Big Bear Lake, CA

Big Bear Lake is a small San Bernardino County city in the San Bernardino Mountains, sitting along the south shore of its namesake lake and surrounded by national forest. It is one of Southern California's classic mountain escapes: skiing and snow in winter, boating and lake weekends in warmer months. The Serrano people lived in the area long before outside exploration, and the modern city still feels defined by recreation, cabins, and the contrast with the warmer cities below.