Admit it: It’s time to escape to the mountains of San Bernardino. About three hours out of Los Angeles or San Diego, the peaceful sanctuary of Big Bear is the mountainous recharger your batteries need.

You’ll find yourself almost 7,000 feet above sea level in a mecca of sunshine and clear air—so clear there’s a solar observatory you can tour right on the lake’s edge. This is where mountain bikers glide down fire roads, skiers carve through snow and hikers dip into pure blue water after rambling through mountain meadows. If that’s not enough, there’s four-wheeling, horseback rides, fishing, snowmobiling and boating—nectar for those frayed nerves.


It ’s the Big Bear Lake battery recharger. You’ll want to experience it again and again.