Pilot’s
Retreat in the Pines
Sky-trek on up for a quick, mountain get-away! Cozy, 3-bedroom chalet is available in Big Bear City. Soar in with your sweetie or pack the plane with the tots. Come for a weekend of romance or loads of family fun. The rental is ideally located: only a quick hop from airports in Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego. You’ll fly in from above Big Bear’s sparkling, blue lake and tall pines to touch down at the Big Bear City airport which is, literally, walking-distance to the doorstep of your accommodations.
Put your bags away in one of the well-appointed, charming bedrooms. Chalet will sleep 8, in all. That is, if you felt like sharing in the first place! Either way, you’ve escaped and still managed to find all the comforts of home. Look around. Feel the welcome of wood-beamed ceilings and picturesque views from each window. If you brought Fido along, let him loose outside in the fully-fenced yard. Send the kiddos, if you brought them too, upstairs with some board games. Let them ‘unplug’ for awhile and enjoy some fun from a simpler time. Of course, you might be really clever and it’s just the two of you. In that case, skip a couple of those instructions and get down to it!
Now, it’s your time. Unpack your suits. Turn on the spa and soak. From the deck, watch the other planes landing and taking off. Raise a glass. Toast those other fellow travelers: the lucky ones like you, just arriving, and those whose turns are ending until next time. Linger till the stars wink on above you, twinkling through the canopy of pines. By now, you’ve finally shed the city far below. You’re thinking about tucking everyone in (if you have to) and building a fire in that inviting, brick fireplace. You can’t wait to get comfy and start planning the rest of the weekend—or not making any plans at all, for that matter.
Fast forward to bright and early the next morning. Admit it, you messed up. Should have left the kids with grandma. Somebody is bouncing up and down on the bed and they want to know what’s for breakfast. Well, the good thing is, in the kitchen there’s nice appliances, a large pantry and loads of counter space. At least, you can keep some costs down and not eat out every meal. There’s a washer and dryer, too; so, no searching for a landromat. And, once everybody’s fed, Big Bear—in any season—offers tons of fantastic activities and events.
Get ready. Here’s the list ( and it’s just a partial): if it’s spring, summer or fall, you can ride horses, mountain bike, fish, boat, hike, do water slides, mini golf, real golf or take the scenic skychair up the mountain. If it’s winter ( boy, are you gonna have a blast), you can ski, snowboard, snowshoe, cross-country ski, tube, snowmobile or take the little ones to the snow park. Big Bear boasts two highly-rated ski areas: Bear Mountain and Snow Summit. If you haven’t got your own gear, you can rent right at the mountain or at plenty of spots around town.
Big Bear has it all. She’s got her natural charms, of course: crisp, clear air, about 300 days of sunshine, on average, a lovely lake and stunning panoramas. Big Bear is also a terrific community, hosting great events like the Air Fair, Oktoberfest, jazz festival, Old Miner’s Days, the May Trout Classic, and Big Bear Pirate Faire. Plus, there’s the Moonridge Zoo and Discovery Center, the solar observatory and performing arts center.
But, maybe, I don’t need to tell you all about it. You’re returning to Big Bear, like dropping in on an old and dear friend. You know all about the great facilities at the Big Bear City Airport: hangars, tie-downs, car rentals, plane maintenance and detailing services, self-service fuel and Unicom services. What you’ve just discovered, though, is your next, great escape—a mountain idyll, waiting just for you. Don’t delay, book today!