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Travel

to the mountains 10 ways to explore Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear with children. By Susan PetersonPublished: May, 2005

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Fresh air, beautiful scenery, time away with the family - the Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear mountains and lakes beckon vacationers to come play for at least a day, perhaps even a week. Here is what to do: The Lake Arrowhead Children’s Museum is a favorite destination for those ages 2-12. Some of the most popular interactive exhibits include the Ant Farm where children are the ants, climbing up and down carpeted ramps and in tunnels; the Giant Bubble Hoop with bubbles blown large enough to fit around a child; a toddler’s room with a small ship to climb aboard; and Inventor’s Workshop, an area that encourages kids to craft recyclable “trash” into take-home treasures. The museum is located in the Lake Arrowhead Village, which has 50 shops such as Wishing Bear, where kids can help create their own stuffed teddy bears, and several eateries. The Village Fun Park attractions geared for children 2-6 include the carousel, bounce house, and scale model train rides around the peninsula. Slightly older kids enjoy the inflatable slides, go-karts, and nine-hole miniature golf course. The village also boasts a grass lawn with picnic tables and a small playground. A fence encircles the park, but watch out for your kids as it is close to the lake’s edge. This is the launching point for a 45-minute, narrated ride on the Arrowhead Queen tour boat as well. Take a hike, and bring the kids. In between Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear is Children’s Forest Interpretive Trail, a prime setting to explore the forest for all ages. Walk amongst the pine trees on the easy, three-quarter mile paved trail that is stroller and wheelchair accessible. Find the engraved animal signs along the way. (Tip: Bring paper and crayons to do rubbings.) Be sure to stop off at the visitors center first for information and to purchase a $5 Adventure Pass, for parking. More than just a ranger station, the Big Bear Discovery Center is one of the best places to begin your Big Bear Lake nature excursions. It carries trail maps and offers information on campsites and special programs and events. The latter include campfire nights for the whole family, storytelling, and gold panning. Get a little wild in the mountains by visiting Moonridge Animal Park. Grizzly bears, snow leopards, black bears, wolves, coyotes, bobcats, raccoons, deer, and birds of prey find sanctuary at this zoo. The animal park is small enough for young children to see it all, but large to keep the attention of older children (and adults). Plan on seeing the daily animal presentations at noon and taking the feeding tour at 3 p.m. (except Wednesdays). Bring your own lunch to enjoy at the picnic tables located both inside and outside the park. Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain offers a unique activity - racing heavy-duty, plastic toboggans down a quarter-mile cement slide that resembles a bobsled track. Drivers control the speed by pushing down or pulling up on the lever. Your child can ride alone if he/she is at least 7 years old, otherwise you can easily double up with a younger child and glide down together. This Magic Mountain also offers summertime fun of two waterslides, a compact miniature golf course, and go-karts, where height restrictions apply. Burgers and hot dogs are barbecued just outside the snack bar and available to purchase at decent prices. A great way to explore the breathtaking mountain countryside is via horseback. Baldwin Lake Stables offers rides that enthrall cowboys and cowgirls, who must be at least 7 years old to ride. Younger children can ride a hand-led pony around a track. Kids of all ages enjoy the small, petting zoo where they can pet and feed llamas, bunnies, sheep, goats, pigs, and ducks. If you prefer to use wheels to get around, bike paths are abundant. The Alpine Pedal Path is an easy, level, 2 ?-mile ride that meanders along the north shore of Big Bear Lake. Remember that helmets are required for all bikers under 18 (and are a good idea for everyone else). For more of a challenge, take the Sky Chair up Snow Summit, with your bike, and pedal across and down the mountain on some of the nearly forty miles of trails where there are routes for novices, as well as intermediate and expert riders. Pick up a map at the base, at Team Big Bear Mountain Bike Center, and rent bikes and helmets here as well. There is something delectable about eating fish that you’ve actually caught. At the small, privately owned, stocked Alpine Trout Lake, fishermen (and women) of all ages have the opportunity to reel ‘em in for themselves. Picnic tables and barbecue pits are on the grounds, so you can make almost a day of this tasty outing. Bring a cooler in case you want to take some fish home, too. The fenced-in McDill Swim Beach is a refreshing place to cool off during hot summer months. The sandy beach is ideal for building sand castles, while a playground and volleyball court add to the fun. Picnic tables, barbecue pits, and restrooms are also available. Waveless lagoon waters are perfect for wading and swimming, and a floating dock is reachable by older children who know how swim. A lifeguard is on duty here, too. Bring a picnic lunch or purchase food from the snack bar. So, pack the car and kids and escape to the mountains! Susan Peterson of Lakewood publishes guidebooks for family travel. Information: www.funplaces.com IF YOU GO: (Note that prices are subject to change.) Lake Arrowhead Children’s Museum ­ 909.336.3093 www.mountaininfor.com/kids Admission: $4 for adults; $5 for ages 2 - 12; children under 2 are free. Lake Arrowhead Village ­ 909.337.2533 www.lakearrowheadvillage.com Village Fun Park ­ 760.486.8808 www.villagefunpark.com Prices range from $2 - $6, depending on the attraction. Arrowhead Queen Tour Boat ­ 909.336.6992 Cruises are $12 for adults; $7.50 for ages 2 - 13; children under 2 are free. Children’s Forest Interpretative Trail ­ 909.337.5156 www.sbnfa.org Big Bear Discovery Center ­ 909.866.3437 www.bigbear.info Moonridge Animal Park ­ 909.584.1171 www.bigbearzoo.com Admission is $5 for adults; $4 for seniors and ages 3 - 11; children 2 and under are free. Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain ­ 909.866.4626 www.alpineslidebigbear.com; www.alpineslideatmagicmountain.com Call for admission prices. Baldwin Lake Stables ­ 909.585.6482; www.baldwinlakestables.com Admission is $35 an hour per person for horseback riding; $5 per child for a pony ride; $3 per person for the petting zoo. Team Big Bear Mountain Bike Center ­ 909.866.4565 www.teambigbear.com Snow Summit Sky Chair ­ 909.866.5766 www.bigbearmountainresorts.com Alpine Trout Lake ­ 909.866.4532 Call for admission and fish-per-pound prices. Rod rentals, reel, and bait are available here. McDill Swim Beach ­ 909.866.9700 Admission is $4 for adults; $3 for seniors and ages 4 - 12; $1 for children 3 and under.

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