Not every child appreciates gorgeous scenery and breathtaking vistas, and even the kids who do will want to enjoy a few other activities. There are a variety of Big Bear family activities for kids of all ages, at any time of the year. Whether you’re here for some of the best skiing around or are visiting us in warmer months, your kids will enjoy Big Bear as much as you will.
Enjoy the Outdoors
Rent bikes for the entire family and head out on your own around Big Bear Lake, Meadow Park, and other scenic spots. Or take a guided bike tour of the area to learn about the local history, flora, and fauna while you take in the gorgeous scenery surrounding you.
Hiking trails are plentiful in and around Big Bear and the San Bernardino Forest, with a variety of trails for all experience levels, ages, and lengths. Why not start with the Alpine Pedal Path? It’s a popular, paved, accessible, easy trail running along a part of the lake edge and is suitable for even the youngest kids.
I’m sure the kids will love going horseback riding! They can pretend they’re cowboys or cattle rustlers as they ride along dusty mountain trails. Baldwin Lake Stables offers hourly, half-day, sunset, and overnight riding options. Their rides include a trail along the historic Pacific Crest Trail with amazing Mojave Desert views and a sunset ride. Plus, there are pony rides for young kids too, as well as a petting zoo with goats, sheep, and rabbits.
Enjoy the Water
Head down to Big Bear Lake, where you can enjoy kayaking, paddle boarding, and swimming, just to name a few fun family activities in Big Bear. Rent what you need from one of the marinas, from those kayaks and paddleboards to fast jet skis or a boat so you can show the kids your angling skills.
And while you’re out on the lake, take your kids on a paddleboat tour, or Big Bear’s own pirate ship cruise. No two tours are ever the same on the zany Big Bear Lake Time Bandit pirate ship. Your kids won’t recognize the ship, but you may. This is the same 16th-century replica pirate ship from the movie Time Bandits (starring the handsome Sean Connery, John Cleese, Ian Holm, Michael Palin, and Shelley Duval).
And if the paddleboat and pirate ship wasn’t enough, treat the kids to something with a little more zip. Book a zipline adventure tour with Action Tours for the entire family and speed through the tree tops on nine high-speed zip lines. Or, treat the family to a helicopter tour for amazing views of Big Bear Lake, the Mojave Desert, the San Gorgonio Mountains, and the Santa Ana Canyon. Either way, they’ll never forget their trip to Big Bear.
Bear Mountain, Snow Summit, and Magic Mountain
Both Bear Mountain and Snow Summit offer year-round Big Bear family activities. During colder months when we’re lucky to have plenty of snow on the ground, the entire family can hit the slopes skiing or snowboarding. During summer months, everyone can hike scenic mountain trails, hurl down exciting mountain bike dirt trails on the Summit Bike Park, or stay at Basecamp where your kids can try out the 30-foot rock climbing wall, bounce high in the air on the trampoline, and take an exciting zip line trip.
There’s tubing in winter, but the most popular attraction at Magic Mountain Recreation Area is the Alpine Slide. Your kids can pretend to be Olympic bobsledders! During the summer, there’s also a water slide, go-karts, a mini-golf course, and several coasters. And the nearby Grizzly Ridge Tube Park offers tubing fun year-round!
Other Activities to Enjoy
Pit your skills against your kids in a scavenger hunt through Big Bear Village with Urban Adventure Quest or one of the other local scavenger companies. Your kids will love solving riddles, and hunting for clues all while learning about Big Bear’s history, especially if they’re racing against the rest of the family. Want to try your hand at more puzzle-solving? Race your kids to be the first to solve the clues in one of Big Bear’s many escape rooms.
Let your kids experience panning for gold and other minerals at the Gold Rush Mining Company. One of many spots locally where kids can go gold-panning, crack open a geode to see what’s inside or dig for fossils. Don’t forget to stop in the gift shop on your way out for geodes, fossils, gemstones, and more Big Bear souvenirs.
Child-Friendly Activities in Big Bear
No matter what you and your kids end up doing while you’re here in Big Bear, you’ll need a comfy, well-equipped vacation cabin as a home base for your stay. Give us a call and let us help you find the perfect kid-friendly vacation rental for your stay that’s close to all your kids’ favorite activities.
