Traveling with littles: Big Bear Lake

Please note this is a sponsored post in partnership with Big Bear Visitor Center.  All thoughts below are solely my own. Happy Reading!

When you think of Big Bear Lake, you think of… well bears. But now, after our amazing weekend trip, I associate Big Bear with family… and still bears. Lol On our recent trip, we worked with the Big Bear Lake Visitors Center. We packed up our suit cases, dressed our littles and fared farewell to the low elevation Southern California heat. Seriously, is it fall down here yet?! 60 minutes later, we said hello to 6,500+ elevation of cool weather! It was nice to finally dress in fall clothing like the rest of the cool kids on Instagram.

Day one started off a bit rocky. Our littlest-little got car sick with all the twist and turns. Note to moms, keep a plastic bag handy! After the mess was cleaned we headed for Miss Liberty Paddlewheel tour boat where we took a guided tour of the lake! After we headed to our lodging at the Big Bear Frontier. Views for days and close enough to walk to restaurants and shops. Lastly, we ended our day at Saucy Mama’s in The Village (best pizza ever!) and topped the night off with hot chocolate and caramel apples.

Day two began bright and earlyish lol. We had planned for an early morning hike but the boys weren’t having it. Mom tip # 2 – Be Flexible. So, to avoid the early morning tantrums and family bickering we headed to our next stop, Alpine zoo! We had a terrific tour guide who was a fountain of knowledge. He showed us the ins and outs and told us about the beautiful creatures that call Big Bear their home. After, we headed back to The village for a delicious lunch at Peppercorn Grill. We then followed it up with some ice cream and shopping at the local boutiques. Who would have thought their was so much to do!

DOWN TO THE DETAILS OF BIG BEAR LAKE

MISS LIBERTY PADDLE-WHEEL TOUR BOAT
This double decker boat was both a hit with families, couples, old and young. Miss Liberty is a guided boat tour by the captain of the boat who shared the history of the lake and some fun facts about the homes that surround it. Mel Blanc’s son even made a cameo and did some of his father’s voices! (Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, Daffy Duck, etc). The kids enjoyed being on a boat in general and enjoyed driving it even more. Captain Jack gave the kids on deck an opportunity to steer the boat on the way back to shore. Mom Tip: take a jacket. The sun felt amazing but the shade was freezing!

SAUCY MAMA’S
Ready for a hip vibe cool enough for date night and a family night out? Well this is it! The decor makes you want to redecorate your house and the food is something out of this world. Flavorful, delicious and perfect portions. Our family fave was the tortellini in meat sauce with a Pineapple and Canadian bacon pizza to share. And, you seriously can’t forget the garlic bread. We ordered about three baskets, it was that good!

THE VILLAGE
Every time I hear ‘The Village’ I immediately start singing the Bonjour song in my head from Beauty and the Beast. “Little town, it’s a quiet village. Everyday, like the one beforeeeee.” (You’re welcome for getting it stuck in your head.) Back on topic, it’s a gorgeous little shopping center with boutique shops, souvenir shops, eateries and pubs! Best part is, it’s all super dog friendly. It favors more the older crowd, but plenty to see with two littles in tow.  Plus during fall, the color change in the tree’s is absolutely gorgeous. Be sure to take your camera.

ALPINE ZOO
First off, yes Big Bear has a zoo! Many were shocked when I told them our weekend plans. Including myself. I had no idea! It’s a very quaint zoo but with lots of native animals to see. We took a tour with the curator Bob Cisneros. Bobs passion for the animals and experience truly shined through. Biggest take away for me had to be near raccoon exhibit. He shared how omnivores learn the most by answering their most sought after question, ‘Can I eat this?’ Through trial and error they learn all about their surroundings. We also learned about the 5 freedoms the zoo lives by! Read more here. All and all, the zoo was a great experience for both us and the children.  Mom Tip:  If you’re a Southern California local – they do have a family pass that is good for entrance to Big Bear – Alpine Zoo, Santa Ann and Los Angeles!

Overall, Big Bear was amazing to us. The weather was beautiful and the people were wonderful! With a short 45 minute drive to the top, it’s literally the perfect escape from reality. See what Big Bear has to offer here: https://www.bigbear.com/