FamilyMountain TownsWeekend from LA

Three days · Big Bear Lake from LA

Big Bear Lake from LA with kids: snow play, the Alpine Zoo and The Village

Reviewed Oct 20, 2026How we verify

Three easy winter days in the San Bernardino Mountains, all from one base in The Village: rescued bears and wolves at the Alpine Zoo, a day of snow tubing, and a last morning of nature play on the north shore before the drive home.

Mountain TownsLittle Explorers

3 days / 2 nights Best Dec–Mar Family

Original illustration

Granite boulders and pines on the shore of Boulder Bay, Big Bear Lake, with calm blue water and wooded hills — **Boulder Bay** · granite and pines on the shore of Big Bear Lake

The trip in 60 seconds

Trip at a glance

Who it’s for: LA families with young kids who want real snow, animals and a walkable mountain village without a long flight
Route: The Village & the Alpine Zoo → Big Bear Snow Play → the Discovery Center in Fawnskin & the Alpine Slide
Best timing: December to March for snow. Storm weekends bring chain controls and slow roads; the zoo and Snow Play open year-round
Pace: Easy: short drives, one active snow day and plenty of warm breaks
Sleep: Two nights in one base in or near The Village, so dinners and the lakefront are a short walk
Getting there: About 2½ hours by car from central LA via the mountain highways; check chain controls on Caltrans QuickMap before you leave
Rough budget: Alpine Zoo admission is $17 for adults and $12 for kids 3–12, free under 3; parking is free. Lodging, tubing sessions and meals are the big costs
Good to know: The Village sits at about 6,750 feet: drink water, use sunscreen on the snow and dress kids in waterproof layers

Reviewed Oct 20, 2026How we verify

Illustration: route map of the three days, an illustrated bird’s-eye view of Big Bear Lake in snow with numbered pins at The Village and the Alpine Zoo (Day 1), Big Bear Snow Play (Day 2) and the Discovery Center on the north shore (Day 3) — Big Bear Lake in three days · one Village base and short drives

Postcards from the trip

A deep orange and red sunset over Big Bear Lake with a small boat silhouetted on the water — **Big Bear Lake** · winter sunsets come early; walk the lakefront before 5 p.m.

Big Bear Lake seen from the east, with water, meadow and mountains beyond — **The east end** · the zoo and Snow Play are a few minutes east of The Village

Pink and orange sunrise clouds and pines reflected in still water at Big Bear Lake — **Morning on the lake** · dress warm: it is often below freezing at sunrise

The rocky north shore of Big Bear Lake with pines, dry brush and blue water — **The north shore** · buy an Adventure Pass at the Discovery Center for trailhead parking

The idea

Three days in Big Bear Lake with kids: real snow, rescued wildlife and a lake village, two and a half hours from LA.

Big Bear Lake is the snow trip most Southern California families can drive to in a morning: a long alpine lake in the San Bernardino Mountains, ringed with Jeffrey pines and granite, with ski hills on the south side and a walkable village of cabins, diners and shops on the shore. In winter it is cold and bright, and the snow is often fresh.

Day 1 is the drive up, the Big Bear Alpine Zoo and an afternoon in The Village. Day 2 is the snow day: tubing at Big Bear Snow Play or ski school on the resort’s beginner hills. Day 3 crosses to the quieter north shore for the Discovery Center’s nature-play zone, then the Alpine Slide on the way home.

Want more snow with the family? See Lake Tahoe with the family and Stowe in winter. For a sunnier trip with kids, try San Diego.

Day-by-day summary

A grizzly bear habitat of granite boulders and grass under pines at the Big Bear Alpine Zoo

Day 1 · Friday · car, then on footThe Alpine Zoo & The VillageThe drive up, rescued wildlife and the lakeside village.

Snowy ski runs cutting through pine forest on Bear Mountain above Big Bear Lake

Day 2 · Saturday · short driveBig Bear Snow PlayTubing on groomed snow lanes, a pizza lunch and a warm dinner.

Inside the Big Bear Discovery Center, with a forest mural, exhibits and visitors at the information desk

Day 3 · Sunday · carThe North ShoreNature play at the Discovery Center, then the Alpine Slide and home.

The route

Three days, one Village base, short drives

The zoo and The Village, a snow day, then the north shore and the Alpine Slide on the way out, two nights in the same room.

Illustration: a parent and small child in winter coats at a wooden rail watching a grizzly bear among granite boulders and pines, a snowy ridge behind, illustrated day card for Day 1

01Big Bear · alpine zoo

Base: The Village on the south shore, both nights. From central LA the drive takes about 2½ hours without storms, climbing through the San Bernardino National Forest to about 6,750 feet. The zoo is a few minutes east of The Village, and parking there is free. Pace: gentle for small kids: one morning drive, a compact zoo with mostly gentle paths, then a slow afternoon in The Village with a hot-chocolate break and an early dinner.

The drive up and a diner breakfast

Leave LA early. Before you go, check chain controls and road conditions on Caltrans QuickMap: after a storm the mountain highways can require chains or snow tires, and traffic slows to a crawl on Friday afternoons. Pack the chains in the trunk even on a clear forecast, and stop for fuel in the valley before the climb.

Where to eat: breakfast at Benny’s Family Restaurant once you reach Big Bear Lake, a family diner with pancakes, omelets and room for car seats and snow boots. Order something hot for the kids; mornings in the mountains start near freezing.

The Big Bear Alpine Zoo

Drive a few minutes to the Big Bear Alpine Zoo on Moonridge Road, a rescue and rehabilitation zoo for injured, orphaned and imprinted wildlife, most of it from these mountains. You will see grizzly and black bears, gray wolves, a snow leopard, mountain lions, owls and eagles, many of which cannot be released back to the wild.

It is open daily, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in winter (until 5 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day). Admission is $17 for adults and $12 for seniors and kids 3–12; children 2 and under are free. On heavy snow days it may open late for snow removal, so call ahead in a storm. Plan about one to two hours: the paths are compact and walkable for small legs, but the zoo does not rent strollers, so bring your own.

Expert tip: go at opening on a snowy morning. The animals are often most active in the cold, and you will have the bear and wolf habitats to yourselves before the lunch crowd.

Lunch and an afternoon in The Village

Where to eat: drive back to The Village for lunch at Oakside on Village Drive, which opens daily at 11 a.m. with a family-friendly California menu and indoor and outdoor seating.

Then walk The Village: a few blocks of cabins and shops along Pine Knot Avenue and Village Drive, with candy, toy and outdoor stores and the lake at the bottom of the street. Walk down Pine Knot to the water and let the kids throw snowballs along the shore while the light turns pink on the ridges.

Maps, chains and an early dinner

Stop at the Big Bear Lake Visitor Center on Big Bear Boulevard for trail maps, snow-play advice and the latest on road conditions for Sunday’s drive home. Then rest at your cabin before dinner; the altitude tires small kids faster than you expect.

Where to eat: dinner at Peppercorn Grille in The Village, a sit-down restaurant a short walk from the lake. Book an early table on a winter weekend.

Where to eat and stop

Breakfast · Benny’s Family Restaurant — a family diner breakfast on arrival in Big Bear Lake. Why here: a hot meal for the kids right after the drive, before the zoo.
Lunch · Oakside — a family-friendly California menu on Village Drive; opens daily at 11 a.m. Why here: back in The Village after the zoo, an easy sit-down lunch.
Dinner · Peppercorn Grille — a sit-down dinner in The Village. Why here: a short walk from the lake and your room after a long first day.
Quick stop (other): Big Bear Lake Visitor Center — maps, snow-play ideas and road conditions on Big Bear Boulevard. Why here: check chain controls for the drive home.

Check chain controls before you leave LA. Caltrans QuickMap shows live chain requirements and closures on the mountain highways; a storm can change them in an hour, and carrying chains saves you a turnaround.

Central LA → Big Bear Lake by car: about 2½ hours without storms. The Village → the Alpine Zoo: about 5 minutes by car. The Alpine Zoo → The Village: about 5 minutes. Pine Knot Avenue → the lakefront: about 5 minutes on foot.

Where to stay

A cabin or lodge in or near The Village — two nights in The Village, so the shops, the lake and dinner are on foot.

Dinner: at Peppercorn Grille in The Village; reserve an early table.

Tomorrow: the snow day at Big Bear Snow Play, about 5 minutes east by car.

Bad-weather plan

In a heavy storm, wait for the roads to clear before driving up, then spend the afternoon in The Village’s shops and the Visitor Center and keep the Alpine Zoo for the next morning; it opens almost every day, even in snow.

Stay: Village base · Anchor: the Alpine Zoo · carry chains

Good to know: The Village is compact and walkable; the zoo, Snow Play and the ski resort are all within a few minutes’ drive of it.

Illustration: two kids sliding down groomed snow lanes on inner tubes below a log lodge and ski runs through pines, illustrated day card for Day 2

02Snow day · tubing

Base: the same Village room. Big Bear Snow Play is on Big Bear Boulevard about 5 minutes east of The Village; tubing uses natural and man-made snow, so it runs on most winter weekends even when the hillsides look thin. Book sessions online before you go; walk-up space is limited on snow weekends. Watching from the base area is free. Pace: the most active day: two hours of tubing and climbing for the kids, with a heated base lodge for breaks, then a long lunch and a rest at the cabin before dinner.

An early breakfast

Where to eat: breakfast at Teddy Bear Restaurant on Pine Knot Boulevard in The Village, open daily from 7 a.m. Fill up: tubing burns energy fast, and lunch is a few hours away.

Dress the kids in waterproof pants, two pairs of gloves and a hat before you leave the room. Snow gets everywhere on a tubing hill, and a dry spare set of gloves in the car turns a cold afternoon around.

Snow tubing at Big Bear Snow Play

Drive to Big Bear Snow Play on Big Bear Boulevard. In winter the hill has groomed tubing lanes on natural and man-made snow and a lift to carry riders back up, and the heated base lodge has restrooms, a snack bar with hot drinks and video games for a warm-up break.

Weekend hours are listed as 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday; sessions are sold by time slot, and glow tubing under coloured lights runs after dark on some nights. Check the sessions and age rules on the official site the week you go, and arrive about 20 minutes early to collect tubes.

Expert tip: book the first session of the morning. The lanes are fastest and smoothest on fresh grooming, the lines are shortest, and you are done before the afternoon traffic builds on the boulevard.

Pizza in The Village

Where to eat: lunch at Village Pizza, an easy pizza place in The Village with slices and pies kids already know. Dry off, warm up and let everyone choose their own toppings. It is closed on Sundays, so keep this day for a Saturday.

After lunch, take a rest at the cabin, or walk to the lakefront for an hour of snowman building on the shore where the snow is softer than the groomed hill.

Ski school or a quiet afternoon

If your kids are ready to try skiing or snowboarding, Big Bear Mountain Resort runs lessons on the beginner terrain at Snow Summit, a few minutes south of The Village. Check ages, lesson times and lift-ticket rules on the resort’s official site and book ahead; weekend lessons fill early in snow season.

Otherwise, keep the afternoon slow. As the sun drops behind the ridges the temperature falls fast, so plan to be indoors by about 4:30 p.m. with hot chocolate.

Where to eat and stop

Breakfast · Teddy Bear Restaurant — a Village diner on Pine Knot Boulevard, open daily 7 a.m.–10 p.m. Why here: an early hot breakfast a short drive from the tubing hill.
Lunch · Village Pizza — pizza by the slice and pie at 40568 Village Drive; closed Sundays. Why here: an easy, warm lunch for kids between snow play and the lake.
Dinner · Himalayan Restaurant — Indian and Nepalese dishes in The Village. Why here: a warm, filling dinner close to your room after a cold day.
Quick stop (snack): Big Bear Snow Play base lodge — a heated lodge with a snack bar, hot drinks and restrooms at the foot of the tubing hill. Why here: the warm-up break between runs.

Pack a full change of dry clothes in the car. Tubing hills and lakefront snow soak through gloves and socks within an hour; dry layers waiting in the car make the second half of the day work.

The Village → Big Bear Snow Play: about 5 minutes by car. Snow Play → Village Pizza: about 5 minutes. The Village → Snow Summit for ski school: about 5 minutes by car.

Where to stay

A cabin or lodge in or near The Village — the same Village room.

Dinner: at Himalayan Restaurant in The Village; Indian and Nepalese dishes for a cold night.

Tomorrow: the north shore, about 15 minutes across the lake by car.

Bad-weather plan

If a storm closes the tubing hill or the roads, spend the morning at the Alpine Zoo (it opens on most snow days), then bowling and arcade games at The Bowling Barn on Big Bear Boulevard and a long pizza lunch in The Village.

Stay: same Village base · Anchor: snow tubing · book tubing sessions ahead

Good to know: Sun on snow at altitude burns fast: use sunscreen and sunglasses or goggles on the tubing hill, even on a cold day.

Illustration: a child’s hands holding a pine cone and a magnifying glass on a log, nature-play log shelters and the lake through the pines behind, illustrated day card for Day 3

03North shore · last day

Base: check out after breakfast. The Big Bear Discovery Center is on North Shore Drive (Highway 38) in Fawnskin, about 15 minutes by car across the dam end of the lake; it is open Thursday to Monday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and entry to the center is free. The Alpine Slide is back on the south shore near The Village. Pace: easy and unhurried: a morning of outdoor play sized for small kids, an indoor lunch and games, a short ride, and the drive home before dark.

Bagels before checkout

Where to eat: breakfast at Amangela’s Sandwich & Bagel House in the center of The Village, with bagels, breakfast sandwiches and fruit smoothies. It is named the family lunch pick on the official Big Bear Lake visitor site, and it works as well for a quick breakfast.

Load the car and check out. If your lodging allows a late checkout, the lakefront is quiet at this hour for one last look across the water at the north shore you are about to visit.

The Discovery Center and the Nature Discovery Zone

Drive west along the south shore, past the dam and onto North Shore Drive to Fawnskin. Opened in 1998, the Big Bear Discovery Center is the largest visitor center in the valley, with forest information, programs and the Adventure Pass you need for parking at many San Bernardino National Forest trailheads.

Behind it is the Nature Discovery Zone, an outdoor classroom for children ages 2 to 7 with log shelters, a building area and places to dig, climb and look for pine cones; it was the first Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom in the National Forest system. Let the kids explore at their own speed while you sit on a log in the sun.

Expert tip: plan this day for Thursday through Monday. The Discovery Center is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday, so on a midweek trip swap Day 1 and Day 3.

Lunch and bowling

Where to eat: drive back toward The Village for lunch at The Bowling Barn on Big Bear Boulevard, with pizza, hot dogs, bowling lanes and arcade games. It is listed for family food and fun on the official Big Bear Lake visitor site, and a game or two burns off energy before the drive.

The Alpine Slide and the drive home

On the way out, stop at Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain on Wildrose Lane, open year-round with the Alpine Slide bobsled run, the Mineshaft Coaster and snow play in winter. Listed hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends; check ride heights and age rules for small kids on the official site.

Leave the mountain by mid-afternoon. The highways down get slow on Sunday afternoons in snow season, and it is easier to drive the curves in daylight. If you want one more meal on the way out, Benny’s Family Restaurant is an easy stop before the descent.

Where to eat and stop

Breakfast · Amangela’s Sandwich & Bagel House — bagels, breakfast sandwiches and smoothies in the center of The Village. Why here: a quick breakfast before checkout. Named the family lunch pick on the official Big Bear Lake visitor site.
Lunch · The Bowling Barn — pizza, hot dogs, bowling and arcade games on Big Bear Boulevard. Why here: lunch and a game near the Alpine Slide before the drive. Listed for family food and fun on the official Big Bear Lake visitor site.
Dinner · Benny’s Family Restaurant — a family diner for an early dinner on the way out. Why here: an easy last meal before the drive down the mountain.
Quick stop (other): Big Bear Discovery Center — free visitor center and the Nature Discovery Zone for ages 2–7 in Fawnskin; Thursday to Monday 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Why here: the quieter north shore, made for small kids.
Quick stop (other): Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain — the Alpine Slide, the Mineshaft Coaster and winter snow play on Wildrose Lane. Why here: one last ride near The Village on the way out.

Leave the mountain by 3 p.m. on Sunday. Traffic down the mountain highways builds through the afternoon on snow weekends, and the curves are easier to drive in daylight with tired kids in the back seat.

The Village → the Discovery Center, Fawnskin: about 15 minutes by car. Fawnskin → The Bowling Barn: about 15 minutes. The Bowling Barn → the Alpine Slide: about 5 minutes. Big Bear Lake → central LA: about 2½ hours.

Where to stay

A cabin or lodge in or near The Village — check out after breakfast.

Dinner: on the way out at Benny’s Family Restaurant, or at home after the drive.

Home: about 2½ hours back to central LA.

Bad-weather plan

In a storm, skip the north-shore drive and spend the morning inside The Bowling Barn and The Village’s shops, then leave early once Caltrans QuickMap shows the roads clear.

Stay: check out · Anchor: the Nature Discovery Zone · closed Tue–Wed

Good to know: Many national forest trailheads around the lake need an Adventure Pass for parking; buy one at the Discovery Center.

Custom Edition

How we tailor your Big Bear Lake plan

A plan that knows how you travel.

3 full itineraries in every plan, Saver to Splurge, so you can pick or mix.

🌙 Your rhythm

Day 3 moves the big hike to the morning, because your 4-year-old naps at 1.

🥾 Your needs

Bringing a stroller? We pick stops with stroller-friendly paths.

🌄 Your kind of day

Kids restless in the car? We break up long drives with a stop worth seeing.

3 full itineraries in every plan

Saver, Sweet spot and Splurge, each a complete day-by-day plan. Pick one or mix.

All 3 in your plan

$SaverSmart value

$$Sweet spotBest balance

$$$SplurgeTreat yourself

See it in a sample plan

Yours from $39.

Every plan is built around you, your pace and your must-dos.

Longer trip? Add days 15–21 for $8 a day.

Getaway (1–3 days) · $39

Art & photos

5 original illustrations of your trip's highlights
8 destination photos to preview each stop1 cover · 3 daily · 4 postcards

Planning

Timed itinerary so every day runs at an easy pace
3 full itineraries Saver, Sweet spot and Splurge, so you can pick or mix
3 curated stays per stop to match your budget
Where to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus insider tips every day
Tap-to-go routes to every hotel, activity and restaurant, opening straight in your maps app
Booking timeline so you book the right things in the right order
Packing list made for every traveler coming

Your plan, your way

Digital trip page in your account, on any device
PDF to save, print or share
Trip playlist with song links for Spotify and Apple Music
1 free refinement to tweak anything after delivery

Get my custom plan

Getaway · $39

How we build your plan

See sample plans

Emailed within 3 business days of your trip brief. Full refund before work starts, or if we can’t deliver. 1 free refinement after delivery (2 on Grand Journey); extra refinements after delivery, $19 each.

Our promise

Full refund before work starts, or if we can’t deliver. Change your mind before work starts and we’ll refund you in full. If we can’t deliver your plan, you’re refunded in full too.
One free refinement after delivery (two on Grand Journey). Tell us what to change and we’ll refine it. Extra refinements are $19 each.
Spotted an error? Tell us which fact on this page looks wrong and we’ll review it.

The people behind the plans

Who is Earth Adventure Travel?

We build routes for real life — wrangling kids, spanning generations, or heading out solo — and review key details regularly. Things change and we can miss some, so we link the official sources for you to confirm before you go.

Learn About Us

Before you go

Plan & pack

Pack for the trip

Tire chains. California can require them on the mountain highways after a storm; carry a set that fits your car.
Waterproof snow pants and jackets. Tubing and snow play soak ordinary clothes quickly.
Two pairs of gloves per child. Keep a dry pair in the car for the afternoon.
Warm hats and wool socks. Mornings start near freezing even on sunny days.
Snow boots with grip. Village sidewalks and parking lots ice over at night.
Sunscreen and sunglasses. Sun on snow at altitude burns fast.
A thermos and snacks. For the car and the tubing hill.
A stroller, if you use one. The Alpine Zoo does not rent them.

An aerial view of the east end of Big Bear Lake with low cloud, shoreline and pine-covered slopes — **Pack layers: mountain mornings start near freezing even on sunny days.** **Big Bear Lake** · pack warm layers for cold mornings at 6,750 feet

A mountain viewpoint near Big Bear with pines, scrub and distant ridges under a clear sky — **Carry tire chains: California can require them on the mountain roads after a storm.** **Mountain roads** · carry tire chains for the drive up after a winter storm

Illustration: kids’ snow boots, waterproof mittens, a knit beanie, a thermos, a bag of tire chains, sunscreen and a folded blank trail map on a cabin wood floor, original illustrated plan card for 3 days in Big Bear Lake — **Original illustration** · snow boots, mittens, a beanie, a thermos and tire chains on a cabin floor

Big Bear Lake in one frame

The plan card lays the weekend out on a cabin floor: boots and mittens for the snow, a thermos for the car and chains for the mountain roads. Every stop, hour and meal is in the day-by-day above.

A wooden cabin among tall snow-covered pine trees in a California mountain forest — **Around the lake** · sunsets, the east end and a winter cabin in the pines

Illustration: a stack of pancakes with butter and syrup, a mug of cocoa with marshmallows and a cup of crayons on a diner table by a frosted log-cabin window onto a snowy village street, original illustrated recap card — **Original illustration** · pancakes, cocoa and crayons on a diner table by a snowy window

Where the trip ends

The recap card closes the weekend at a diner table in The Village, with pancakes and cocoa and snow outside the window. The day-by-day has each stop, hour and meal.

Postcards

Big Bear Lake, in frames.

A wide view over pine-covered ridges of the San Bernardino Mountains near Big Bear under a clear blue sky — **Above Big Bear** · pine ridges of the San Bernardino Mountains

Pine-covered slopes falling away to a hazy valley from the Rim of the World Highway — **Rim of the World** · the mountain highway on the climb up from the valley

Quick answers

Planning notes

How far is Big Bear Lake from Los Angeles?

About 2½ hours by car from central LA without storms. Allow more time on Friday afternoons and after snowfall, when chain controls slow traffic on the mountain highways.

Do you need chains to drive to Big Bear?

Sometimes. After storms Caltrans can require chains or snow tires on the roads up. Check Caltrans QuickMap before you leave and carry chains that fit your car.

Is Big Bear good for little kids in winter?

Yes. The Alpine Zoo is compact, Big Bear Snow Play has groomed tubing lanes and a heated lodge, and the Discovery Center’s Nature Discovery Zone is built for ages 2 to 7.

Where should you stay in Big Bear with kids?

In or near The Village on the south shore. Restaurants, shops and the lakefront are on foot, and the zoo, Snow Play and ski school are about five minutes away.

How much is the Big Bear Alpine Zoo?

Adult admission is $17 and kids 3–12 pay $12; children 2 and under are free, and parking is free. Prices can change, so check the zoo’s site.

When is the snow season in Big Bear?

Usually December to March, with the most reliable snow in January and February. Snow Play also makes its own snow when it is cold enough.

Before you set off — the official checks

Hours, prices, sessions and road rules change. Confirm current details on the sites listed under official links.

Road conditions and chain controls — Check before you drive up and again before you leave. Caltrans QuickMap ↗
Big Bear Alpine Zoo — Winter 10 a.m.–4 p.m. daily; may open late on snow days. Alpine Zoo ↗
Big Bear Snow Play — Tubing sessions and hours change by season; book ahead. Big Bear Snow Play ↗
Weather — Mountain storms can arrive fast; check the forecast for the San Bernardino Mountains. National Weather Service ↗

Plan with confidence

Official Links

Official sites to plan and verify the details in this guide.

Caltrans QuickMap ↗Live chain controls and closures

Big Bear Alpine Zoo: plan a visit ↗Hours and admission

Big Bear Snow Play ↗Tubing and sessions

Big Bear Mountain Resort ↗Ski and snowboard lessons

Big Bear Discovery Center ↗Hours, programs and the Adventure Pass

Visit Big Bear Lake ↗Official visitor information

National Weather Service San Diego ↗Mountain forecasts

Reviewed Oct 20, 2026How we verify

Conditions and prices can change.

References

Research behind this guide

The reporting and research that shaped this itinerary.

Family Friendly Restaurants in Big Bear ↗Visit Big Bear Lake

Photo credits

Photos via Wikimedia Commons, resized and converted to WebP. The illustrated cover, day cards, plan card and recap card are this guide’s original itinerary artwork, illustrated from the credited photos listed here.

Boulder Bay — photo by Don Graham, CC BY-SA 2.0; this resized copy is shared under the same license (CC BY-SA 2.0); it is also the basis of the Cover and Cover web illustrations, shared under the same license (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Alpine Zoo — photo by Librarybell, CC0; it is also the basis of the Day 1 card illustration
Bear Mountain — photo by http://www.bearmountain.com/snowboard/mountain-info/mountain-facts/, CC BY-SA 3.0; this resized copy is shared under the same license (CC BY-SA 3.0); it is also the basis of the Day 2 card illustration, shared under the same license (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Discovery Center — photo by DarkNight0917, CC BY-SA 4.0; this resized copy is shared under the same license (CC BY-SA 4.0); it is also the basis of the Day 3 card illustration, shared under the same license (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Big Bear Lake aerial — photo by Don Ramey Logan, CC BY-SA 4.0; this resized copy is shared under the same license (CC BY-SA 4.0); it is also the basis of the Packing card illustration, shared under the same license (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Mountain viewpoint — photo by RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0
Big Bear ridges — photo by RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0
Winter cabin — photo by YUNXI SHI yunxishi, CC0
Rim of the World — photo by Steve Riggins, CC BY 3.0
Lake sunset — photo by Steve Hedin, CC BY-SA 3.0; this resized copy is shared under the same license (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Lake from the east — photo by Junkyardsparkle, CC0; it is also the basis of the Recap card illustration
Lake sunrise — photo by DylanMoz49, CC BY-SA 4.0; this resized copy is shared under the same license (CC BY-SA 4.0)
North shore — photo by inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0; this resized copy is shared under the same license (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Route map — original illustrated route artwork for this guide; stop locations from OpenStreetMap

The trip index

Choose the landscape. Then choose the pace.

Every guide on the site, filtered the same way everywhere: region, season, who is going, style, trip type and length.

Every guide is listed on All trips (the filters here need JavaScript).

Browse by Region · Season · Traveling with · Trip style · Trip type · Trip length.

Trip types: National Parks & Wild Places · Coastal Drives & Beach Towns · Cities & Urban Weekends · Historic & Cultural Routes · Mountain Towns · Food & Drink Trails · International.

The trip in 60 seconds

Postcards from the trip

Three days in Big Bear Lake with kids: real snow, rescued wildlife and a lake village, two and a half hours from LA.

Day-by-day summary

Three days, one Village base, short drives

Day 1 · The Alpine Zoo & The Village—The drive up from LA, a diner breakfast, the Big Bear Alpine Zoo, lunch in The Village, an afternoon by the lake and dinner a short walk from your room.

Day 2 · Big Bear Snow Play—A diner breakfast, a morning of snow tubing at Big Bear Snow Play, a pizza lunch in The Village, an afternoon rest or ski school, and a warm Himalayan dinner.

Day 3 · The North Shore—Bagels in The Village, the drive across the lake to the Big Bear Discovery Center’s nature-play zone, lunch and bowling, the Alpine Slide and the drive home.

A plan that knows how you travel.

3 full itineraries in every plan

Art & photos

Planning

Your plan, your way

Art & photos

Planning

Your plan, your way

Art & photos

Planning

Your plan, your way

Our promise

Who is Earth Adventure Travel?

Plan & pack

Pack for the trip

Big Bear Lake in one frame

Where the trip ends

Big Bear Lake, in frames.

Planning notes

Before you set off — the official checks

More snow trips and family weekends.

Lake Tahoe with the Family

Breckenridge in Winter with the Family

Park City Skiing with the Family

San Diego with the Family

Official Links

Research behind this guide

Photo credits

Choose the landscape. Then choose the pace.

No exact match—yet.