The only place to ride a horse in Big Bear. Baldwin Lake Stables is the only place in Big Bear Lake to go horseback riding. Located in the East part of the Valley, take Big Bear Blvd. past Big Bear City and past the Sugarloaf signal light. Instead of going up the hill, stop at the sign and cross into Shay Meadows. You'll see the sign for the stables. Continue for about a mile and a half. The stables are on the right hand side of the road where the view spreads out. If you've never ridden a horse before, you are in … [Read more...]
Big Bear Lake’s Alpine Slide
December 20, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain' is just west of Big Bear Village. At the bottom of the historic 'Rebel Ridge' ski slope of bygone days, the Alpine Slide is famous for year-round play. In and out of season, they offer great family fun with miniature golf, go karts, a water slide with heated pool, and a rather unique, self-controlled bobsled ride on cement tracks. Here's a tip: You won't get their great view of the lake, if you don't ride the bobsled. In the Winter season, the slide's best feature and most fun, is … [Read more...]
Big Bear Holidays
December 17, 2011 by Leave a Comment
The Big Bear Valley has had several storms visit leaving a base of one to two feet on the slopes. The daytime temperatures will range from the mid-30's to the mid-40's. Conditions are cold enough to maintain machine groomed packed powder runs at the Resorts. Other types of snow play on the mountain include inner tubing at the Alpine Slide west of the Village or Big Bear Snow Play across from the Convention Center. If you're looking for less demanding excitement during the holidays, head into Big Bear Lake's … [Read more...]
Winterizing Your Big Bear Home – Part Two
December 16, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Heat, Gas, and Electricity Heating Systems Most experts advise against turning the heat completely off - for two reasons. First, the winter air brings condensation that can cause mildew and dry-rot. Second, the freeze and thaw will add undue stress to your home and has been known to crack foundations. Install a thermostat that can be set to 40 degrees and make sure you’ve sealed all potential air leaks throughout the home. Natural Gas and Propane Even though you need gas for the heat, you can turn off the gas to … [Read more...]
Winterizing Your Big Bear Home – Part One
December 14, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Big Bear’s been hit with a blast of artic air and overnight temperatures have dropped into the single digits. If you haven’t done it already, it’s time to winterize your Big Bear home and avoid any costly damage that can occur when the temperatures drop. Here are a few tips for protecting your mountain home during the winter months. Water Supply and Plumbing Besides wrapping your pipes and insulating your home, there are several things you can do to protect your property from freezing temperatures. If you do … [Read more...]
Big Bear Looks Like Christmas
December 7, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Big Bear looks like a Christmas card thanks to a recent snow storm that blanketed the valley with almost a foot of new snow - and the timing was perfect. Snow Summit and Bear Mountain have opened up most of their runs and lifts, just in time for the holidays. The Big Bear winter season is off to a great start. Let’s face it, whether you like it or not, Big Bear is a tourist town. As much as the locals may complain about the traffic and the crowds, most of us probably wouldn’t be here if not for the fact that Big … [Read more...]
Big Bear Lake Holidays
November 29, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Big Bear is a wonderful place to be over the holidays. There’s something special about being in the mountains this time of year. The pine trees, the snow, the fresh air, and the festive spirit of the season all combine to create a true winter wonderland – and we’re in the middle of Southern California! The village was the place to be Friday night. Santa, Mrs. Claus, and Rudolph showed up to celebrate the lighting of the Christmas tree and sing a few carols with the locals. It’s common knowledge that Mr. and Mrs. … [Read more...]
Insuring Your Big Bear Vacation Home
November 21, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Finding and maintaining the correct property and liability insurance for your Big Bear vacation home can be a challenge. Most vacation properties are located in high risk areas such as low-lying beach towns or in national forests and that alone can make finding insurance difficult. Add into the equation that the property may be rented on a part-time basis and things can get really complicated. Here are a few basic rules to follow to help protect you and your property from insurance nightmares. Rule One - Honesty Is … [Read more...]
Real Estate – Female Buyers
November 18, 2011 by Leave a Comment
The National Association of Realtors estimates that 18% of all new homes bought are by single women, representing the fastest growing segment in the real estate market. The Joint Center for Housing says the reason for this is; the desire to own a home, a need to change the home size, or to be closer to family, job or school. Three out of four new home purchases are under $200,000, and single women are looking for two or more bedrooms. While location and quality of neighborhoods takes on a higher priority, single … [Read more...]
Real Estate: Second Homes
November 17, 2011 by Leave a Comment
The message delivered to the 2011 Realtors® Conference & Expo over the weekend was, “A diverse set of buyers and property types comprise the second-home sector and opportunities for second-home buyers exist in nearly every market, even in nontraditional, non-resort markets.” Many people investigating the real estate market in Big Bear are looking for getaways close to home. Your second home is an investment that should be carefully analyzed. Ask yourself the following questions: Do you plan to use it for … [Read more...]
