Big Bear Lake
Louie welcomes everyone to Big Bear Lake, CA. To the Serrano Band of Native Americans who were the first inhabitants of Yahaviat or Pine Place until it became Big Bear Valley, a grizzly bear like Louie was thought of as their great grandfather. For those who consider driving a sport, the drive to the Big Bear Valley which takes more than two hours from San Diego becomes a thrill past Highway 330 at Highland into the San Bernardino National Forest. Slow drivers are urged to use turn outs else a motorcade starts and ends four miles after into passing lanes. Some turn outs are overlooks or rest areas where one can discreetly take a leak. Highway 18 is not only sport for drivers, it is also a sport for road bicycle riders pushing themselves uphill at 7,000 feet elevation. Big Bear Lake is more like Lake Tahoe to me, a much smaller version since it is man made. The lake was created after a dam was built on 1883, almost forty ears af...