Gorgeous trail in an area of the forest that is recovering from the Bridge Fire in 2024. While it's…read moreshocking to see so many burnt trees, it's also cool to see signs of life emerging from the ashes. There were many pine seedlings to be found along the trail and lots of wildflowers called "fire-followers" that actually require and benefit from the fire to bloom. To find the trailhead, look for the Big Pines Visitor Center. The parking lot for the trail is right across the street and the standard Adventure Pass is required to park in this lot (thank goodness, it is not part of the Mountain High Ski Resort cabal, so you don't have to buy the "Big Pines" parking pass as well.) It was a bit tricky to find the actual trailhead, as it's a few feet away from the parking lot. The parking lot does have restrooms as well as ADA parking available. The trail itself is very well maintained and offers stunning views. It's pretty much uphill all the way to the Blue Ridge Campsite and (of course) downhill all the way back. It's mostly in the shade but can get warm, so make sure you have plenty of water and snacks. Look for fungi, mariposa lilies, butterflies, squirrels and birds. Highly recommended!

The good: I came on a Tuesday and it was completely empty…read moreand serene. We came with our almost 3 year old but we carried him most of the time. The trail was mostly shaded and there were creeks with running water. We saw blue jays, chipmunks, squirrels, woodpecker and other birds. It was breezy with nice views of the mountains and far out in the canyon areas. The bad: We didn't get to finish the trail because we had a toddler. I think there were only 2 parking spots. I am not sure if there were other areas you can park. It was just on the dirt by the campgrounds sign. The interesting: Lots of the trees were burnt and fallen over. We saw red plants and some interesting mushroom growing on the trees. Some areas of the trail are more narrow with a sloping hill off to the side so be careful if you're coming with kids.

This review is long over due however, very necessary for me to write about Big Bear Lake Visitors…read moreCenter. Big Bear at large is close to my heart because its easy for me to get to from LA County proper. I ski at Big Bear (Or Snow Valley or Snow Summit) when the snow permits. It's an easy drive for me to and from LA. But lately, over the past 3 years, I've been so in love with Shadow and Jackie, the Bald Eagle celebrity natives. OK- here is my story: My travel buddy and I drive from LA and made a couple stops along the way (One was in Ontario for a party we attended) and the second was Snow Summit to check out the ski conditions. However, my main purpose was to visit and get a real live view of Shadow and Jackie, the bald eagles. The Big Bear Lake Visitors Center was the place to gather your information. They gave us the best times to look for Jackie and Shadow but more important, they have their volunteer rangers who set up long range telescopes over at Fawn's to view the magnificent birds. There is a board at the entrance which lists all activities around the area; for hikers, bikers, eagle viewers alike. Merch for sale Informative with respect to the native animals, birds and the li,e Ample parking Clean restrooms

We just popped in to see what was inside as we were visitors in big bear and were pleasantly…read morepleased with what we found! That was neat. They had a display on the eagle nest, as that is such a popular thing with people, that included a live feed. The folks behind the information desk were very friendly and helpful. We really enjoy the photo area, you can have your picture taken and put over three different backgrounds, with choice of emailing or having the picture printed out right there for you to take with you. Kind of nice to have a physical picture for a change as everyone seems to just provide digital these days. Great place for information for any visitor to big Bear!

First Puppy play date in the snow‍‍ Our friends bought the brother to ours. So much fun! Great…read morefriends = Great puppies‍‍ The puppies and all 4 of us had a blast. Puppies "Brothers 8 Months old." They had a great time playing up and down the snow hills. Walk a 100 yards on the trail, and you will see a little cove for the dogs and kids to play, sled in deep untouched snow. A hidden gem. Safe where we went, no traffic, away from the busy highway. We so enjoyed the puppies first time experiencing the snow with our puppies. TIP: STOP. Weekends: You need a day parking pass $5.00 Where do you buy one. At the visitors center, before going up to the end of Wrightwood. Weekdays you do not need a day parking pass. Rules not unforced during the week days. Top of Wrightwood. Plenty of Parking. Clean Bench, maps of the trail , and two restrooms. Bring your own: seat cover & TP. Hand sanitizer. Mount High Cafe I hope you have as much fun as we did! Great hidden gem.

Oops! I have no idea why I called the mountains "dainty " On second thought I do, yet let's step…read moreforward. We had a delightful experience! it is an absolutely beautiful place. The creation is beautiful. We all need beauty. There is a lot of ugliness, evil, and error being floated around by various persons so it's nice to be in a place where the unadulterated beauty of the creator shines forth. Wrightwood with all the trees and the streams and the mountains and the birds and the other animals and the snowflakes and the ice and the rain and the sun and the wind and a pretty homes and the delightful architecture and the friendly people, and I hear the church is nice too. Yes I know there is more than one church and if there are other places of worship I apologize; I am not familiar with them.

The gentleman in the store is nice and welcoming. He answers questions and offers tips with…read moreenthusiasm. Thank you!

A big shout out to the lady who works here during our visit in late Oct. 2019! (We should've asked…read moreher name) We usually come to Mt. Baldy for the snow, but this year, we decided to come for fall leaves and hiking. First off, we stopped at the visitor center for the parking pass. ($5 parking fee) The lady, who works there, was so informative and helpful showing us where to go, where has a better view point and all those other good suggestions! She even told us this location once was a school back in 1920s, it was also the first school they had in Mt. Baldy! The staff here def made us feel invited! Excellent service!! Some Tips: They have a actual bathroom in the visitor center. It's clean! Or else, there is a public toilet next to the parking lot, close to the entrance of hiking trials. (You can't wash your hands there) There is no WiFi in the mountains, so get yourself prepared for the route first! (Ask a map from them, screen shot your hiking routes!)

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 place truly exceeded my expectations. It is seemingly in the middle of nowhere. The Mojave has…read morelots of places that fit that description. So when I made the drive to the visitor center I was blown away by the nice, friendly, informative setup. There is a large parking area right next to the 24/7 operating borax strip mine. It has a really nice visitor center with museum style exhibits, photos, historical information, and a theater which shows an educational film. There are friendly, knowledgeable volunteers and a nice little gift shop with lots of free pamphlets too. The top of the visitor center is a large observation deck from which you can view the huge operation. Nice photo ops here. Not a short drive but really glad I came.

This was a fun little place to stop. Our kids really enjoyed it too. Worth a visit if you're in the…read morearea.

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.

Where do you go when you get lost in downtown LA? Downtown LA Visitor Information Center!!…read more I like acting like a tourist and pretend to get lost. Not really!! I go here because they sell See's Candies. Sometimes I stop by on Fridays to buy my Friday candy here. They also sells tourist stuff like postcards, magnet, "I love LA" stuff, Hollywood trophies and even bathing suits. You can also pick up coupons and brochures for California restaurants or theme parks here. I picked up a bunch of Caliofrnia and Los Angeles brochures and books. I recently noticed they had computers for tourists too. Not sure if it's a free service. 4 stars!! Downtown Los Angeles Visitor Information Center is fun fun fun!!

This site is used to post our Top 12 Los Angeles attractions during our January 29th to February…read more6th visit. Los Angeles is a wonderful and inviting city that brings the world to you. There is so much to see and do you can never be bored or disappointed. Our trip shows you don't have to spend a fortune to have a great time. Thank you LA Visitor Information Center, we'll be back! MY 12 TOP ATTRACTIONS DURING OUR VISIT............... 1. The Getty Villa (Free) 2. LA City Hall Observation Deck (Free) 3. The Getty Museum (Free) 4. Griffith Park (Free) 5. San Pedro/Ports of Call Village/Red Car Trolley ($1) 6. The Wende Museum (Free) 7. La Brea Tar Pits/Page Museum 8. California Museum of Science (Free) 9. Union Station (Free) 10. Walt Disney Concert Hall (Free) 11. JR Bistro Chinese Restaurant for Lunch 12. Annenberg Space for Photography (Free) I HOPE WE HAVE HELPED YOU PLAN YOUR TRIP TO LA! Thank you for taking our Tour! Final Day...... 9 of 9 END To take our Tour, start at 2/10/14 at General Mitchell Field and read up each page to here. 71 Reviews.

Was very welcoming. She helped us with accessing the Simon website to get the best deals!read more

I learned about California Welcome Centers rather recently after last year stopping by the…read moreOceanside one. Of course this location cannot compare to a stand alone building location, but a spot in a very popular mall works well too, especially since it's relatively close to the Ontario Airport and this shopping mall is popular with international travelers as well (considering there's a currency exchange place at the mall too). Staff was welcoming and is there to answer any questions. There's a kiosk that you can look up info on California with and of course lots of flyers and brochures of all the touristy and historical spots in California from the North to the South. We also got free stickers too which is nice. And despite always being a SoCal native, I always learn a little bit more about neat stops and services, such as the free GOAT transportation shuttle in the IE. Super cool. The false redwood trees reaching to the ceilings are a nice touch too! I hope I can visit every welcome center one day.

Me and my husband booked a trip to Playa Del Carmen for our anniversary. Amber helped from step A…read moreall the way to step Z making sure we were completely booked for our hotel and flights. We even had a little room issue at our resort and Amber quickly and diligently got it fixed for us. I would highly recommend her as a travel agent to anyone looking for a smooth stress free vacation.

WOW, simply AMAZING!!! THE BEST AROUND! My family and I were…read moreplanning a large-scale trip to Hawaii that consisted of 21 people. Anyone who has planned a trip for that many people know it's stressful to plan & organize a group that big. We reached out to Wanderlust Years Travel and got in contact with Amber who did such an exceptional job at finding all the top-visited locations on Maui. We ended up going on harbor cruises, zip-lining, a luau, finding the best restaurants, and shaved ice shops, she even found a hidden hiking trail for us that apparently only the natives know about. I am thoroughly impressed with her dedication, determination, positive bubbly demeanor, and commitment to fulfilling all of her client's requests and more. She goes above and beyond what anyone could ask for. I can not thank her enough for such a fantastic Hawaii experience! It's been 1 year since our trip, and my family still raves with how much fun we had. We will definitely be reaching out to her for our next family adventure. Amber ended up saving us over $1000 if we would have booked the trip ourselves. If you want to save some money on your trip and save your time finding the best hotels around, look no further, Amber is the best around. Aloha, and Mahalo Amber.