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Big Bear... These two deep-blue lakes lie close to each other in the San Bernardino Mountains and have long been a favorite year-round alpine playground for city-weary Angelenos.

Big BearLake has always been popular with skiers as well as avid boaters (it's much larger than Arrowhead, and equipment rentals abound), and in the past decade the area has been given a much-needed face-lift. Big Bear Boulevard was substantially widened to handle high-season traffic, and downtown Big Bear Lake (the "Village") was spiffed up without losing its woodsy charm. Most people choose Big Bear over Arrowhead because there's so much more to do, from boating, fishing, and hiking to snow sports, mountain biking, and horseback riding. The weather is nearly always perfect at this 7,000-foot-plus elevation: If you want proof, ask Caltech, which operates a solar observatory here to take advantage of nearly 300 days of sunshine per year.

Big Bear Lake is a world of natural beauty, crisp, clean alpine air, and endless four-season recreation. High above the hustle of everyday life, Big Bear Lake provides the ideal getaway for day or for a long vacation.

An easy drive from virtually anywhere in Southern California, Big Bear Lake offers numerous recreational opportunities including boating, sailing, water skiing, fishing, hiking, camping, mountain biking, horseback riding, golfing, down hill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snow-shoeing, and more. Big Bear Lake is also host to numerous events throughout the year including Old Miner's Days, Oktoberfest, mountain bike racing, hobie cat regattas, jazz festivals, car shows, trout classics, rodeos, ski and snowboard competitions, and more.

For more information on upcoming events and visitor information, please contact the Big Bear Lake Resort Association or the Big Bear Chamber of Commerce.