The Big Bear Discovery Center is a place of just that…read more.. Discovery!! A place where Nature is the Star, but Nurture is equally as important. A place where the Great Outdoors is embraced and being one with Nature is encouraged by all. Welcome to the Big Bear Discovery Center! While visiting our friends at their cabin in Beautiful Big Bear, we decided to take the kids to the Discovery Center to see what it was all about. Upon walking into the building, we were immediately immersed into the wildlife that makes up this areas landscape. From the avian wildlife, to the reptiles, to the large mammals that call Big Bear Home, the Discovery Center gave a great snapshot of what nature lives in these mountains. In addition, the various types of rock, plants and trees were also on display which showcased the unique landscape of the region. On the back part of the building, there was a decent sized gift shop where your young explorers can browse all of the nature related toys, books and gear to be a Jr. Ranger. But the fun didn't stop there... Out front, they had a table for kids to do a hands on activity. The day we went, kids could make their own bird feeder using a pine cone, peanut butter and bird seed. After making our homemade bird feeders, we took a short walk to the other side of the building where they had an outdoor area called Nature Discovery Zone where kids could play, dig, build things. There are other activities on site, but this is all we did on our visit. If you find yourself in the Big Bear area and have young kids, definitely a good place to come check out. They do have some snacks and drinks inside the gift shop, but I didn't see any actual hot food to eat. There are picnic benches and places you can sit and relax if you want to pack a lunch and eat in the outdoor area. Now... Who's ready to Discover the behind the scenes of Big Bear!

Where does one go when they're looking for directions to find shadow and Jackie?…read more #flylikeaneagle Here is my story I have been watching the bald eagles in the big Bear San Bernardino territory. I have been watching them for a few years now. Little did I know the big bear discovery center provides information on every type of animal in the area, every type of bird in the area, every type of everything in the area, is found at this discovery center My first visit there and definitely not my last, I plan to learn more about the majestic bald eagles that fly around the big bear San Bernardino mountains Also, in the vicinity are many hiking trails so, are you hikers take note to this review About an hour and a half outside of Los Angeles proper you can get to the big bear vicinity. Do your due diligence and find out all the other experiences you can receive from this area. Make your pic and get additional knowledgeable information from the big Bear discovery center. Go there, be there, or, be square

This was a great trail to hike. Parking was easily accessible. No pass was required to park…read more The weather was nice and there was a breeze when we went a couple weeks ago. We did nearly nine miles. The trail connects to different trails which is how we covered that distance. The views were great and my puppy enjoyed running parts of the trail with me. It's a definitely a place where you can bring a light lunch to picnic with. I would come again and do different parts of the trail.

This is Pine Knot 1E01. We loved everything about it. Super easy to find. Parking lot at base of…read moretrail. QR code to pay a $5 parking fee. You'll feel a slight climb occasionally but the trail expertly has switchbacks that alleviate a steep ascent. Before reaching Camp 89 (on map) there is a gorgeous vista of Big Bear Lake and the pine covered mountains. Another plus, very shaded throughout the whole hike. You'll meet bikers and dogs along the trail and everyone is enjoying the path. Highly recommend!

5 stars Upon…read moreentering the visitor's center, I was greeted by a little museum that NPS is so well-known for. It details the rock formations and the wildlife that can be expected while hiking. Within the visitor's center is a gift shop with gorgeous Joshua Tree Nat'l Park-inspired clothing and products. I recommend purchasing merch here since a portion of proceeds go back to the parks. The souvenirs are also much more affordable than privately-owned gift shops nearby. I bought a pin ($7) and a Travel Stamp sticker ($3.99). The office staff are also very knowledgeable about the area. The young man I spoke to highlighted the areas I asked about - see photo for highlighted map. I wanted short 1-mile hikes along with Heart Rock & Arch Rock. 5/5 stars for service! The restrooms inside are clean and there are also portapotties in the parking lot with outdoor sinks available. Their parking lot is small, but there's plenty of street parking. The entrance to the national park is really close by as well.

One of four visitor centers for Joshua Tree National Park, each having a slightly different name,…read morethis location is in downtown Joshua Tree, surrounded by other city buildings. It is the one fronting the West entrance to the Park, which is the more popular of the two. It is located before having to pay the park entrance fee. It was manned by two friendly, quite busy volunteer rangers, answering any questions about your visit. We didn't have time to visit the park itself, so took the opportunity to learn a bit more about the park from displays and presentations. As I learned, it is crowded inside (shoulder to shoulder). There is a dedicated parking lot, along with street parking, and a small gift shop. My wife's mom ended up buying a tote bag (or two) to take back home. We didn't get to go inside the park this time, but was able to see plenty of Joshua trees real close, which are only endemic to this area.

This is a beautiful trail, but a little tougher than expected! There seem to be quite a few…read moredifferent trails/routes you can take, but I'd plan for about 2-3 miles minimum (in the altitude it feels longer lol). They recently added a parking lot, which made it so much more convenient for parking and to find the start of the trail! I'm so glad they did this. I'd still say the earlier arrival, the better, so you can get a parking spot. For the trail itself, it's a good workout - there are both uphills & downhills. Once you get to the top, there are beautiful views of the lake.

We took this hike with our pups and it was awesome! It was definitely a work out with lots of steep…read moreand uphill hiking. We made it to the big rock at the very end, unfortunately with our pups we were unable to climb all the day to the tippy top. Overall an awesome hike, saw lots of trees, rocks, and little streams along the way! Trail is dog friendly, and has a lot of spots to stop for great views of the lake

The Aspen Glen Picnic Area is a day use area only that is open year round. It's a quaint area for a…read moreleisurely picnic or a great starting point to accessible trail heads. Some picnic tables, a community fire ring, and some barbecues are provided for use. I wouldn't rely on the restrooms. Also, be prepared as there's no potable water on-site. There is a small parking lot that fits about 15 small vehicles. Parked vehicles must display a valid recreation pass. You can purchase a pass from the Mountaintop Ranger District & Discovery Center along with other vendors (see the USDA Forest Service website for a map of vendors located under the "Passes and Permits" tab).

This Aspen Glen Picnic area is a beautiful spot surrounded by tall pine trees that provide plenty…read moreof shade. It's a peaceful place to relax, with several picnic tables scattered throughout the grove. I've visited a few times in both fall and winter, and fall is definitely my favorite, the weather is much more comfortable for me. The parking lot is quite small, so it's best to arrive early, especially during busy months. Parking is $5, and conditions can vary depending on the season. When there's snow, the lot can be challenging to access, small sedans can easily get stuck, so having a larger vehicle or 4WD is highly recommended. There is one standard two stall restroom, but it's not very well maintained. There's no running water, so bringing your own toiletries and hand sanitizer is a good idea. The area is open from 8am to sundown .

Great place to grab some souvenirs on your way to Joshua Tree. There's technically a closer welcome…read morecenter but this had a better selection of souvenirs. They also feature local artists. You can purchase your Joshua Tree passes here. Also good to know: clean bathrooms.

This is a great Welcome Center and the staff are more than willing to help out as needed. They have…read moreclean bathrooms, free coffee and tea as well as plenty of brochures and magazines. They have a gift shop of some items. This place is a must place to stop to get an idea of places to see.

We had just started our trip in Palm Springs and made a stop here. It is very unique building at…read morethe beginning of the road to the aerial Tramway. Tons of parking, and a great view of the mountains from the parking lot. They even have a cool art display on one wall outside by the bathrooms for photo opportunities. The center itself is not large, and is filled with your typical T-shirts, sweatshirts, books, Christmas ornaments, etc. We did pick up a really cool Palm Springs Christmas ornament that was very unique and I didn't see anything like it when shopping downtown. The people at the desk have a large map that they draw on to show you how to get to certain places as they were giving us information which was helpful. I did buy a map that showed homes of past celebrities such as Doris Day, Elvis, etc. We did try to drive around and identify some of these homes, but it's not as easy as you would think. House numbers are not very apparent, and some of these streets are quite narrow, and with traffic behind you, you don't really have the opportunity to go slow and or stop to look. So we eventually gave up and just drove around to observe the unique architecture ourselves. I would say this is definitely worth a quick stop!

Late Nov, 2025. Palm Springs (PS), CA…read more *Location. Conveniently-located at the intersection of N Palm Canyon Dr and the road that goes up to the aerial tramway. *Exterior. Sufficient parking, even on a weekend, with EV charging stations available. Views of the San Jacinto Mountains from the parking area. Outdoor rest rooms available without having to go into the Visitor Center. A few outside photo opps. Architecturally-interesting building. It was apparently a former gas station but, with its update, has the feel of a mid-century modern building. *Interior. (1) There were two manned information desks, with friendly and somewhat helpful staff who offered maps and recommendations of things to see and do in PS. The young man who helped us pulled out a map that had PS proper on one side, and the greater PS (to Coachella) area on the back. He went through a seemingly rehearsed spiel about what we should see/do without first ascertaining what type of activities we were interested in. It was helpful that he informed us that VillageFest, a weekly downtown event with artists, artisans, entertainers, food vendors, and more, would not be held that week because of Thanksgiving. But, we were disappointed that he couldn't answer some of our basic questions about the San Jacinto National Monument area. Also, in asking if the Visitor Center had a map for a self-guided walking tour of attractions, we were directed to a brochure of (paid) walking tours offered by the local historical society. (2) There was a separate desk run by the Agra Caliente Band of Cohuilla Indians, offering tickets that allowed access to hikes in their ancestral lands, including Indian Canyons and/or Tahquitz Canyon. The woman at the desk was very friendly and helpful, and we bought tickets for Indian Garden (valid for one year). Tickets are normally $12 (adults) and $7 (seniors 62+), but a $1/ticket discount is given if purchased at the visitor center. (3) there is a small gift shop with books, maps, and souvenirs. (4) locally-relevant exhibits and brochures to local attractions.

This review is specifically for the Exploration Trail, which is the 8-mile hike located in the…read moreChildren's Forest. I'm relatively new to the realm of hiking, and really enjoyed exploring the Children's Forest this past weekend. I would definitely label this trail as a moderate hike! While there is no major climb or obstacles, the majority of the trail is uphill. Since the trail is located in Running Springs it can also great pretty chilly, so I would suggest a jacket and pants! Luckily a member of our group thought ahead and brought hand-warmers, which were the highlight of my night. Overall, this is a hike that is great for those looking to escape the city life and immerse themselves in fresh air, plus it highlights the beauty of California's forests.

The children's forest is a great local place to hike, walk, camp, or have a picnic. It is located…read moreoff HWY 18 in Running Springs . One would not necessarily notice the area unless you were looking for it. There are many trails and some loop around so if you can't walk too far you can double back. There is camping and group camping spots available. There are picnic areas and informational trailheads. Safety first , remember cellphones may not work in all areas. Bring food , water, appropriate clothing per the weather. Have a first aid kit accessible for emergencies. Remember that there are animals in the forest . Bring pepper spray or bear spray to scare off most wild animals and humans ! Don't forget your Adventure pass. This can be bought at the Rangers station or Jensen's store off HWY 330 in town.

End of April 2025 we spent a relaxful get away celebrating Grandpup's 8 th birthday. T Bebe's mom,…read moreDoc, rented a spacious, beautifully decorated and furnished 3 bedroom deluxe cabin from Cool Cabins. Don't be fooled as it gets chilly and we saw lovely flurries the day before we left and a light snowfall overnight. There was a squirrel that greeted us when we first arrived pulling into the driveway. Never saw or heard anyone in the neighborhood. Easy Market was down the street for some canned Starbucks coffee and Iced Tea. We didn't cook our meals but ate out except for one lunch when we brought home pot pies from Pickles that took 90 minutes in the oven. We had a really good breakfast(pizza size pancakes) and dinner(prime rib) which we found on Yelp. The other meals were fine as it was hit or miss in a new place. We came decades ago and the development is amazing. Be sure to drive to the Village beyond Marshall's as there are more shops. We entered a pet store where I bought their version of nose and paw butter for my own fur Bebe. Found some gifts to bring home for the grand kiddies. We even went grocery shopping for ice cream for the pie slices from a bakery. The only let down was our reservations for a one and a half hour paddle boat tour was cancelled cuz they didn't reach their 15 passenger requirement. Not all the shops were open or even the donut place but we did see some wild donkeys. No other critters. Probably we came off peak season but thanks to Netflix and the big screen tv it was all good.

Big bear is often the place where SoCal locals go to experience snow for the first time:…read more Winter Season: 1. Skiing, snowboarding, hiking, tubing. Spring and Summer: 1. Rock climbing 2. Off-roading 3. Camping 4. Fireworks in 4th of July 5. Lake activities Fall: 1. The same as Spring and Summer except enjoy the village and the gelato+teahouse in town! Highly recommend coming up

I wouldn't recommend their service. Go to a different management company. Started off nice then…read morestarted up-charging excessively for cleaning. When questioned, owner got very defensive and rude. Started to get more and more short and rude so I tried to just change the services and do the cleaning myself and they just cancelled all the other services for my cabin since they couldn't do all the cleaning. Poor business management.

Wonderful service! From the moment we spoke in th w phone the service was friendly and…read moreknowledgeable. Knew the area well and was extremely helpful.