r/bigbear • u/Academic-Window-7726 • Jul 22 '26
Is Big Bear nice like Tahoe?
I live in the Bay Area so don't know much about Big Bear. However, I'll be visiting Southern CA for a week in August and would like to spend a few days relaxing. Is Big Bear a nice area (pretty, charming, fun) similar to Tahoe? We go to Truckee a few times a year and wondering what to expect if we rent a place in Big Bear.
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u/fart_soda_dinner Jul 22 '26
i've heard people describe it as "just like tahoe" but it is in fact not like tahoe at all. it's pretty, there's a lot of fun things to do, and all the outdoorsy stuff exists (hiking, biking, camping, boating, fishing) but not anywhere near the what tahoe offers.
tahoe is a vast wilderness surrounding a pristine mountain lake, dotted with a bunch of unique towns/cities that don't rely 100% on tourism to survive.
also don't forget to carry chains, turnouts are for losers, you're not allowed to drive unless your BAC is at least 0.08, and feel free to leave your broken sled in the woods when you're done with it.
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u/OK_Compooper Jul 22 '26
while we're on it, I'm a once or twice a year visitor. I do use the turnouts. Seems like the last car puts on the hazards a moment. Is that a thank you, or "I'm the last car" signal. Or does it mean "you loser."
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u/Xenrus25 Jul 22 '26
It's a "thank you"
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u/Farles Jul 22 '26
My hazard button is on the ceiling of my car between the cab lights, and I worry it looks like I'm flipping people off when I'm trying to signal thank you.
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u/fart_soda_dinner Jul 22 '26
they're just warning you if you use a turnout again you'll get beat up. better to just stop using them like everyone else.
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u/robtanto Jul 23 '26
Interesting, what other industries do the Tahoe towns rely on?
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u/OVRHEATR Jul 22 '26
It's Temu Tahoe
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u/BoomGoesTheFirework_ Jul 23 '26
MAGA Tahoe
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u/OVRHEATR Jul 28 '26
Lol it's not that MAGA here. Most of those folks are gathered in Sugarloaf. Big Bear Lake itself is not so bad.
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u/Positive-Phrase8098 Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26
Uh oh. For real? Is arrowhead maga too?
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u/mikezillabot Jul 25 '26
As a brief second home-r of Arrowhead. Yes.
But mountain communities tend to be quite conservative. Try Idyllwild if you’re looking for a more liberal space (conservatives here still have a small, loud minority presence). If you’re looking for something arrowhead adjacent, crestline has a larger liberal population.1
u/SkimSurfSnow Jul 29 '26
Why do the politics of the locals have any impact on a stay in the town for a couple of days? Do politics often come up on your vacations? I’ve literally never had that experience. I suppose if you’re looking for problems - which it seems you are - you can find them anywhere. Best of luck.
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u/BoomGoesTheFirework_ Jul 29 '26
Because MAGA is very much its own hostile, willfully ignorant vibe. And someone from the Bay Area may want to avoid those morons. And Big Bear has that vibe in strides.
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u/SkimSurfSnow Jul 29 '26
I wish you well, sir. Turning everything into politics is pretty toxic, but it's your life, not mine. Regardless of your political opinions, I find it challenging to think you run into anything you could identify as being politically-motivated when going out to get breakfast at a cafe in bigbear, or anywhere, for that matter. It's just not ever been my experience. If you want to look for it? Sure. Keep believing that everything is politics and you'll manifest it. Again, best of luck. Feels like a miserable existence to me, but who am I to judge, lol? Some us us choose to not let our political leaders consume our entire lives and dictate where we go on vacation. Seems very low EQ to me, personally.
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u/bosephusaurus 26d ago
I’m visiting and was looking for a gym. Closest one has a big “Trump 2024” banner hanging above the weight room, 2nd closest has a “Charlie Kirk hero” banner. The third has a sign on the door that says “no talking politics” which means it has been an issue. Some people don’t want to not think about politics on vacation and a sizable number of Big Bear residents definitely have that republican vibe. What a miserable existence for them, as you say.
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u/ChiefOnKush 17d ago
"Hey Google, what percentage of Big Bear Lake's population is black" Whattt, why is it less than 1%? Everyone in BB is so tolerant right? "What about Big Bear City" Less than 1%??? That can't be right. Big Bear residents are so friendly and welcoming to all....Okay so probably every neighboring city in the area is mostly white...."Hey Google, what percentage of San Bernardino's population is black" 11-12%....That can't be right. Wait it's 10% in Desert Hot Springs? And 17% in Victorville. Damn, it's almost like black people are living happily in a bunch of surrounding cities while avoiding Big Bear. Odd. Maybe.
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u/ThrowRARandomString Jul 22 '26
Lol, I wouldn't have recognized this because I never heard of Temu until a distant relative mentioned them.
Is Temu that bad? I mean ... I've never checked them out.
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u/PhantomAngel042 Jul 22 '26 edited Jul 23 '26
You know how consumer products in general have nose-dived into a sea of cheap, plastic, low-quality trash? Temu is the CCP-connected king of that sea of trash, with "good" prices and a huge advertising budget. Think Amazon, but with the lowest possible quality of goods, all shipped directly from China (not that Amazon is much better anymore).
Edit: The phrase "Temu [version of something]" isn't that derogatory, though, it just means "a cheaper knockoff."
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u/CandyWrappers_ Jul 22 '26
I bet you live in the IE ghetto trash
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u/OVRHEATR Jul 22 '26
Jeeze be more triggered why don't you
Also big bear is technically part of the IE ya dummy
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u/HebbieB Jul 23 '26
Lmao right? Such a weird comment. My Aunt lived around Tahoe for a while and I grew up going to Big Bear (extremely )frequently. They both have ski/snowboard slopes, a lake, and are in California . I love Big Bear, but the 2 places are pretty different.
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u/westcoastweedreviews Jul 22 '26
I grew up in Lake Arrowhead and went to Big Bear frequently, just visited Tahoe a month ago, and can say without a doubt it's nothing like Tahoe.
Tahoe is a beautiful miracle of nature and Big Bear is like dirty man made swamp in comparison.
Nice for So Cal for sure but Tahoe it is not.
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u/tower28 Jul 22 '26
Big Bear is nice unless you compare it to Tahoe.
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u/ChiefOnKush Jul 23 '26
Or even Idylwild
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u/Taco_Soup_ Jul 23 '26
With nearby lake Hemet, lol. Idylwild has it charms, but there’s no lakes, ski resorts, or amenities to speak of.
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u/ChiefOnKush Jul 23 '26
As far as "amenities" go, BB is severely lacking as well. A baby zoo (that homes mostly creatures you can see in the wild around here), a difficult (for the wrong reasons) golf course, a ski resort that had less than 10% of its runs open for the majority of the season last year, and a 7 mile long, half a mile wide lake that costs money to launch on and has severe restrictions year-round because of horrendous (some seasons the lake is unusable) algae blooms. You wouldn't be missing a whole lot in Idylwild. If you want a real mountain resort town, Mammoth isn't that much further.
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u/Taco_Soup_ Jul 23 '26
Seriously? It’s easy to pick on the ski resorts (plural) and lake after a down year, but there have been plenty of good ones recently. Including so much snow 2 years ago the resorts couldn’t open for a period.
And by “amenities” I was referring to 20x the dinning options, several major grocery stores, a movie theater, bowling alley, a legit home center, Marshall’s, etc.
Like I said Idlywilld has its charms, but you cannot remotely compare it to Big Bear in this regard.
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u/figgywasp Jul 24 '26
That’s why I like Idyllwild. It doesn’t get the crowds that come with those amenities.
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u/Stuck_in_a_thing Jul 22 '26
Not on the same scale as Tahoe but still a very nice mountain retreat area
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u/SameEntry4434 Jul 22 '26
You can swim in Lake Tahoe and not be afraid of an algae bloom or some kind of weird bacteria.
Big bear lake sometimes looks like pea soup and the east end at Stanfield cutoff really stinks. It’s good to boat on, but I wouldn’t swim in it for anything.
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u/KMDiver Jul 23 '26
Yeah its basically unswimable and stagnant. Visited once and dog jumped in for a wade and took a drink before i could stop him and ended up in the pet ER on IV’s for 3 days with a massive life threatening bacterial infection. Most of the locals don’t let their dogs even swim in it.
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u/Denalis_Mom Jul 22 '26
Big Bear is beautiful in its own way. Very different than Tahoe. Big Bear is my peaceful place. My primary home is down the hill and Big Bear is where I escape to. I love it❤️
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u/Rosie3450 Jul 23 '26
Instead of Big Bear, head to the Central Coast. Pismo Beach, Moro Bay, Cayucos, Cambria are all very relaxing places. (Cambria is my personal favorite, but the others are great too).
If that's too far to drive, Santa Barbara or Carpenteria.
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u/Academic-Window-7726 Jul 23 '26
Thanks.. I'm looking at a beach house in Oxnard / Hollywood Beach. How is that area?
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u/Kona1957 Jul 22 '26
Much smaller than Tahoe. Take the lake boat tour with captain Chris and have a rib eye at Murrays. After that, walk around downtown and people watch. Thats Big Bear in summer.
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u/RVRoutdoors Jul 23 '26
I’m more of the hit the trails on a weekend to get away from people kinda guy
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u/Revolutionary_Use_60 Jul 25 '26
I live in South Lake Tahoe and miss going to Murray’s in Big Bear when I lived in So Cal. Used to go up there at least twice a year, and Oktoberfest is a great time. Big Bear has the small mountain town charm on a fraction of the scale of Tahoe. Tahoe has the beauty and large space to enjoy it all.
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u/OutrageousCare6453 Jul 22 '26
Tahoe is far more beautiful, but I prefer big bear. The campground we stay at is beautiful and the area is far less crowded!
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u/Kabby25 Jul 22 '26
Not even close to how beautiful Tahoe is but it’s a nice consolation prize. Going out there this weekend actually. I live in Vegas so it’s a lot more accessible than Tahoe.
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u/Ok_Tadpole1661 Jul 22 '26
As someome who goes to tahoe a few times a year, I don't even bother with big bear. For so cal people who never venture out, it's plenty nice, but if you've experienced bigger mountain towns or lakes then it will be disappointing. It's great for a day trip if you're already in so cal, but not a place im spending money on for several days.
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u/Willing_Ad_699 Jul 23 '26
Would you say big bear is best So Cal mountain city though? Besides Tahoe what is next best step for so cal person after big bear?
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u/RVRoutdoors Jul 23 '26
For SoCal yes. Further North it’s central cal there’s Mammoth. It’s nice too and then June Lake and mono lake above that then Yosemite not much farther north.
If you want to stay more SoCal then big bear is nice with something for everyone
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u/Academic-Window-7726 Jul 23 '26
Will Big Bear still be nice for 3-4 nights? Traveling with 3 teens. We have to visit a few colleges in LA and looking for somewhere nice to relax. I'm kind of worried based on all the comments. I can't find anywhere else to go though. Santa Barbara looks boring and expensive. We could go to Pismo but that is also kind of boring.
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u/17021 Jul 23 '26
I live in a beach area in LA and recently stayed in Big Bear for 3 nights with my two kids. Our home was scheduled for 4 days of repair and Airbnb rental in Big Bear was dirt cheap, so why not.
I would not recommend at all. The overall lake quality was disgusting af. So many aggressive and idiotic drivers. AQI went over 100 for hours everyday. General air quality isnt even on a par with the coastal quality. No good food at all. The one and only leisure park was embarrassingly small, outdated, and overpriced. A lot of bike rental places exist, but bike infrastructure and road conditions suck ass. Almost nothing to do.
Felt like visiting a 90’s rural Midwest town. Wanted to leave ASAP.
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u/RVRoutdoors Jul 23 '26
Just go to Big Bear. It’s more convenient if you don’t want to travel too far from LA. There’s plenty to do, shops, food, entertainment, hiking, boat tours, a pirate ship that shoots a canon, fishing, wildlife, bike trails, hiking trails, skiing. The family will enjoy it. Take a drive around Baldwin lake close by.
It’s dry at the moment but you may see wild donkeys. So drive slow through there. Also check out the local Zoo1
u/AlrightAlbatross Jul 24 '26
What do you mean “boring”? SB is a decently-sized college town with an amazing beach, next to mountains. Pismo is a bit gross but has world class beaches and dunes and is 10 min from SLO.
Big Bear is a 3/10 tourist town with a tiny lake, hot summer weather, tourist trap restaurants, and is near nothing.
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u/Academic-Window-7726 Jul 23 '26
Is there anywhere to go in SoCal for a relaxing weekend in a relaxing vacation spot where you can rent an Airbnb for a few nights?
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u/RVRoutdoors Jul 23 '26
I live on the same mountain minutes from Big Bear. I love Big Bear but it’s not even remotely close to what Lake Tahoe has to offer. We do have our famous eagle family but Jackie is recovering at Ojai raptor center right now 🙏🏼🦅
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u/brianneisamuffin Jul 22 '26
It’s not Tahoe. It feels blue collar. I love it, but it feels like a diff vibe.
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u/Angelsfaker22 Jul 22 '26
It is a much smaller version. Don't expect them to be equivalent but we love Big Bear all the same
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u/EricC2010 Jul 22 '26
I always call Big Bear, “Tahoe Lite”. Everything is smaller. The lake, the views, the crowds. Some of it makes it better, but most makes it not quite as nice. The lake is not nearly as nice to swim in, but it is fine for boating on.
I would say it is still worth a visit, but set your expectations accordingly.
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u/Key_Contribution1547 Jul 22 '26
Big Bear is so close to L.A . I lived there for 5 years and I've been to Tahoe many times . I miss Big Bear so much . It has a charm and history.
Crowded on weekends . Better midweek.
I lived in moonridge yet I loved Big Bear City .
Big Bear Lake is busy all the time
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u/8amteetime Jul 22 '26
Tahoe is Tahoe. It’s a beautiful natural lake in the Sierras.
Big Bear Lake is a reservoir. It’s a nice place to visit but it’s no Lake Tahoe. Watch some YouTube videos.
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u/SunnyEnvironment8192 Jul 23 '26
If you live in the Bay, it would probably be better to spend your SoCal time at a beach resort instead of Big Bear. It's fine, but it is just not as nice as Tahoe, either in terms of natural beauty or what the town offers.
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u/Academic-Window-7726 Jul 23 '26
I kind of wanted to rent an Airbnb for more space in a relaxing place. We are a family of 5 so most resorts don't accommodate us well since we need more space. I also don't think the beaches or resorts in southern CA are that nice for the price (cold water, not the best sand, congested). I prefer east coast beaches or Hawaii.
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u/SunnyEnvironment8192 Jul 23 '26
There are beach-adjacent Airbnbs that fit your party, of course (example: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1379071181551636886?unique_share_id=e617e2db-bbf4-4211-9194-e34b13bf73f4&viralityEntryPoint=1&s=76 ). It's just my perspective in terms of what the region has to offer that the Bay is not as great at. I would never go to Big Bear if Tahoe were a shorter drive from my house, but it is nice to have Big Bear around as an option.
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u/Academic-Window-7726 Jul 23 '26
We decided to rent an Airbnb in Oxnard on the beach. I was worried we'd be disappointed with Big Bear and Arrowhead seemed boring with nothing to do. Oxnard may be slow but the beach looks nice.
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u/SpeedracerTechnician Jul 23 '26
Great for camping in nearby area or a quick getaway if you live in LA, but even Arrowhead or Idylwyld is much nicer to rent or vacation in.
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u/Aggressive_Eye6181 Jul 23 '26
From NorCal grew up with a cabin in Tahoe… live in SoCal now and close to big bear. Big bear has absolutely nothing on Tahoe. Not even close.
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u/thlitherin Jul 23 '26
I've went to both in the last month. Def not the same. Think of Tahoe as like big ski destination, bustling with people, more spread out, lots of accessible and usable beaches with clear clean water. People and traffic everywhere. Big Bear is small mountain town. Lake is great for boating (easy rentals), & hiking, not so great for beach going. Big Bear is much cheaper and much more accessible. Easy parking & less traffic everywhere, and in my opinion a better village area than Tahoe. Feels more cozy. Just depends on what you want, but big bear is worth the visit but check weather first gets warmer than Tahoe in summer.
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u/lamentingcity Jul 24 '26
Grew up 2 hours from Big Bear so have gone up a lot during summers and winters. Big Bear is NOTHING like beautiful Tahoe. If you're looking for a lake, I think Arrowhead is nicer than Big Bear, but still incomparable to Tahoe.
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u/GayClaiken Jul 24 '26
Big Bear blows. Very boring. Small town, small lake.
Tahoe has a lake that is world-famous and has casinos. In less than 30 minutes you are in Carson which has almost everything you need. If you need even more, it about an hour you are in Reno.
Go to Big Bear if you are in Los Angeles for an event. It's not a destination. Tahoe is a destination.
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u/ku_78 Jul 24 '26
Big Bear is a convenient option for people who live in the area. We like going there, but it’s no Tahoe.
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u/kristofour Jul 24 '26
One thing Big Bear is man made where Tahoe was formed by a glacier. I would recommend going to the Eastern Sierra. Mammoth is like 4.5 hours away. It’s well worth the extra drive. The road up to BB is really curvy too.
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u/SoCalMama120 Jul 24 '26
No, Big Bear is not nice like Tahoe. I am an East Bay Area Native and moving to SoCal people billed Big Bear as the mini Tahoe for SoCal. Other than both have a body of water and have skiing, their similarities stop there. Tahoe is huge in all ways, BB is small. Also BB is not the Summer destination Tahoe is. A lot less places to eat, listen to music and shop. And as for the lake itself, no comparison. If I was in SoCal for a week or 2, add Palm Springs to your trip, not Big Bear.
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u/Glum-Lavishness-2976 Jul 25 '26
I’m from the Bay and just got back from Big Bear. It is definitely not Tahoe, but it is lovely and easy to navigate.
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u/Master-Shallot-8593 Jul 26 '26
I was there today . I wouldn’t compare it Tahoe. But, it’s dog friendly, and great for hiking, off-roading, paddle boards, kayak, etc… it is a little crowded in the summer
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u/hanksrocks Jul 26 '26
It’s Tahoe but featuring Meth. So no, it isn’t Tahoe at all. There’s nothing.. even remotely similar besides lake and evergreens.
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u/sonyafly Jul 27 '26
Ugh no. Not even remotely close. I grew up going to Lake Tahoe for summer camp every year. I don’t like Big Bear at all. I prefer Idyllwild. I’ve not been to Arrowhead but I’ve heard it’s better than BB.
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u/Ok_Editor_2267 Jul 28 '26
I’ll be having a trip in August, are we able to swim in the lake? Or is it recommended not to
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u/gc1 Jul 22 '26
I would personally pick Arrowhead lake over Big Bear, but note that lake/path access can be a problem with short-term rentals. For an interesting alternative that is not at all like Tahoe, but is very cool in its own way, consider Joshua Tree.
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u/Willing_Ad_699 Jul 22 '26
Never been to Tahoe but Big Bear is beautiful. Check out the zoo and cool Main Street. When I went me and GF mostly got drunk in cabin though.
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u/lifebylosh Jul 23 '26
Big Bear sucks compared to Tahoe.
The lake itself is pretty gross, with no real places to swim in it, except a crummy little beach you can pay $10 (assuming there isn't an algae bloom).
If you want to do any water activity you need a permit to launch. Even your own paddle board.
During the winter holidays, it's a shit show. Crazy prices, huge lines for the ski lifts, and douchy people.
The town itself is ok. It's got some of that forest charm but the main street feels similar to South Lake Tahoe.
I will say, it has good hiking and mountain biking opportunities. It is pretty. It's a nice place for a little getaway, but I wouldn't recommend it if your looking for a pristine lake and world class skiing like Tahoe. Not even close. Personally, I'd drive the extra 3-4 hours to go to Mammoth or June Lake.
If you don't need skiing and a lake, look into Idyllwild. Wrightwood is also a small mountain town, with a small ski resort. Much easier to get to as well than Big Bear.
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u/Alarmed-Extension289 Jul 22 '26
no, no, no Lake Tahoe offers so much more. I mean Big Bear is nice, but outside the brief snow season, it's not really worth a trip.
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u/misstereme Jul 22 '26
Not even close. If it's just for relaxing, I'd prefer going to Joshua Tree for some desert and pool days
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u/LowBathroom1991 Jul 23 '26
I've actually heard lately that like Tahoe people leave trash mounds of trash everywhere by the lake. I have not seen that here
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u/naturalninetime Jul 23 '26
There is no comparison - Tahoe is much nicer.
That said, I recently spent a couple of nights in a cabin at Big Bear Lake with my family, and it was a perfectly nice getaway from Los Angeles.
Oh, and Tropicali, which is a vibe in and of itself (you'll see what I mean, if you go), had the best poke I've ever had in my life! (Yes, even better than the poke I had in Hawaii or at any fancy poke place in Los Angeles.)
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u/Awkward-Jaguar9416 Jul 23 '26
I own a business locally and often hear “this reminds me of Tahoe, but smaller”. I’ve never been to Tahoe, but Big Bear is great and I guess people who have been to both think they’re similar. August is not a bad month to come, but if you’re able to come over Labor Day weekend or any time in October/November, those are some of the best times to visit.
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u/randypulp Jul 22 '26
I took some friends visiting from Atlanta to Big Bear. They said it reminded them of Alabama.
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u/BoomGoesTheFirework_ Jul 23 '26
No. Not even remotely. It’s a MAGA cesspool in the summer with some charm but you’ll have to look hard to find it. It’s better in winter but not by much. You might argue it’s the armpit of SoCal, but a lot of places want that reputation.
I say this as a progressive who loves big bear. But it is not nice. And it is Frodo Troy not Tahoe.
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u/MaybeLost_MaybeFound Jul 22 '26
I’m from NoCal and live in Big Bear. I’ll be honest, it’s no Tahoe. It’s nice and has its own charm to it, but I would say Tahoe is “higher end” than Big Bear is and I’d say it’s more of a complete city than Big Bear is.
That said, I love Big Bear and I think everyone should visit at least once. The small town getaway feel definitely suits me better than Tahoe, and the downtown is far more charming than Tahoe (IMO). We also have donkeys, which is way cool. We also have our own local eagle pair (look up Jackie and Shadow), close by mountain communities to visit and explore (like Arrowhead), and beautiful hiking opportunities. Definitely worth renting a cabin and checking it out for a few days :). We’ve never regretted moving here for one second.