Things To Do in Big Bear

There are so many fun things to do in Big Bear with kids! Our favorite activities include the zip line, sledding, the Mine Shaft Coaster and more!

We booked a last minute trip to Big Bear, California right after I heard it had snowed. We went about 3 days after a foot of snow had dropped which made it easy to drive up with no chains required, yet there was still plenty of snow to play in.

Where is Big Bear?

Big Bear Lake is in the mountains of San Bernardino County. This beautiful mountain town is located about 25 minutes northeast of San Bernardino and about a 3 hour drive from San Diego.

Where to Stay in Big Bear Lake?

We picked a super cute log cabin off VRBO for our three night stay. It was perfect for our family of four with a large dog. They have a fenced in yard, 3 bedrooms and it's close to town.

Big Bear also has many hotel and cabin options available.

Things to do in Big Bear in the Snow

There are so many fun things to do in Big Bear when there's snow. First, always build a snowman. Next up, go sledding! The kids had so much fun sledding. We went sledding by Aspen Glen Picnic Area which is right by the Pine Knot Trail Head.

We brought circle disk sleds at Big 5 before heading up but found that our cabin rental also had sleds available for us to use.

Go Skiing or Snowboarding

There are three places in Big Bear to go Skiing or Snowboarding. Snow Valley is for beginners. Snow Summit is for intermediates and families. Bear Mountain is more for snowboarders or advanced riders.

Playgrounds and Dog Parks

We found 2 bark parks for dogs. One was closer to Big Bear City and our favorite was right by the lake and an awesome park. The park is by the baseball fields off Jeffries Road and Park Avenue.

There’s a regular playground on one side of the field and over closer to the lake is a zip line and big swing. The kids loved this so much we went back every day.

Alpine Snow Play and Coaster

We planned on taking the kids to the snow play area at the Alpine Slide but they had so much fun sledding at the trail that we just kept going back there. If you decide to go it’s currently $45 for a day pass per person.

We did go to the Mine Shaft Coaster ($20 each) and loved this fun mountain ride! Kyla and Mark also rode the ski lift up to do the Alpine Slide ($10 each), while James and I rode the go carts ($10 each).

Where to Eat in Big Bear Lake

There are a lot of tasty spots to eat in Big Bear. Our favorites for breakfast are the Grizzly Manor and Teddy Bear Restaurant.

The Grizzly is really good food, large portions and great prices. They do get busy, so arrive early or be prepared to wait a little bit for a table. We love the blob (pictured above) and the chocolate chip pancakes!

Other great spots to try for lunch or dinner in Big Bear are Big Bear Lake Brewing, 572 Social, FireRock, Tropicali and the Mountain Munchies.

For ice cream or any treats, you have to go to North Pole Fudge and Ice Cream Co. This has been our favorite spot for ice cream or chocolates for years.