 San Bernardino Mountain Resorts
Our San Bernardino Mountains offer wonderful escapism for the valley dwellers in the Inland Empire. The towns of Blue Jay and Crestline have a small town atmosphere, while Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear are more resort-like. All of the areas have something to offer for fun and recreation. Take a look…
Big Bear’s history includes a chapter out of the Gold Rush era of the 1860s. Its first dam was built in 1884. Since 1914 it has been a Hollywood favorite for filming--Bonanza, The Parent Trap, and Dr. Dolittle. Today, it is a quaint resort town offering year-round relaxation and recreation. A long, long time ago, I took a UCLA extension class on Birds of Prey, one of my favorite and most memorable classes ever! One of our field trips was to Big Bear during the winter to see the wintering Bald Eagles. It’s a well-kept secret…until now.
Blue Jay was founded in 1914 by a homesteader. If you’re looking for a small town atmosphere to escape for the day or for a weekend, consider Blue Jay. The accommodations are more budget friendly than Blue Jay’s more famous neighboring towns. The town hosts several events throughout the year such as the Blue Jay Jazz Festival during the summer, the Blue Jay Christmas Parade and Lake Arrowhead Celebration of Film (held in Blue Jay).
Crestline is a community of about 10.000 residents situated around Lake Gregory, a manmade lake created in the 1930s. The population of Crestline is about 12,000 residents. Crestline offers cabins for rentals and small inns. Recreational activities include hiking, camping, fishing , skiing and snowboarding and mountain biking. My family has owned a cabin in Lake Gregory/Crestline town since the 1930s. My favorite memories are hiking down to the lake and feeding the blue jays and squirrels. The blue jays are very acrobatic and are skilled at catching peanuts mid-air. The squirrels will come right up to you and take the peanuts out of your hands. If you visit, be sure to stock up on peanuts!
Lake Arrowhead features a very community-based town center, err, village with great food and unique shops. Brings back memories of a real ‘main street.’ During the winter, Lake Arrowhead is a great place to stay if you plan on skiing or snowboarding. Annual events include their summer concert series, farmer’s market, Antique and Classic Wooden Boat Show, Forest Festival, 4th of July fireworks show, and of course Oktoberfest.
If we missed your town, please be sure to contact us!
Inland Empire Education
Nearby mountain residents attend San Bernardino Valley College, California State University, San Bernardino, and University of Redlands.
Things To Do
- Lake Gregory Regional Park offers fishing, swimming, picknicking, horse riding and looping water slides. Paddle boats are available for renting on the North Shore, while other boat rentals are available April through October. Lake Gregory is a private lake, so public boat launching is not allowed. Be sure to check the Lake Gregory Regional Park fee schedule (fees are nominal) before visiting.
- Oktoberfest starts in September and runs through October in Lake Arrowhead Village. This free event is a fun escape for families, offering German bands, food and, of course, beer. Big Bear also holds an Oktoberfest from mid-September through the end of October. Prices are reasonably priced from $6 to no more than $12, discounts are available for children and seniors.
- Take a drive to Big Bear and visit their Moonridge Animal Park. They are open daily if the weather is good. Be sure to call ahead, 909-878-4200. Prices range from $9 to $6.
- Then, of course, there’s skiing offered by Snow Summit, Bear Mountain Ski Resort, Big Bear Mountain Resorts, Ski Big Bear, and the Bavarian Lodge Ski and Tennis Resort.
Mountain Community Links
Local Media
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