If you haven’t already done so, it’s time to dig out your skis. We last spotted them hanging behind your tent and precariously close that old can of paint in the garage. This is the one time it’s truly fun to dig through the garage, because those slopes won’t ski themselves.
With the opening of ski season comes some of the best times in Big Bear. The holidays are magical in the forest, and there’s plenty of fun things to do off the slopes as well. Some of our properties have their own private sledding slopes where you can walk out back with the kids and start your snow adventures right away.
If you’d like to have a great time with the family snow tubing, Big Bear Snow Play is a great choice. They’re open daily from 10am to 4pm with night time glow tubing on weekends from 5pm to 9pm. We especially like Big Bear Snow Play because their “magic carpet” transports you back to the top of hill after your run to enjoy another wild ride down the hill. And the glow tubing after dark makes it even more fun.
A winter visit to the Big Bear Alpine Zoo can be another great excursion for the family. The animals often exhibit different behaviors during snowy times, and the keepers still schedule informative presentation in the amphitheater every day with one of the zoo’s animals. The zoo is a great opportunity to get up close with some of the wildlife that roams the forest and hill surrounding Big Bear. Visit their website for more info at this link.
Do you have fond memories of family bowling nights? We sure do, and it’s another great activity you can plan during your Big Bear stay. The Bowling Barn has 16 lanes with computerized scoring. There’s also an arcade for the kids and the Alley Oops Sports Bar with darts, pool tables, and HD tv’s to watch sporting events. And it’s all fun and games until somebody keeps throwing gutter balls. Check out their website at this link.
You can start your next getaway by viewing 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 perfect holiday 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. We have offices in Newport Beach and Big Bear. Here are links to our properties in Nuevo Vallarta and La Quinta.
The Miss Liberty paddle wheel tour boat continues to offer dinner cruises on August 4th and 18th. You’ll enjoy a gourmet buffet and enjoy your meal on fine china and linens. There’s a no host bar, and live music provided by the Liberty Ramblers, a traditional New Orleans Jazz band. Seating is reserved, and this is a hugely popular event, so be sure to book in advance. Visit the 
On August 19th you can combine two of life’s great passions: Spending time with exotic animals and eating some amazing ice cream. Yes, it’s time again for the annual Big Bear Alpine Zoo Ice Cream Safari. This event starts at 11am and goes till 2pm or when the ice cream runs out. Five ice cream stations are set up throughout the zoo, so you can enjoy a yummy cool treat as you learn more about the zoo’s residents. There’s a $5.00 extra charge for the safari in addition to the usual zoo admission. Visit 
The Big Bear Community Arts Theater Society is presenting “Steel Magnolias” the weekends of 8/25-8/27 and 9/1-9/3. This classic play follows the plot many of us fell in love with as the film with the all star cast including Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Julia Roberts, Shirley MacClaine, and others. It’s a funny and frequently challenging story about the bond between a group of women as they navigate the perilous waters of relationships and life in general. For more details or to purchase your tickets in advance, visit 
This time of year is always filled with contradictions. Spring arrives, and brings bursts of color and fragrance all around us. At about the same time, the IRS reminds us of the cost to live in a free society, and we either celebrate a tax refund or moan about taxes due. We sincerely hope you’re part of the former. But whether you owe or are owed, there’s plenty to celebrate this time of year. Pull your head out of the tax forms for a minute and drink in the beauty that surrounds you as spring blooms.
The Big Bear Zoo is a great destination for the entire family as well. The zoo was started over 50 years ago in the aftermath of a huge forest fire. Injured and homeless animals were collected, nursed back to health, and released back into the wild. The zoo’s first permanent residents were animals too severely injured to return to the forest . Today the zoo offers daily programs to let visitors participate in feeding animals and learn more about what’s involved keeping animals healthy and happy at the zoo. It’s a great experience for everyone in your family. Visit the zoo’s website for more details on the schedules and programs: 