BIG BEAR LAKE — There’s been a lot of construction activity in the Village here, the commercial and tourist center of this alpine getaway in the San Bernardino Mountains.
There was some concern over the disruption to local businesses, but so far everyone seems to be coping pretty well.
It seems that all those pesky utility services running underground needed to be renovated, and the sidewalks were showing signs of wear and tear. The Village is not a large place and it sees a lot of foot traffic, so good sidewalks are a necessity. On top of that there is weather to contend with. Any contractor must figure on freezing conditions from late October to late April and therefore digging up roads and laying concrete is not ideal.
The plan now underway calls for fire pits and new trees as well as new sidewalks and roadways. It will be most attractive when finished. Meanwhile, visitors can walk around easily and there’s good access to all the shops.
There’s plenty of summer fun to have at Big Bear Lake. Car shows are held regularly as well as bike races and triathlons. The ski slopes offer rides to the top for walking, picnicking, and mountain bike riding all the way down to the bottom. Out on the water there is a new phenomenon — a sort of water boosted ride where you keep aloft with water pressure, all the time accompanied by a jet ski. What will they think of next?
Several guided tours of the lake offer commentaries and a nice view from the water level. Or perhaps you’d prefer to rent a boat and do the driving yourself. There are several marinas where you can rent pontoons, motorboats or kayaks. Even a lowly paddle board might tempt you out there in one of the more sheltered coves.
Accommodations are plentiful, too. From a camping site on the North Shore to some fine hotels and rental cabins, you can find pretty much every type of place to spend a weekend or longer. The town’s website (bigbear.com) will guide you through a large selection of options.
If you would like to pedal your way around town, but don’t want to bring your own bike, there are plenty of bike rental shops that can fix you up. They even have tandems, if you can trust your partner to put in the same effort as you.
There are several trails for both hiking and cycling. The birdwatching is outstanding and the lake and mountain views are beyond belief.
The locals will tell you that the two best seasons at this high elevation are spring and fall, but it’s also true to say that summer comes in pretty close behind — even if you have to excuse the construction work for a little while.
Check out Trevor Summons’ blog at trevorsummons.blogspot.com.
