Vacations Blog

It’s common to be able to stand in one spot in Los Angeles and have a simultaneous view of the ocean and of snow-capped mountains.  ‘Tis the season for skiing and snowboarding, but for less physically ambitious powder lovers, the opportunity to frolick in the white stuff after just a short drive is too good to pass up.  The Big Bear and Mountain High areas are local favorites for a quick getaway to decent cold-weather sports and outdoor activities.

Photo courtesy of Stock Xchng

Now that we’re experiencing a cold snap and the Big Bear area is expected to receive 6-12 inches of snow, this seems to be the right time to check it out.  (First check the weather to make sure the big storms have passed and driving conditions are ideal.)  You can simply drive out to those areas, pull over to the side of the road where it looks safe and white, and play.

Photo courtesy of Stock Xchng

-Take 210 out to 30. Then you take 18 or 330 to Lake Arrowhead or Running Springs and Big Bear.  About 100 miles from LA, 2-3 hours.

-Drive up the Glendale Freeway and keep following Route 2 up into the mountains until you are in the snow. 45 minutes tops.

For more organized adventures, check out Mountain High Resort which offers snow tubing in addition to skiing and snowboarding, or Alpine Slide, home of the all-season tubing experience.  There are several smaller snow-play  resorts in the San Bernardino Mountains as well.

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Johnson

While you’re up in the mountains, if you and your kids are enjoying yourselves, this is the time to get them on skis and try it out.  After all, falling from a short height is a lot less painful, so maybe they will grow up actually looking forward to skiing, instead of hating it and avoiding it because they tried too late in life and spent the whole first lesson on their bums.  Not that I know anyone who did that.  For sore tushies, a visit to the animal park might be a nice respite and take the focus off the pain.