Big Bear Lake is in the San Bernardino mountains, about 2 hours northeast of Los Angeles and thanks to my brother and sister-in-law we enjoyed an unforgettable weekend at their place.  The weather was perfect, the girls and their friends headed to the snow to learned how to snowboard while Chris and I explored the area.  We drove around Big Bear Lake, making stops at a wood carving shop, Big Bear Discovery Center and several designated areas to view the lake and wildlife.