My daughter has been going through many changes in the past year; her schedule recently has been loaded with responsibilities; from school work to extra-curricular activities, making her run from one commitment to another without a break. She has officially entered her “tween” years. Honestly, it has been a challenging time in our lives as I struggle as well, remembering how difficult things were for me in my own tween years, with both of our moods fluctuating up and down like a crazy barometer over the last few weeks!
I came to the conclusion that we both needed time to "Chillax."
I decided to schedule some “Mommy/Daughter time” on our calendar and took her on a weekend getaway to Big Bear Lake, joining 4 other surrounding Macaroni Kid publishers. I realized it’s hard enough to pull off a family vacation, let alone a one-on one trip with just one child. It was worth every effort though, this mother-daughter trip was priceless to me. The drive up the mountain was beautiful, less than 2 hours, and the perfect way to enjoy quality time and get even a reluctant tween to open up and talk.
A true gem of the San Bernardino Mountains, Big Bear Lake is a prime vacation spot, which is home to winter adventure sports and summer outdoor recreation. Known for year-round beauty it is truly a year-round vacation destination site.
We were invited to stay at The Club at Big Bear Village, operated by Bluegreen Vacations, to come and enjoy all of the property’s amenities which can be rented by families at a reasonable rate. Bluegreen Vacation Club is a flexible, points based, deeded vacation ownership plan with access to numerous clubs, club associate resorts and hotels.
This 5-star resort surpassed all of my expectations the minute I walked on the property. The clubhouse was stunning, with an exceptional, knowledgeable staff ready to provide 5-star service. The clubhouse provided drinks, popcorn, coffee and there was a billiards room, fitness center, and game room.
This first-class getaway was reminiscent of the picturesque rustic mountain lodges you would typically find, but with all of the modern amenities of today. It is located right at the entrance of the famous Big Bear Village, just steps away from fine restaurants, charming retailers, and just minutes away from the marina.
I’ll never forget my daughter’s exuberant reaction as we entered our 3-bedroom suite! What a privilege it was to share this “First” mother/daughter trip with her in such a lavish and spacious suite. The resort offers expansive 2-4-bedroom Presidential suites designed to pamper up to 10 guests; complete with fully furnished kitchens, large flat-screen TVs, washer and dryer and fireplace. Each of the properties on site comes with either a balcony with majestic mountain views or an outdoor patio complete with a BBQ grill. Each suite is complete with an oversized jacuzzi tub, guaranteed to help guests unwind.
The Club at Big Bear Village was spacious, comfortable and complete with everything we needed while we were away from home, making us feel stress-free right from the start. It eased my concerns of what to pack when I learned that all of the suites had everything available to make guests feel at home. Some of The Club at Big Bear Village’s top-notch family-friendly amenities includes:
- Connected 2-car garage
- Oversized bathrooms with jacuzzi tubs
- Heated pool and hot tubs with mountain views
- Game and arcade room
- State-of-the-art fitness center
- Private balcony or patios with mountain views
- Fully furnished gourmet kitchens
- Extensive DVD and book library and billiard room for entertaining
- Expansive living areas in all suites
- Plush bedding
- Multiple Fireplaces in every suite
- Washer and Dryer
- Large flat screen TV with DVD player
- Daily fruit infused water, fresh popcorn, coffee and hot chocolate bar in the lobby
Gold Mining Adventures at Big Bear Lake
Did you know that Big Bear was where the largest gold strike in Southern California happened? The Gold Rush of the 1860's was what brought many to Big Bear, and that was the start of a unique little attraction called, nothing less than, Gold Mining Adventures.
Our entire group of kids (aged 7-10) just adored this place. Walking into the shop is like stepping into a museum full of an eclectic display of gems and minerals. The interior is decorated like a cave, with plenty of souvenir and stones to yearn for. The kids got to choose the type of treasure they would like to pan or dig for (activity ranges from gemstones, fossils, pearls, crystals to gold) and armed with their selection, the kids excitedly “searched” for their treasure in the water wheel or sand using a sieve-like tray called a “sluicer” which was submerged in the water. The staff poured the contents on to the “sluicer” and, as the dirt was sifted out with the water, it revealed the prizes.
The kids loved the discovery process of digging and panning for the treasure themselves and learned about the beauty of nature’s gifts. I loved watching their reactions once their treasures were revealed. This is the perfect activity for kids of all ages and I know my daughter will be talking about this for some time. She was eager to store her treasures in a safe place and has already talked about starting a hobby of collecting gems and minerals. There was a plethora of themed mining activities fit for all ages to choose from and if your family loves to discover new experiences together, visit Gold Mining Adventures - a guaranteed mining adventure experience that will bring out the creativity and imagination of the child in all of us!
Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain
Known for its gorgeous fall foliage during this time of year, we were sure to include some outdoor adventure into our trip. We visited the world-famous Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain, Southern California’s only authentic bobsled experience. We started with a 15-minute scenic chairlift ride to the top that offers panoramic views of Big Bear Lake. I loved that this gave me an opportunity where I could have some one-on-one conversation with my daughter while we were away from all the distractions of home. I could see her really taking in and processing everything that I said. Once you arrive at the top, there are two quarter-mile long cement tracks you can choose from and can control the speed of your sled.
For the thrill seekers there is Soaring Eagle, a ride similar to a “catapult” where you rise up 100 feet and then pulled back 500 feet to a launch tower and, after a slight dramatic pause, thrown forward at speeds up to 28 mph! This ride received rave reviews from my daughter.
Big Bear Lake was a perfect weekend getaway destination for us. To be surrounded in the cool, crisp, mountain air, sunny skies, forested meadows of Big Bear Lake is an ideal location year -round for visitors and locals alike. We enjoyed The Club at Big Bear so much; we already planned to make this an annual trip for the whole family. You can find it easy to make your next vacation reservation through choicehotels.com or expedia.com. Whether you visit in the winter, spring, summer or fall there is never a shortage of activities in Big Bear!
40671 Village Drive
Big Bear Lake, CA 92315
909.878.2700
Disclosure: BlueGreen Vacation Club is a sponsor of Macaroni Kid and I received complimentary lodging and meals in exchange for the purpose of a review. All opinions are my own.
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