Big Bear Mountain Resort

L.A.'s closest thing to an alpine escape, Big Bear doubles as both a winter and summer recreation area. During snowy winters, the resort's signature Snow Summit maintains miles of trails and lifts for all skill levels, while Bear Mountain caters toward snow sports. In the summer months, Snow Summit turns into a hiking and mountain biking destination, while Bear Mountain attracts golfers and leisure lovers. Big Bear is only about a two hour drive from Los Angeles, but the traffic snarls up in the winter when fresh powder seekers descend on the resort.