Big Bear Lake - Lagonita Lodge

[swift]

We will be meeting up with several family members the week of June 16th in Big Bear. We will be staying at Lagonita Lodge, www.lagonitalodge.com , while other family members will be staying at various other locations.

Any advice for the area? On our drive in we will have a stop over in Valencia and the kids will spend a couple hours in Magic Mountain before completing our drive up there. I am thinking another 3 hours from that point.

Should we grocery shop somewhere between Valencia and Big Bear? Is there a Costco somewhere in route? At some point during the week there could be as many as 18 of us. Family is coming and going all through the week.

 

[Rent_Share]

There's a Vons (Safeway) and Stater Bros, 2 of the 4 major chains in Southern California, across the street from each other.

Additionally there is a K-Mart

For Costco you would need to stop before you climb the 5,000 feet

San Bernardino, Redlands, Highland

 

[nightnurse613]

I'm thinking more than a couple of hours at Magic Mountain - roller coaster rides take up a lot of room and there are a lot of roller coasters. Additionally, the more popular ones frequently have relatively long waits AND summer vacation will be well underway! If I recall correctly, it was about an hour and a half to the bottom of the mountain (there is a secret path) and the drive up the mountain takes a while since there are frequently campers, RVs and trailers (plus plain, cautious drivers) on this WINDY, CURVY, MOUNTAIN road. I particularly like the fact that there is a boat dock right on the property (with rentals) - the indoor pool is nice (but pathetically small). They had a BBQ food sale (hot dogs, hamburgers) one day. Additionally, NO air conditioning in the units but (fans) there is frequently a nice breeze - especially in mid June. We were subjected to racoons on our balcony one night. I am sure you have checked out TripAdvisor but, we did go to the rescue zoo. The animals were interesting but we went mainly to support their work.

 

[Karen G]

Theresa, so good to see you on TUG again!! I don't have any info for you on this topic, but just wanted to say hi and your pictures are amazing! You look mah-velous!

 

[swift]

Thanks for the help everyone and thank you for the compliments Karen I feel GREAT !

I know Magic Mountain will be packed but since we are staying at a motel from Thursday to Friday very close by and the check in at Big Bear isn't until 5pm I thought we could drop off the kids, if I can call them that anymore at 21, 20 & 15, at 10:30AM when the park opened at let them have at it until 2:30 and then start to make our way up to Big Bear from there.

The curvy road doesn't bother me. I grew up in a mountainy area so I am use to it. Besides after next week when I am driving my school bus to China Town, SF and then again back to SF to the Steinhart Aquarium this will be a walk in the park!

 

[heathpack]

We will be meeting up with several family members the week of June 16th in Big Bear. We will be staying at Lagonita Lodge, www.lagonitalodge.com , while other family members will be staying at various other locations.

Any advice for the area? On our drive in we will have a stop over in Valencia and the kids will spend a couple hours in Magic Mountain before completing our drive up there. I am thinking another 3 hours from that point.

Should we grocery shop somewhere between Valencia and Big Bear? Is there a Costco somewhere in route? At some point during the week there could be as many as 18 of us. Family is coming and going all through the week.

There is a Costco in Santa Clarita (Valencia is part of Santa Clarita), probably about a 15 min drive from Magic Mountain. That would be your best bet since you are stopping in town anyway. If you are in town Sunday, there is a Farmers Market from 8:30-1pm at College of the Canyons. Albertsons is very close to Magic Mountain (on The Old Road) and their sale items are frequently competitively priced with Costco.

Not sure how you're planning to drive from Santa Clarita to Big Bear. Angeles Crest highway can be accessed from the 14 in Acton I think and is a slower but nicer drive than going down through the San Gabriel Valley and then the Inland Empire.

H

 

[nightnurse613]

It's been a while since we last went but, the Saugus Cafe is just south of Magic Mountain Parkway (as you head east). It enjoys a pretty good reputation. We make it a habit to stop in for at least one meal every trip (breakfast is my favorite). Of course, there are the usual restaurant chains along the parkway as soon as you make the turn out of the park and all along the north side of the MM Parkway (once you cross under the overpass). BTW, if you are not interested in going to Magic Mountain, you can drop your kids off at the ticket office and just have them call you when they are ready (don't have to pay the parking fee).