California Road Trips - 2020 - 12

ROAD TRIPS 2020

DISTANCE: 131 MILES * STARTS: LOS ANGELES

Explore urban gems en route to a mountain escape
nowflakes and ski hills
lure Big Bear's winter
visitors, but the rest of
the year, this Southern California alpine getaway is prime for
hiking, biking, and lakefront fun.
Big Bear's 6,750-foot elevation offers big benefits-cool
temps, a shoreline rimmed with
pines, and dozens of trails. Hike
up Castle Rock Trail for close
encounters with massive granite
boulders and peeks at the lake,
or mountain bike along Skyline
Trail's vista-filled single-track.
Work up a sweat, then cool off
with a swim around China Island.
Big Bear is located just a
few hours east of Los Angeles
International Airport, and this
itinerary features some fascinating attractions en route. Stop
along the way in Pasadena,
where you can park your car
and walk from one museum to
another. See works by Rodin,
Rembrandt, and Renoir at
the Norton Simon Museum,
discover Finnish folk art at the
Pasadena Museum of History,
and tour prizewinning American
Arts and Crafts architecture at
the Gamble House. Across town
at the Huntington Library, stroll
120 acres of meticulous gardens,
then go indoors to view rare
books and art.
Head a few miles east to
pick up your own rare and
common cacti or succulents at
the California Cactus Center in
East Pasadena, then continue
on to Arcadia, where you can
wander the Los Angeles County
Arboretum's paths feature freeroaming peacocks, a waterfall,
and the cottage made famous by
the TV series Fantasy Island.
Back on the freeway, cut
south to the college town of
Claremont. Sample duck tacos
and grilled pears at Bardot, then

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12 | VISITCALIFORNIA.COM

drop into the Claremont Museum of Art to view Millard Sheets'
colorful California landscapes.
In nearby Ontario, get schooled
on all things California at the
California Welcome Center, then
linger for browsing at Ontario
Mills' 200-plus shops.
Continue a few miles into
San Bernardino County to
Redlands, a city built on citrus.
Sweet navel oranges fostered
vast Victorian wealth, grandly
displayed in ornate "Marmalade Mansions." Tour the 1897
Kimberly Crest House, a French
chateau with formal Italian gardens, then sample Hangar 24
Brewery's orange wheat beer.
Departing Redlands, snake
through a twisty ascent on
postcard-vista roads to Big
Bear Lake. Sleep in comfort
at The Club at Big Bear Village,
then zip over to Boulder Bay for
a morning kayak paddle.

BIG BEAR
LAKE

Pasadena
Museum of
History
Gamble
House

LOS
ANGELES

L.A. County
Arboretum

Ontario
Mills

California
Cactus
Center
Huntington
Library

RIVERSIDE
Claremont
Museum of Art

Kimberly
Crest
House

Pacific
Ocean

WORTH A DETOUR
Go for a cruise: Hop on the Lake
Arrowhead Queen, then soak in
a tub at Lake Arrowhead Resort
and Spa.
Photo opp: Rain or shine, 400
brightly colored umbrellas form
a canopy over Redlands' Orange
Street Alley.
Stare at the sun: Reserve in
advance to
AREA OF DETAIL
see the world's
largest solar
San
Francisco
telescope at
Big Bear Solar
Los
Angeles
Observatory.
San
Diego

THE GOOD BRIGADE/OFFSET

L.A. to Big Bear Lake

Norton Simon
Museum
http://www.VISITCALIFORNIA.COM
California Road Trips - 2020

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