A lot of people don’t expect to find alpine scenery when they come to Southern California, but the Inland Empire’s Big Bear area abounds with it. Located at about 6,700-feet/2,000-meter elevation, Big Bear Lake and its surrounding peaks offer all-season fun, from winter sports at Big Bear Mountain and Snow Summit to hiking, cycling, water sports, and helicopter rides during the summer. There are even some unexpected attractions nearby (like bald eagles and Himalayan cuisine) as well as good wine tasting.
