Sometimes it’s hard to find a vacation spot that caters to families. That’s not a problem at Big Bear, where you can find plenty of kid-friendly and family-friendly attractions for year-round fun. Here are a few of our suggestions, in no particular order, of fun, kid-friendly Big Bear, CA attractions to visit while vacationing in Big Bear vacation with your kids.
Big Bear Mountain Resort and Snow Summit
If there’s snow on the ground, head to Big Bear Mountain Resort for snowboarding, skiing, and more fun in the snow. No snow? No worries. You and your kids can hike or bike along the many trails on the mountain. Other activities in the Big Bear Mountain Resort’s Base Camp include a 30-foot rock climbing wall, ziplining, and “EuroBungee” fun. Grizzly Ridge Tube Park is open year-round, winter or summer, snow or no snow, with synthetic tubing lanes in summer and lovely real snow in winter.
Snow Summit! In the winter you can ski and snowboard, and in the summer months, you can hike or bike the 31 trails and take in one of the best views of the valley around. Summit Mining Co. (located in the Snow Summit Base Camp area) is a fun spot where the kids can sluice their hearts out looking for gemstones, arrowheads, fossils, and more.
Big Bear Ropes Course
If your kids love climbing, this is the place to go for fun things to do in Big Bear. There are more than 42 obstacles to navigate on the course, and your kids will love scrambling over suspension bridges and more as they balance on ropes and climb in and around all of the obstacles set in their path. All in the safety of a climbing harness of course.
For older kids and their adrenaline-seeking parents, there’s the Sky Rail Zipline at the Big Bear Ropes Course, adjacent to the Big Bear Speedway and Big Bear Snowplay (two more fun attractions here in Big Bear). And Action Zipline Tours offers a 3-hour combo excursion starting with an off-road ATV ride into the forest where you can try nine ziplines back down the mountain.
Big Bear History Museum
See what made Big Bear what it is today. Big Bear began as a gold-mining town, and this small museum focuses on life in that era of mining and early settlers. It may be small, but there are over a million artifacts in historic structures here plus a blacksmith shop. Oh, and you can pan for gold too.
Magic Mountain Recreation Area
The Alpine Slide! In the summer, it’s a water slide while in the winter is all about the snow. It’s billed as Southern California’s only authentic bobsled experience. Enjoy scenic views on the chairlift to the top, then sled back down the mountain on one of two quarter-mile tracks.
Not into hurtling down the mountain? No problem. You and your kids can ride go-karts, hit the mini-golf course, the Mineshaft Coaster, or the Soaring Eagle Ride.
The Time Bandit
When you head out to Big Bear Lake, be sure to look for the pirate ship! It’s pretty recognizable, as this is the same “Time Bandit” 16th-century pirate ship from the movie of the same name. While the ship has had a few ups and downs since it landed here in 1989, she’s more than ready to take you and your little pirates on a fun tour of the lake.
Big Bear Discovery Center
The Discovery Center offers special events and Big Bear, CA attractions just for kids, along with panning for gold, guided nature walks, bird walks, wildflower tours, and junior ranger programs. They also offer story time for kids under 6, and concerts and shows throughout the year for kids of all ages. Plus, the expert rangers at the Discovery Center will be able to fill you in on current trail conditions, provide passes, permits, and trail maps, as well as dole out important bear information.
Big Bear Alpine Zoo
Everyone in the family will enjoy viewing over 140 species of wildlife at the Big Bear Alpine Zoo. The zoo is actually a rehabilitation center where they provide injured and imprinted wild animals a home while they heal, or provide a permanent home if they aren’t able to survive on their own. Zoo exhibits include bison, black bears, wolves, coyotes, bald eagles, arctic foxes, reptiles, and more. Plus they offer interactive tours too.
Child-Friendly Attractions in Big Bear
Need a few more suggestions? For older kids who are interested in galaxies far, far away, plan a trip to the Big Bear Solar Observatory. The 16-lane bowling alley at the Bowling Barn (complete with glow-in-the-dark lanes) also has a laser maze, arcade games, and all the fried snacks your kids can eat. Or head to the Gold Rush Mining Adventure where the kids can try panning for gold and other minerals, excavate fossils or have fun breaking geodes to discover the treasure within. We’ve got more suggestions on fun, kid-friendly attractions too! Give us a call today to start planning for your trip to Big Bear.
