Where to go in Southern California for a day trip with your sweetheart? I do believe that would be Big Bear Lake. Start off with a delicious breakfast of pancakes, eggs, and bacon at Grizzly... More

Where to go in Southern California for a day trip with your sweetheart? I do believe that would be Big Bear Lake. Start off with a delicious breakfast of pancakes, eggs, and bacon at Grizzly Manor Cafe' on Big Bear Boulevard. The "Polar Bear" is the biggest breakfast, and "The Mess" is all that it's cracked up to be! After starting out your day with a great breakfast, you might drive down to the Big Bear Discovery Center on North Shore Drive to join the center's naturalists for an introduction to the outdoors on a hike. They have a movie about the area and a demonstration of the animals that live in the area. The Discovery Center also has a gift shop. If you love animals, you should also take a drive to Goldmine Drive and see the Moonridge Animal Park. It is $5.00 per person, $4.00 for seniors and young children. See some of the more than 200 wild animals that are rehabilitated here every year. Those that can't survive in the wild, including bobcats, wolves, mountain lions, a snow leopard, and even a family of grizzlies from Yellowstone national Park, stay here for good. The lake's great, but it's just the starting point for an excursion to Big Bear Lake. At this high altitude getaway in the San Bernardino Mountains you can hike trails that interlace forestland. You can browse many shops to find new bear species made out of hand-carved wood, stuffed plush, and even chocolate. But don't forget the lake! Reflect on trying your hand at boating, fishing, or parasailing. Take a beautiful ride around the lake as the captain of the ship recounts Big Bear lake's history. You will never tire of the many activities that are available in this resort area all year round. Right now there are the snow activities like skiing, snowshoe trails, snow boarding, and sledding. There is always the bowling alley on Big Bear Blvd. to enjoy some indoor activities like bowling and pool.
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