Karried Away July Column for Lake San Marcos Magazine

Hello, my LSM friends! Today, I am feeling sentimental because I get to tell you about a place that is very special to my heart. So, gather your coziest blankets and a bowl of ice cream, and settle in.

This past weekend, my family vacationed in Big Bear, at our mountain cabin in the forest. This has been our family cabin since I was six years old, and so many of my fondest memories from my childhood are there. 

Of course, I absolutely adore the landscape in Big Bear. Just across the road from our cabin is the national forest, which our golden retriever who can’t decide if he is a wolf or a lap dog absolutely loves. The smells, wild donkeys, snow, and trails make him the happiest dog when he gets to tune into his wolf instincts and follow a scent in the forest before leaping on our laps on the couch when we settle in for a cozy movie night. 

When my brother, Kyle, and I were young, we would attach a sled with rope to our ATV and pull each other, probably way too fast, through the snow-covered dirt roads. Big Bear is also where I learned to ski. If only my three-year-old self who had just begun skiing down the bunny slopes could see me now shredding down black diamonds, she would definitely be impressed! Our family has been skiing in Big Bear for my whole life and Bear Mountain, Snow Summit, and Snow Valley will always hold special places in my heart. 

However, since it is officially summertime in Big Bear, we did not do much skiing this weekend, maybe a little water skiing though! If you have been following the progress of Big Bear Lake as it has been filling up recently, I have some great news for you! The lake is almost entirely full and it is ready for us flat-landers to get out on the water!

Big Bear has so much to offer for every vacationer, skier, snowboarder, fisher, boater, and ever history buffs and wine tasters! This past weekend was my parents’ wedding anniversary, and they chose to revive an old family tradition to celebrate. Before the pandemic, the Big Bear Village hosted two “Wine Walks” every summer, one in August and one in September. During the Wine Walk, the shops, restaurants, and bars in the village offer wine tastings and delicious treats to try. 

This year, the Wine Walk is back! Plus, I could participate in the wine tasting this year with my parents! Last Saturday, we had a blast visiting all the galleries and shops that we don’t always get the chance to visit. That is what we love about the Wine Walk. It encourages us to visit new shops, meet new people, and feel more like true Big Bear locals. If you are just getting to know Big Bear for the first time, I highly recommend the Wine Walk as a way to familiarize yourself with Big Bear culture, The Village, the locals, and all the unique spots within the town!

If wine tasting isn’t your thing or if you want to see even more of Big Bear, another recommendation I have for you is the Big Bear Valley Historical Museum. Located next to the Big Bear Airport, the museum provides a unique experience that is interactive and quite fascinating. In addition to activities such as blacksmithing and panning for gold, you will also get a personal tour of the museum during which you will learn about the rich history that the Big Bear Valley has to offer. You may even unlock a few secrets hidden within the mountains from the Gold Rush, when the grizzly bears roamed free, or when Native American tribes inhabited the area. 

Speaking of bears, how can you visit Big Bear without seeing a bear? Lucky for you, I know just the place where you can spot several animals native to the Big Bear Valley. The Big Bear Zoo, located next to Bear Mountain Ski Resort, is a must, especially if you are traveling with children or grandchildren! Kyle and I have so many memories running through the zoo, seeing all the unique animals. In fact, one year, we got to trick-or-treat at each animal enclosure during Halloween. And then, later that night, we trick-or-treated in The Village too! 

The Big Bear locals are always finding unique ways to bring the community together, and I feel so blessed to have grown up in the tight-knit community of Big Bear!