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Fall Attractions in Big Bear

Founded in 1907, we have served over 1.3 million guest nights over the last 113+ years!

HomeBig Bear Lake Things To DoFall Attractions in Big Bear

The beauty of a fall landscape in a lakefront village, fresh mountain air, and a slower pace than a big city might be just what the doctor ordered. There are plenty of things to do and see, and attractions to visit, that you’ll need to come back to Big Bear multiple times to fit them all in!

Big Bear Discovery Center

Everyone will love discovering Big Bear in a way just walking around to see the sites doesn’t deliver. Instead, stop by the Big Bear Discovery Center. Opened in 1998, the center is the largest visitor center in Big Bear Valley. Aside from the center’s indoor activities, the nearby amphitheater hosts weekly programs, events like gold-panning and nature walks, as well as a junior ranger program. There are also outdoor concerts and theater productions, too!

Gold Rush Mining Adventures

Whether you’re a kid or kid-at-heart, you’ll enjoy this hands-on way of learning about California’s historic Gold Rush of the 1800s. Make sure to shout out “Eureka!” while participating in the Geode breaking activity or Gemstone and Fossil panning activities. No one leaves empty-handed, and no two bags of loot are exactly alike. Each may include real gem stones, fossils, and geodes. Some finds may even be big enough to be cut and faceted into jewelry, polished into a non-faceted gemstone, or you can choose to keep them the way you found them – and how Mother Nature intended them to be.

Big Bear Solar Observatory

Look up in the sky and examine the sun in a different way. The Big Bear Solar Observatory uses the Goode Solar Telescope (GST) to study everything from magnetic fields around the sun to solar flares on the sun’s surface. When you visit the observatory, you’ll learn how scientists look for and analyze these features of the sun to get a better understanding of our solar system. Marvel at the size of the telescope and get your questions answered right then and there.

Miss Liberty Paddlewheel

Before Big Bear Lake freezes in the winter, it has many water activities to enjoy, but not many pair the activity with a bit of local history. The boat is a 64’ long, 24.5’ high Skipperliner 1500 LX that is reminiscent of days of old. Your adventure starts when you board the boat at Pine Knot Marina. The 90-minute fully narrated tour cruises around the lake as your knowledgeable guide fills you in on fun facts, folklore, and area history dating back as far as 1845. Kids and adults alike will love looking out the boat’s windows on the lower deck or sitting on the open-air fully shaded upper deck. Enjoy snacks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages for sale from the galley he 125-seat boat while you cruise.

Magic Mountain

The park has so much to do! There’s the thrill of the alpine slide, which weaves down a bobsled-style course with high-banking turns and fast straightaways through the beautiful mountain scenery. Make a day out of the whole Magic Mountain park. Cool off with a ride down the alpine water slide. Twist and turn down one of two slides before splashing down into the 3 ½-foot-deep splash pool. Riders must wear a provided life jacket. Spend the whole day on the slides or occupy yourself with go-karts, mini-golf, or the new “Soaring Eagle” ride that takes riders steadily backwards 100 feet vertical and 500 feet long to a launch tower that then catapults you at speeds of up to 28 miles per hour back to the base. Hours vary by season, and participants must be at least 36” tall for most rides, or ride with an adult over 18.

Big Bear Alpine Zoo

The zoo isn’t just a place to see the animals of the wild up close. The Big Bear Alpine Zoo is also a rehabilitation facility and sanctuary for indigenous wild animals permanently impacted by human behavior and unable to return to their wild habitats. Guests of all ages will love catching glimpses of American crow, Arctic fox, bald eagles, black bears, the yellow-bellied marmot, and other residents. There are several programs that get you up close to the animals, as well as demonstrations and enrichment activities presented by zoo staff.

Getaway to Big Bear This Fall

You came to the area for a fun getaway to release the stresses of everyday life for everyone. Extend that fun and fall flair to your accommodations by booking a vacation rental Big Bear Vacations. Make everyone’s favorite home-cooked meal in the fully quipped kitchen. Gather together on the couch and watch a movie everyone will love or spend some time outdoors. Choose a cozy one-bedroom for your sweetheart or small family getaway, or a sprawling five-bedroom for a fun family reunion. Big Bear Vacations has a vacation rental that is just right for you. Our premium units include upgrades like stainless steel appliances, granite counters, hardwood floors, flat screen TVs and more!

Contact us today to book and take the first step toward planning your fall getaway! Be sure to ask about our Halloween vacation rentals as well!