August is traditionally the hottest month of year for San Diego so that means families are looking for ways to beat the heat, and the answer may lay just a short car trip away at Big Bear. Known for it’s fish-filled lake, boutiques, restaurants that line the Village and family-friendly activities, Big Bear is the perfect getaway. Sitting at 6,752′ elevation, Big Bear Lake is considered the jewel of the San Bernardino National Forest. It has mountain trails and abundant wildlife, so we packed our bags and headed north to spend the weekend and adventure as a family.
BIG BEAR MEANS BIG FUN
There are so many great places to stay in Big Bear. We used Big Bear Vacations to help us find a place that had space for both of our families to stay. Whether you want to stay on the lake, near the trails or the slopes, there are so many great options for whatever your group size might be. Our cabin had 4 bedrooms in the main house which were perfect for our two families. It was located right next to the slopes. It also had a bunkhouse with triple-decker bunk beds! The bunkhouse was everyone’s favorite spot. It had a large gameroom, complete with pool table, foosball table and more. The kids enjoyed playing all the games and we enjoyed catching up with each other and not having to entertain the kids. We loved that no one asked to watch a tv show the entire weekend! The kitchen and dining area were great for a large group too. There was even a table outside that we enjoyed eating breakfast at as we took in the cool mountain views.
ESCAPE ON THE LAKE
You can’t come to Big Bear in the Summer and not spend at least one day on the Lake. And, there’s no better way to experience the lake than from the comfort of your own private boat. So we turned to Holloway’s Marina to set us up with a Pontoon Boat for our families.
All eight of us easily fit with space to spare. Once we got the kids set in their life jackets, the waters became ours! The weather was perfect, the terrain is beautiful and we enjoyed relaxing, snacking and showing the kiddos how to drive the boat (don’t worry, we made it perfectly safe, just don’t tell the littles). Our families had such a relaxing time taking in the views of the scenery around us as we cruised around the lake. The gentle lake breeze was a welcome relief on the warm summer day. We enjoyed watching other families tubing and wakeboarding too. There’s just something about being out on the lake and in awe of nature that helps you to relax.
If you didn’t want to operate your own boat, and prefer more of a tour, the Pirate Ship would be a great option. Named after the movie she was featured in, the Time Bandit has been sailing these mountain waters since 1998. It’s a 90-minute narrated tour with a treasure chest surprise for the kids.
FAMILY MOUNTAIN ACTIVITIES
From the road, the Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain captured the attention of our family. And once we entered the park, it’s even more exciting to see the authentic bobsled experience up close. We had try… not once, but multiple times! It starts off with a scenic chairlift ride to the top, from there, we grabbed individually controlled sleds (parents and kids can ride together) each with Teflon runners and ball bearing wheels, and then we got the choice of two quarter-mile long cement tracks filled with high-banked turns and long straightaways.
Whoosh! Whether you’re racing, or just enjoying the sights in a unique and fun way, the Alpine Slide is an absolute must.
If you’re up for something a little faster, check out the new Mineshaft Coaster. It just opened in 2020 and is the first and only Mountain Coaster in California! For this you can ride alone or with a child, and what’s cool is that you control your speed through hairpin turns, dips, tunnels, bridges, and 360-degree corkscrews along the mountainside. The track is a mile long so there is plenty of time for screams and thrills!
Or try the Soaring Eagle Ride which is the first and only one in California. The double-seated ride is great for parents and kids as it takes you backwards nearly two football fields before zipping down high above tree tops at 26 mph! It’s not too scary and offers the best panoramic forest and lake views.
Another great spot is Big Bear Speedway, which is home to RT8 Sodi Karts and a ropes course. We started out with the karts. One of our favorite adventure stops was the Big Bear Speedway where we raced RT8 Sodi Karts. With vacuum fuel pumps and hydraulic brakes, we lived out our Days of Thunder dreams. We paired up with the kiddos. We all had so much fun racing each other. Make sure to check out the website for height and age guidelines.
After our race, we took on the challenge of the ropes course. Rather than force them to go on, we said it was okay and they cheered on the group and said they wanted to try it next time! The ropes course had two levels and lots of obstacles. It was self-led so you could choose your challenge. Whether you are a beginner or ropes-enthusiast, it had plenty to challenge everyone in our group including a zipline. One of my favorite parts of a ropes course is seeing people encourage each other to try things they don’t feel like they can do and the sense of accomplishment that occurs when they finish.
MORE THAN JUST A MEAL AT WYATTS
One of our favorite spots to eat at was Wyatt’s Grill and Saloon. It is the perfect place for a family meal and down home fun. There is an expansive outdoor area with picnic tables and dance floor. When the weather gets colder, there is also an indoor dining and dance area too. We enjoyed listening to the live music as we ate. We highly recommend the tri-tip plate. It was so good! It comes with Texas toast, an ear of corn and Pico de Gallo Coleslaw. The kids enjoyed burgers and fries. The fried dill pickles and cowboy steak fries were also a hit. There are plenty of options for the entire family from tacos to salads and even pizza. It genuinely felt like a family reunion atmosphere with amazing food and a fun atmosphere.
After dinner, we loved dancing together as a family. We may not have perfected our two-step quite yet, but we enjoyed dancing. The dads dipped and twirled their daughters. We loved watching the experienced dancers two-step too. Make sure to save the date for Oktoberfest at Big Bear Lake Wyatt’s is one of the happening spots to hear great German-American bands and get some of your favorite Oktoberfest fare.
Our favorite parts of the weekend – not only did we not hear, “I’m bored,” but we created fun memories with our families.
We were hosted by BigBearGuide.com All of our thoughts and opinions are our own.
