreats. And in each of these we’ve seen groups of people enjoying the company of their family and friends with the experience enhanced by the luxury of one of our Five Star Vacation Rentals.
There are six words that many of our guest spend months waiting to hear: “Big Bear ski season is open.” And we’re glad to confirm it’s true. We’ve been getting a good supply of fresh snow on top of groomed slopes, and we’re looking at some great conditions. This means it’s a great time to plan your ski getaway to Big Bear with Five Star Vacation Rentals.
And the Five Star experience is so much better than other options. Some of our properties are within walking distance to the slopes, and all of them offer a level of comfort and privacy you simply cannot duplicate with most other options. Imagine avoiding crowded lobbies and parking lots. You’ll have your own private parking, and many of our properties have garages to park in at night. And we all know that a full day on the slopes can be both fun and tiring. How much better will you sleep in your own private luxury cabin compared to a room in a crowded hotel with a loud hallway just outside your door? We think you’ll find it an entirely different experience, and one that will make your enjoyment of your ski outing even more special.