How to Get Away for the Weekend at Big Bear Lake

Big Bear Lake is a popular vacation spot with picturesque views in Southern California’s San Bernardino Mountains.

The lake is surrounded by mountain scenery and offers plenty of outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, fishing, and boating. It’s a perfect destination for people who want to escape the city and enjoy fresh air and natural beauty.

We visited over Thanksgiving weekend. Despite it being very cold, which is to be expected in late fall, we had a great time. We checked out some attractions and walked around The Village, which was decked out in Christmas decorations.

Why is it called Big Bear Lake?

Our son was curious about how Big Bear Lake got its name, but my husband and I had no idea. So, we jokingly told him the lake was shaped like a bear.

But here’s the actual story: In the mid-1800s, European settlers arrived in the region and named it “Bear Valley” because there were many grizzly bears in the area. Later, the name was changed to “Big Bear Valley”.

In 1884, the lake was created and named “Big Bear Lake”. Even though grizzly bears are no longer found in the area, the name remains as a reminder of the region’s history and natural wildlife.

Where to stay

Lagonita Lodge

A few months before our trip, I managed to snag a one-bedroom lakefront room with a full kitchen at the Lagonita Lodge. It was nice to have a separate bedroom for my husband and me, and our son enjoyed the sofa bed in the living room. The lodge offers rooms with two or three bedrooms as well.

We were lucky to get a quiet top-floor room with vaulted ceilings and fantastic lake views. It was cozy, and I loved that it came with a fireplace and heater.

The Lagonita Lodge offers many amenities, including an indoor pool and spa, a huge game room, an adult lounge room, a playground, a fitness center, and more.

Our son had a great time in the game room with pool tables, ping pong, and foosball. He also loved the heated pool and running around the playground.

The location was good. We were only a five-minute drive from The Village, and some restaurants were nearby. This was ideal since the traffic getting into The Village was terrible in the evenings, as it was a holiday weekend. If it weren’t so cold, we could have walked to the Azteca Grill Mexican Restaurant and Big Bear Mountain Brewery.

For a more detailed review and pictures, please check out Lagonita Lodge: Your Affordable Lakefront Escape in Big Bear.

Bluegreen Vacations Big Bear Village

Bluegreen Vacations Big Bear Village is a resort in the heart of Big Bear. You can easily walk to The Village, restaurants and shops.

The resort has spacious rooms, ranging from two to four bedrooms, that are perfect for families or groups of friends. Each room has a full kitchen and a washer and dryer.

There are a variety of amenities to enjoy, including a fitness center, outdoor pool, hot tub, billiards room, game room, and barbecue area.

Delicious places to eat

Saucy Mama’s Pizzeria

Saucy Mama’s Pizzeria is an awesome spot that offers a wide variety of stone oven-cooked pizzas, sandwiches, pasta, salads, drinks, and more.

We arrived ten minutes before they opened at 11 a.m., and a few other families were waiting. When we left a little after noon, there were lots of people waiting for tables.

They have a relaxed atmosphere with comfortable booths on one side and high tables with cushioned, high-backed seats in the bar area. The brick walls are covered with vinyl record albums, and if you’re a sports fan, they have TVs with games on. Then, for those enjoying a kid-free outing, the bar looked like a great spot to grab some drinks.

Azteca Grill Mexican Restaurant

As we drove up, I wasn’t sure what to expect when we saw the small building on the side of the road, but Azteca Grill Mexican Restaurant exceeded my expectations.

The area we sat in looked like a converted patio with a cover and heaters, and I felt warmer there than anywhere else we’d been. I loved the traditional decor, which was also decked out for Christmas.

Azteca offers impressive beverages that are both fun to look at and drink. We ordered a skinny and specialty margarita, and both were perfect. One thing we missed when ordering the first round was all of the unique specialty drinks they had posted on their walls, so make sure to check that out when deciding what to get.

It’s hard to beat the Mexican food we’re used to in San Diego, but Azteca ranked among the places we usually go to.

Big Bear Mountain Brewery

When we got to Big Bear Mountain Brewery on a Saturday around 4:30 p.m., the place was packed. At first, we sat outside near a heater and ordered some drinks. Although it was warm enough, I was glad when the server told us that seats had opened up inside.

The inside of the brewery was super cozy, with a rustic cabin vibe, and live music was playing in the background. It wasn’t too loud, so we could talk without yelling. But then my husband got sucked into the brain teaser puzzles they had, and he even stopped drinking while he was trying to solve them. It was pretty amusing to watch.

We ended up hanging out at the bar longer than planned, but it was totally worth it. The bartenders were friendly, and we enjoyed chatting with them. Even though the crowd kept changing, the staff were able to work their magic and make room for a couple of big groups of around 8-10 people.

My husband liked the beer selection, while I enjoyed the canned margarita and the Porch Pounder canned chardonnay. They also have great food options and a fantastic kids’ menu that includes a lemonade flight, which I thought was a super cute idea. My son would’ve been thrilled with the lemonade flight!

Country Kitchen Restaurant

On our first morning in Big Bear, we ate breakfast at Country Kitchen Restaurant around 9 a.m., which was close to our hotel. It’s a small restaurant, and they were busy, but luckily, there wasn’t much of a wait yet.

We had a group of five people, and they were able to seat us fairly quickly. It was a tight squeeze into a booth, but better than waiting a half hour.

The menu has lots of options, including lighter meals. My dad and I also enjoyed the mimosas. A great way to start the day!

Things to do

The Village

If you’re planning a trip to Big Bear, you have to check out The Village. It’s an adorable place that offers a variety of shops, restaurants, bars, and live music.

My family and I enjoyed walking around the stores, boutiques, and art galleries. We also had a delicious lunch at Saucy Mama’s Pizzeria.

One summer, my girlfriends and I went on a Wine Walk where we could taste different wines at a number of participating stores. It’s so much fun and helps increase sales. Drinking = more shopping! Unfortunately, this event hasn’t taken place since 2020, but hopefully, it will return soon. Stay tuned!

Alpine Pedal Path

The Alpine Pedal Path is a 3.2-mile-long paved trail along Big Bear Lake’s north shore. AllTrails has an extended version that is 5.1 miles long for those who are up for it.

We arrived at the trailhead on Stanfield Cutoff around 9:30 a.m. on a Saturday and parked along the road. Although we were one of the first to get there, the parking spots were filling up quickly by the time we left a little after 10:00 a.m.

It was in the 30s when we visited, so we only walked to the other end of the Stanfield Cutoff and back. As someone who’s used to San Diego temps, I don’t do well in cold weather. Even though I was freezing, the views of Big Bear Lake and the San Bernardino Mountains were worth it.

The trail is perfect for biking, walking, jogging, or skating. It’s mostly flat, which makes it ideal for families with children. If you’re interested in renting bikes, you can go to Paddles and Pedals, located along the trail. They offer a variety of adult and kid bikes, and if you rent from them, you can also park your car there while you explore the trail.

The Alpine Pedal Path also leads you to the Big Bear Discovery Center, a great place to visit, especially with kids.

Big Bear Discovery Center

After leaving the Alpine Pedal Path, I needed to thaw out, so my husband took us to the Big Bear Discovery Center. It’s about a 1.5-mile drive from the Alpine Pedal Path trailhead, and you can also access the from the trail.

The center offers plenty of activities and programs for people of all ages. You can take a guided nature walk, join a ranger-led program, or explore the exhibits.

It also has a gift shop with fun and educational items and a picnic area with beautiful views. My son picked up a headlamp from the gift shop and loves to play with it, or, more specifically, blind us with it.

Stanfield Marsh Wildlife and Waterfowl Preserve

I really wanted to check out the Stanfield Marsh Wildlife and Waterfowl Preserve after visiting the Alpine Pedal Path, but it was way too chilly for that.

It’s a nature reserve that spans across 95 acres and features a boardwalk with up-close views of the wetlands and wildlife, including birds, deer, and other animals.

Alpine Slide

We passed by Alpine Slide a few times, and it looked super fun. But we had to give it a pass because of the long line. We’ll definitely try it out some other time.

At Alpine Slide, there are a bunch of outdoor activities. One of the most popular ones is, you guessed it, the Alpine Slide – you ride down a concrete track on a sled, which sounds exciting!

You can also play miniature golf, ride go-karts, and take a chairlift ride to the mountain top for some spectacular views. Then, in the summer, they have a water slide and snow play in the winter.

Hit the slopes

Big Bear Mountain Resort is a popular skiing destination that offers two mountains, Snow Summit and Bear Mountain, with three resorts.

Snow Summit is perfect for beginner to intermediate skiers and snowboarders.

Snow Valley Mountain Resort is great for beginners and families.

There are also activities to enjoy during the summer months at Big Bear Mountain Resort, such as hiking, mountain biking, golf, kids’ camps, zip lining, and scenic chairlift rides to the mountaintop.

Sledding at Aspen Glen Picnic Area

Aspen Glen Picnic Area is a popular spot with a wide variety of slopes suitable for kids and adults of all ages.

Check out Sledding at Aspen Glen Picnic Area in Big Bear for more details, pictures, and a video preview.

Holiday crowds

Big Bear is a wonderful place to visit during the holidays, but be prepared for lots of people on holiday weekends such as Thanksgiving.

Crowded places are not really my thing, so I always try to be an early bird to catch the worm. This approach worked well during our trip because, by midday, everything was crazy busy.

We visited The Village twice, and I’m glad we got there before 11 a.m. When we left, there were lines of cars waiting for parking spaces.

One evening, we had dinner at Azteca Mexican Grill, about a mile from The Village. It was 4:30 p.m., and cars were lined up for more than a mile, inching their way to The Village at a crawling pace.

We also tried to have breakfast at Teddy Bear restaurant around 10:30 a.m., but a big crowd was waiting outside for tables. This was the case at many other breakfast spots, too.

Simple weekend itinerary

Day 1

• Have breakfast at Country Kitchen Restaurant
• Check out the shops in The Village
• Take a dip in the hotel pool and play in the game room
• Enjoy dinner at Azteca Grill Mexican

Day 2

• Explore the Alpine Pedal Path
• Head to the Big Bear Discovery Center
• Grab lunch at Saucy Mama’s Pizzeria when they open
• More shopping in The Village
• Relax and play at the hotel
• Dinner and drinks at Big Bear Mountain Brewery

Last day

• Check out
• Take a walk along the Stanfield Marsh boardwalk
• See ya next time, Big Bear

Related posts to help you plan a trip to Big Bear

• Lagonita Lodge: Your Affordable Lakefront Escape in Big Bear
• Sledding at Aspen Glen Picnic Area in Big Bear
• Snowy Adventures: Tips for Driving to Big Bear Safely
• Big Bear Lake Recommendations Quick Guide