When you think Southern California you typically don’t think snow, but if you travel just two hours east of Los Angeles you find yourself at Big Bear Mountain in the San Bernardino National Forest near Big Bear Lake. At almost 8,900 feet, every winter it snows, and when more powder is needed, 5 additional feet can be delivered through a 5 million dollar snowmaking system. With four peaks, Shadow Mountain, Silver Mountain, Goldmine Mountain and Bear Peak, a 17-foot wall superpipe, and full mountain freestyle park, this is an ideal winter vacation. Also nearby is Snow Summit Mountain another ski resort with free style parks and multiple lifts around 7,000 feet.
If you need a change of pace, Big Bear Lake, which is 7 miles long and 23 miles around, offers additional activities and the main town of the same name is a picturesque mountain village. Here you can also spend your summer days boating with friends and family along with many other water sports such as windsurfing and jet skiing.