Sadly, this was not a positive experience for my family…read more We participated in the one-hour trail ride and, upon returning to the stables, our guide specifically warned riders about the new horses located on the right side of the dismount area. My 12-year-old daughter is an experienced rider and followed the staff's instructions exactly. She waited until she was prompted to enter the designated dismount area, as directed by the staff. Unfortunately, following those instructions placed her directly adjacent to the horses that had been identified as a concern. As she entered the dismount area, one of the horses reached through the fence and bit her on the right thigh. The bite was severe enough that an attendant had to intervene to get the horse to release her. I immediately took my daughter to the restroom to assess the injury and document it with photographs. The bite occurred through her long pants. While I understand that horses are animals and that unpredictable situations can occur, I was disappointed by both the circumstances that led to the incident and the way it was handled afterward. My daughter followed the instructions she was given, yet the responsibility for the incident was ultimately placed on her. Given the prior warning about the horses, it is difficult to understand why riders were still being directed into such close proximity to them. Equally concerning was the lack of follow-up from management. The owner did not speak with us at the time of the incident, did not proactively reach out afterward, and only returned our call after multiple attempts and a more urgent message. Rather than expressing concern or discussing a reasonable resolution, the conversation was argumentative and dismissive. Accidents can happen, and a sincere apology along with an effort to address the situation would have gone a long way. Unfortunately, that was not our experience. Between the safety concerns and the poor customer service that followed, I cannot recommend this business to others.

Looking forward to riding in 2 weeks . I will update my review afterwards!…read more I had owned 3,horses but that was 3 decades ago! I'm much older now and looking forward to a calm scenic ride. Also: 1. For those complaining about not being able to use their phone on a rental trail ride, it's common sense, if you accidentally drop your phone, it holds up the trail line while the trail guide has to retrieve it for you ( not allowed to get on and off a rental horse)!, it may get broken (and who's fault is that?), stopping to click several photos slows down the timed ride for everyone, and when it falls it may spook the horse. 2. So you want to trot, lope or Gallup? Not on these mountain trails with a horse you aren't familiar , with totally inexperienced riders as well as seasoned riders, and children. Just because YOU think you are an experienced RIDER doesn't matter. These are not your horses. This is a business and safety for all comes first along with protecting the horse's safety. A lame horse cannot be ridden and that is costing vet bills as well as a loss of $65. - I'm a very experienced, seasoned rider.and previous horse owner. I'm looking forward to not needing to show off and just enjoying the experience. If it's important for you to move out fast on a horse, or to use your phone on a ride - time to invest in your own horse, or ride in Mexico! - Karen Rowley

Just on the edge of the Big Bear Lake area is Baldwin Lake, a shallow puddle of a lake that only…read morehas water when there is plenty of snowmelt in the spring. There is a nice short trail with interpretive markers along it for a self-guided hike on rocky, rough terrain. The Baldwin Lake Ecological Habitat trail is best done with sturdy shoes to protect your feet. This is not something to negotiate with flipflops or light sandals! It's recommended that you stay on the trail, as this is a preserve and some of the natural habitat would be disturbed. There are lots of old signs of this place having been used for target practice in the past: Old rusted steel cans with holes in them, along with broken glass, are scattered in areas just off the trail. For this reason also, it's better to stay on the trail. We had our dog with us,so we had to be careful to avoid areas that could harm the dog's paws. There are short, dry pine needles that can act like thorns on paws. We had to pull out one that got stuck into a paw andade the dog limp. There are some nice, sweeping panoramic views to be photographed from the trail! This is a nice short hike to stretch your legs a bit. If you bring your dog, be very aware of sharp rocks and the short, stiff pine needles that can act as thorns on your dogs paws. We had to stop and pull them from our dog's paws when we noticed her limping. The visitor center is staffed by volunteers in a partnership between San Bernardino National Forest Association and Fish and Game Dept. There are a couple of pit toilets next to the visitor center, but neither the visitor center nor the pit toilets were open when we were there. A local resident says he's seen little current activity there, so maybe they aren't getting enough volunteers to have many open hours. The views are pretty nice. I'm only giving 3 stars because there really is a lot of sharp, jagged metal and glass around that can cut feet.

The best way to see what's left of Belleville is the Gold Fever Trail, so stop by the Big Bear…read moreDiscovery Center first and pick up this yellow pamphlet. Please be warned that when it says "dirt roads" they mean it!! We were not prepared for how VERY rocky it is in most sections. The worst starts around stops 9 & 10, and the rest of the road has the biggest rocks you have to maneuver around. We were super lucky in my Toyota Corolla to make it out unscathed by driving VERY slowly and carefully, but it took a LONG time and we were so stressed. If you have a jeep, truck, or other off-roading vehicle you'll probably be ok. But any other vehicle I would NOT recommend (not even an SUV), or turn around after stop 10 at the latest! The scale of the map in the pamphlet is a bit misleading, because the stops are decently father apart than they seem. I had maps open on my phone to constantly compare with the paper map. Most of the stops along the way are marked with a sign post and number, so look out for those. We came in April when there was no snow or rain, good weather for hiking around. If you're into Gold Rush history, it's interesting to see the few ruins of the town. But most of the stops along the Trail require a bit of imagination (there's not a lot to see). Overall, it was kinda fun for the first half, but the second half of the drive was lowkey hell :)

roads aren't maintained well which is fine. AWD is recommended, especially after rains. pretty…read morequiet place with benches at some spots to chill and hang out, lots of mountain bikes to watch out from. overall pretty nice place to relax and enjoy the view, the self guided car tour is cool too if you grab a pamphlet from the Big Bear Discovery Center beforehand.

Bears play a pivotal role in my life: they are one of my spirit animals, my name means "Little…read moreBear" in Latin which is also a pet name moniker, I have a tattoo with a bear and another of the Ursa Minor constellation, my deceased father was obsessed with bears, etc. When I was a teenager before evening living in the state of California (which obviously has its own bear connection); I was obsessed with MTV just like every other hot-blooded teenage girl. One year, MTV production went to Big Bear for a winter skiing getaway. I was instantly drawn to Big Bear per the name and somehow felt my soul tugged (the same as to the entire state which is why I moved here nearly two decades ago). I vowed to someday visit Big Bear. I am also one of the proud members of the 'Eagle Fam' who is faithfully devoted to the world-famous bald eagle couple Jackie & Shadow watching their nest cam every day. My adult vow, added to the teen one regarding visiting, was to see Jackie and Shadow's nest in real life sans camera. Well, the day has come and Little Bear has finally visited Big Bear! If those of us living in Los Angeles aren't spoiled enough; we have the amazing San Bernadino Mountain range village of Big Bear just a two-hour drive away where we can escape the hustle-bustle of stressful LA and enjoy the alpine splendor that is Big Bear. Big Bear is known for its skiing season but is also a summer retreat with cabin life, hiking, boating, fishing, zip lines, shopping, etc; 7000+ feet above sea level surrounded by pine trees and mountains that kiss the sky. Even the drive to Big Bear is glorious on the winding road up the mountain that famously reveals Big Bear and its centerpiece model the lake in the distance glittering blue surrounded by mountains. Big Bear is breath-taking even before you formally arrive. As an Angelino, the energy and vibe of Big Bear can't be ignored. Not only is the air clean and devoid of smog, but it is peaceful, slow-paced and calming: a genuine retreat that feels worlds away from the LA proper. At the center of it all is the main showpiece: Big Bear Lake, itself. The lake is 7 miles in circumference but manages to appear sweepingly larger and is surrounded by cabins, boat docks, shopping, skiing, hiking trails, Big Bear Village (the central mountain tourist-y district) and the commercialized village center with everything from Vons, Starbucks, Dollar Tree, Marshalls and Grocery Bargain Outlet to nearby Big Bear Courthouse, post office and library. The lake is the prom queen of Big Bear. If you're thinking that it is probably just any old lake; you are sorely mistaken as it is a thing of beauty. As a Jackie and Shadow fan club member; I went to the Captain John's Marina/Dana Point Park shoreline Fawnskin section of Big Bear Lake which is the official, legal viewing point of the bald eagle nest (the land directly surrounding the nest and their famous roost trees is federally protected especially during nesting season and is a criminal act to trespass). Bring binoculars because looking up from the ground is further optically then from the nest cam in reverse. While I was there, Jackie was on the nest with the two babies but I was hoping to catch Shadow, the King of Big Bear either fishing or flying-in. I had waited and just when I literally verbally stated, "Shadow show yourself!"; I kid you not that he flew right over from the other side of the lake and soared above in circles only approximately 60 feet above for a minute in duration. I cried and this was one of the most magical moments of my life and a true spiritual encounter with the celebrity Shad Daddy. Big Bear is also magical in that even in the skiing off-season of April when I visited; a snowstorm hit and the pine trees and lake turned into a Christmas Card. Even I, this Los Angeles sun girl who loves heat and hates the cold; had snowflakes in my eyes and felt like a child surrounded by magic dust has I haven't truly been in snowfall in 17 years. A very dire and controversial topic effecting Big Bear at the time of this review is the fight against land developers who purchased the 'Moon Camp' parcel of land very close to the nest and want to bulldoze over 2k trees, create 50 boat slips and luxury housing even though there is NO housing shortage in Big Bear. The developers have agreed to sell Moon Camp to the Friends of Big Bear nonprofit/San Bernadino Trust for the hefty sum of $10 mil by July 31st to save Moon Camp and forever protect Jackie and Shadow's home area. The cause has gone worldwide viral and at the time of this review is up to $3 mil in donations (failure is not an option and financing will be the next step is $10 mil isn't reached). Big Bear Lake and the entire mountainous retreat city now hold a piece of my heart and I am chomping at the bit to return. This peaceful and heavenly mountaintop lake and city is the must-see of all Angelinos whether for skiing, boating or visiting the King and Queen, Jackie and Shadow.

Year round fun and beauty - not just the winter! Big Bear offers so many different activities that…read moreis sure to please. Whether you're an outdoor enthusiast, someone who enjoys shopping, eating, or enjoying a slower pace vacation with your family pet, Big Bear offers it. Some activities our family makes sure to enjoy for our Big Bear visits have been: Holloway's Marina to rent a dog friendly pontoon boat to enjoy lunch on the lake (they also offer Pirate Ship Charters), popping over to The Village to stroll with our dog and do a little shopping and eat some good foods (there's also many good food places outside of The Village - like the Grizzly Manor Cafe and Blanca and Pierres!), visiting the Big Bear Discovery Center, strolling along the Stanfield Marsh Boardwalk, and horseback riding at Baldwin Lake Stables. In July, Big Bear puts on their "Fireworks Spectacular" which explodes over Big Bear Lake every July 4th and is FREE to spectators. A helpful tip: always check for road closures and road conditions before visiting/leaving and on the day of your travels. CalTrans has not been reliable, but Big Bear's website (Big Bear Mountain Resort dot com) has been. Just click on the "Road Conditions" tab and it'll take you to a page listing real time road updates and conditions. Enjoy beautiful Big Bear!

Horrible customer service and experience with this company. The staff is just extremely rude and…read moreunprofessional. Then the GM glen is rude and not a man of his word. said he would call back in 5-7 minutes and never dead no follow up. instead he ran away from the office to avoid dealing with the situation. this place needs to be investigated by the state immediately!!!

My first time here this past weekend!…read more Without traffic the drive was about 2 hours. 1 hour to get to 330 and 1 hour up the mountain. Cute little mountain town! They have everything you need there. Supermarkets close by, a CVS. Went for my friends' bachelor/bachelorette party combined. We got a nice cabin close to town and rented a boat on Saturday. The weather was great and there were a lot of trees! I haven't been here in the snow but I can imagine it's beauty. Reminds me of Disneyland's Matterhorn mixed with California Adventure's Grizzly Peak. The drive up the mountain was beautiful. It is windy though so be cautious if you get carsick. Arrowbear had awesome rocks to look at. At night you can see the beautiful stars amongst the family of tall trees. One road into town and one road out. When I left to come home it was the butt crack of dawn but I drove through the cute little village just to see the storefronts. It reminded me of being transported into a little village in time. Like Fantasyland in Disneyland. Why does everything remind me of Disneyland? Would have been nice if I could have seen a real live bear! But no such furry beast was roaming around town. I stopped and took pictures wherever I could on my drive back home but of course, no pictures do the real thing justice.

Our old Baldwin piano had the middle 'C' key sticking for a while. We had an older fellow from…read morePalmdale out to tune and fix it. He tuned it well but couldn't fix the key. Rich from Accutune was recommended to us so we had him come out this time. Not only did he tune it better, but he fixed the key along with some other minor issues for less that the last guy charged. We highly recommend Accutune. You won't be disappointment.

What a gorgeous building ! Inside AND out !!!…read more Here is what I was able to discover from doing a few searches online.. I welcome any change to this as I'm not sure this is entirely correct. The Palm Desert Area Chamber of Commerce building was constructed by a reputable construction company called Stronghold Engineering. This company has been in the construction business for over 25 years and has worked on several projects in California, Arizona, and Nevada. Stronghold Engineering has a reputation for delivering quality work on time and within budget, which is why it was selected for the chamber's building project. The construction of the chamber's building took about a year to complete, and it cost approximately $3.5 million. The interior design of the building was done by a renowned firm called Brown Design Group, which specializes in creating custom interior designs for commercial and residential spaces. They really did a great job on the surrounding desert landscaping and the building itself.

When I first moved to the Coachella Valley in the year 2010, I joined the Palm Desert Area Chamber…read moreof Commerce knowing that it was the best chamber for my business. After nearly a decade, that has not changed. CEO Laurie Baldwin makes this chamber fun, accessible, and a joy to be a part of. I look forward to many more years of prosperity as a proud member of this chamber and I encourage any business owner wanting to take their business to the next level to check out this chamber and its many benefits. When you go into the lobby, make sure you look for the smiling face of Linda Davis as she tells you, "It's a great day and Palm Desert!"

Called after 9. 2 year old couldn't sleep due to music blasting. Nothing changed. Called again at…read more1015pm , dispatch tells me sheriff drove by and heard nothing. That's b.s. it's been non stop for hours. I don't think they even drove by. I can stand on my porch and look at the party with lights and music blasting. The lady on phone asked me if I would be willing to sign noise complaint and I said yes.. no idea what that entails but whatever gets them back out. I don't think they know my address though. Smh

Definitely CHP must mind their real business which is safety, service and security. Not hiding…read morearound waiting to mess with people typically tourists looking to have a nice day at the mountains. In my case I was pulled over, driving back from Lake Arrowhead by the officer "BATES" because my license plate protector was "tinted" which it wasn't, actually. Also missing front plate and tinted windows and pretty sure he followed me for a mile to see if I had modified exhaust. It's really stupid how everything is getting harder and more strict with the global warming but CHP want us to drive a clear fishbowl everyday specially with the California weather. To all little towns in the mountains please take action in this matter because you don't have any idea on how many income you're losing because of these scammers (in my experience, so far), because I'm not going back to this place and a lot of people that I know think the same as me. Once again, MIND WHAT IT REALLY MATTERS.