Big Bear Lake, California

I’m a San Diego native and had always wanted to visit Big Bear. I finally went for my birthday this past weekend and was pleasantly surprised by how kind and welcoming everyone was.

We stayed at an Airbnb cabin called “Bearadise,” in a quiet neighborhood about 5 minutes east of Big Bear Lake. I was initially nervous walking my dog since there are no sidewalks and the homes are close together, but every neighbor we passed greeted us with smiles and friendliness. I kept dog walks to mornings, enjoyed nearby hiking trails during the day, and used the cabin’s backyard for nighttime potty breaks.

There are several dog friendly walking and hiking trails close by, which we loved. We also accidentally ended up at Fire Rock Burgers & Brews (a sports pub we normally wouldn’t choose as a 🌈 couple), and were treated very hospitably.

We checked out the Bowling Barn, which is a bit pricey at $50/hour per group, but it has a fun glow in the dark experience with music videos and cartoons playing. I had one slightly odd interaction with a cashier, but nothing overt or clearly negative.

Overall, I felt very safe in Big Bear and would absolutely go back. Snow Valley Ski Resort was great. It was cheaper and much less crowded than Big Bear Mountain Resort during the week. They also offered great birthday perks, including a free ski lift, 10% off dining, and very accommodating staff when it came to gear.

Seems to be a fair amount of stuff to do in the winter and most likely a bunch to do during the summer to enjoy water sports. They even have clubs that seemed to be playing really good music in Big Bear Village which is adorable at night!

I also want to mention that the neighborhood we stayed in had a high Mexican population, which added to the sense of comfort. It really does feel like more POC are making their way to Big Bear.

As always, I recommend staying vigilant in neighborhoods, liquor stores, small shops, and especially gas stations if you need to stop. We did read a few past accounts of Black people being followed by problematic individuals, though that was not our experience, and it was unclear how recent those incidents were.

Highly recommend for anyone wanting a cozy mountain getaway while feeling safe and welcomed.
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Stay travels always!