When the skies are sunny, the kids are out of school and we’re all in the mood for a break from work, it’s time for a family reunion! Invite everyone on your family tree to meet up at the Grey Squirrel, and enjoy all that Big Bear has to offer. From fishing and shopping to hiking and eating, there’s something for everyone. It’s easy for people to break off and do what interests them, and then gather the group together at the end of the day.

At the Grey Squirrel, we can accommodate groups of any size. Our cabins sleep from two to 14 people, and we can reserve as many as you like, helping you select ones in close proximity so it’s easy for siblings, cousins and grandkids to wander back and forth between each other’s living rooms and kitchens. Plus, our spacious grounds and multitude of barbecues make it easy to bring the group together outside.

There are a couple events next month that might be just right for your family. You could time your trip around the Fishin for $50K competition June 9-10 — and you’ll get free event registration when you book at the Grey Squirrel. Or maybe your group would enjoy checking out the JazzTrax Summer Music Festival from June 22-24. Whether your trip coincides with these events or not, we’re sure you’ll have a great time up in Big Bear!

Learn more about the upcoming events here:

http://www.bigbear.com/things-to-do/special-events/fishing-for-50k-trout-tournament/

http://www.jazztrax.com/jazz/bigbear.html

Here you can see the rock facade on our "Mink" cabin.

We love winter snow, but we also look forward to the spring and summer, when the weather becomes perfect for us to tackle our latest improvement projects at the Grey Squirrel. Our biggest undertaking this year will be finishing off the rock facade project we started last year.

Last year we got through seven cabins with this upgrade, and this year we’re tackling seven more — Fox, Coyote, Possum, Cougar, Elk, Squirrel’s Nest and Moose. The rocks we’re using are real native rocks individually scavenged for our project. They’re covering the lower portion of the cabin exteriors on either a front or side wall, which gives our cabins a more multi-dimensional look. Any additional layering we can put on our cabins also protects the wood of the cabins during snowfall and offers more insulation.

Here's the rock facade on "Gopher".

We’ve got some other projects in store as well this year: New carpeting in two cabins, a new shower in one, a new couch in another, and tile work in two of them. In April and May we also start getting the swimming pool ready for guests to use; it usually opens in mid-May and we keep it heated at 80-84 degrees all summer long. We hope you’ll come up and visit

so you can check out the upgrades we’re making!

Spring in Big Bear

Spring Break is right around the corner, and Big Bear is the perfect place to visit.  You truly get to feel the transition between seasons, with the ski lifts still open while the daffodils and the crocus plants on our grounds start to pop up.

Our daffodils are very hearty as they often get snow from a Spring storm

Aside from skiing and snowboarding, springtime visits to Big Bear can also be great for fishing. Our fishing season usually starts in April, weather permitting. The lake is typically very full in the spring with all the snow melt from winter, and it’s great to get a line in there at the start of the season. Nature also usually brings us great stargazing for Spring Break visitors, as we often have very clear nights this time of year.

The Big Bear Discovery Center is a great resource for activities; they frequently host nature walks and also offer a storytime for little ones and animal tracking lessons as well. If you stop by our front desk we’re always happy to give you ideas and directions for events and activities all around the mountain, such as visiting the Moonridge Animal Park, which always has something fun to see!

Spring is a time when nature is waking up and beginning to blossom, and Big Bear is a beautiful spot to feel connected with the new season. We hope you’ll let us be your home base while you explore everything the mountain has to offer!

Big Bear is a place of inspiration for many. The size and age of the trees can put many of our daily problems into perspective. The clear view of the nighttime sky makes it simple to wish upon a star. The constant lapping of the lake’s waves can be soothing and reassuring. Nature is a very strong presence up here, and it’s easy to draw vitality and strength from it.

Perfect tranquility for an icy plunge

So we were very happy to hear that the Special Olympics of Southern California is hosting a benefit event here on March 10 to raise much-needed funds. The Polar Plunge will bring supporters racing into Big Bear Lake — to whatever depth and for whatever length of time they like. We’re happy that Big Bear Lake, which brings a feeling of peace to so many, will be a place of support and strength for such a good cause.

The Grey Squirrel has already committed to sponsoring one of the plungers participating on March 10, and we’d like to do more. So, the next five event participants who stay with us when they’re up here for the Polar Plunge that weekend will each get a $50 pledge donation from us to support their efforts toward this cause, upon check-in. Just mention this post when making your reservation!

Learn more about the event here: http://www.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=486100

It doesn’t have to be Valentine’s Day for there to be love in the air in Big Bear! Our community offers a stunning setting for weddings all throughout the year. A lakefront wedding is stunning during the summer months, with the clear blue water and tall green pine trees providing an incredible natural backdrop. In the winter, the snow is spectacular, and the trees are beautifully dusted with it.

The Grey Squirrel is the perfect place for your guests to stay. We’ve got 19 cabins at our main resort, which sleep from 2 to 14 people. We can reserve as many as you like, and group them close together for you. We’ve also got 18 private vacation homes located within a block or two of our main resort, which sleep from 2 to 15 people.  The cabins are spacious, with kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms, and for those looking for even more room, the private vacation homes offer the space of a full house.

Once your guests are here, you won’t have to worry about them. Our grounds include a playground for kids, a basketball hoop as well as a net for badminton/volleyball, a heated pool and jacuzzi for summertime visitors, lots of snowman building space for winter visitors, and more. Plus, since all our cabins and homes have a complete kitchen,  food won’t be a problem (there are also 21 barbecues here as well!)

For the newlyweds, we’ve got five vacation rental homes with great lake views: The Boulders, Bayshore Lake, Moose Bay Lodge, Hagey’s Haus and Brewers. You can see photos of them on our website: www.greysquirrel.com.

So if you’ve got an engagement ring on your finger this Cupid’s Day, think about Big Bear and the Grey Squirrel for your big day. The setting will be beautiful, peaceful and natural — a great environment for new beginnings.

If you’d like to get a taste of winter snow, but you’d prefer to do it from the warmth of the indoors, the Grey Squirrel is the perfect place to cozy up for a couple days. Our cabins include kitchens, family rooms, dining tables, bedrooms… you’re not going to get the cooped up feeling of being in a hotel room, and every time you glance out the window you’ll see a blanket of the white stuff.

Big Bear has Blockbuster and Redbox locations where movies can be rented, and each of our cabins has a DVD player and new flatscreen TV. In the Village, the Big Bear Book & Bean has great used books — each of our cabins has a couch and armchair, along with a fireplace, and you can curl up for a good read. If you bring up some board games, the dining table in your cabin is the perfect place to play. If you forget, you can borrow a deck of cards from our front desk.

If you venture around our grounds and collect a few pine cones, you can bring them back into your cabin’s kitchen, pop them onto a baking sheet lined with foil, and bake them in a low 200 degree oven for about half an hour. This will melt the sap, eliminate any stickiness, and give the pine cones a lovely shine, making them the perfect souvenir. Check out ideas from the Pine Cone Lady to create crafts and more from your pine cones: http://PineConeLady.com/#axzz1k6i9JRox.

Even if you’re not a skier, even if you’re not big on cold weather, you can still enjoy the snow this winter season. Aside from everything we’ve mentioned, Big Bear also has two movie theaters and a bowling alley — lots of choices for all of the indoor-types out there!

If summer vacation seems a long way off, and you’re worried about travel destinations being packed over Spring Break, then don’t wait for your getaway — come up to Big Bear the weekend of Feb. 4-5! That weekend will be a great one for a visit, and here’s why:

First off, Winterfest is going on in Big Bear. It’s a brand new event presented by XOS Productions that will kick off Friday evening with a tented DJ concert. Saturday’s events include free entry from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. with food, music, vendors, interactive games, snow play, and activities for kids. The Rail Jam will run from 3:30-7 p.m., it’ll be a battle of the sexes snowboarding contest, and a tented DJ concert will finish the day from 5 p.m. to midnight.

After a busy day at Winterfest on Saturday, you’ll be happy to relax on Superbowl Sunday — and you’ll be glad you’re at the Grey Squirrel. Every single one of our cabins has been recently outfitted with a new flatscreen TV, perfect for watching the game. Each cabin also has a fully equipped kitchen, so you can whip up your chips and guacamole, or seven layer dip, or chili, or whatever your family’s tradition is. If the barbecue is what you love, we’ve got 21 of them, all ready for you. All in all, you’ll have all the comforts of home while still being able to get away.

Call us at (800) 381-5569 to book now. Learn more about Winterfest — and purchase concert tickets — here: http://xosbattleofthesexes.com/events-3/xos-winterfest-2012.

Many students have a full two weeks off for winter break, and while a few lazy days at home are always nice, we know the time together goes more smoothly when there are activities planned that everyone enjoys. We’ve been there, we get it, and we can assure you that Big Bear is a destination everyone will be happy to spend a couple days at. A few ideas of things to do:

A Luge for all family members

Take the plunge and try the Greatest Zip Lines

Get everyone out in the snow. Our grounds are perfect for building snowmen, making snow angels or having snowball fights, and the area right behind us offers great sledding potential if the snowfall is heavy enough. For skiers or snowboarders, we’ve got discounted lift tickets to Bear Mountain and Snow Summit (some restrictions may apply during the holiday season.) Being outside in the snow burns off an incredible amount of energy, and your kids probably won’t even realize all the exercise they’re getting, but you can be sure they’ll sleep soundly through the night!

Lazer Tag, Bumper Tag, Roller Coaster

If you’ve got shoppers in your family, The Village is the place to be. There’s shops and restaurants galore — from pizza to fudge, from home decor to clothing — you’ll find it all at The Village. If you’re here before Christmas, you’re sure to find some last-minute gifts. If you’re here after the holiday, great sales on seasonal items are a given.

Other activities can be found at the Bowling Barn, or the movie theater, or at Alpine Slide, which features miniature golf, go-carts and bobsleds. You can also cozy up in your cabin at the Grey Squirrel with a movie, board game, or a good book — we have fireplaces in every cabin so you’re sure to be comfortable.

Cruise the village area on a rented Segway

Just two nights away can make a big difference to the holiday memories and perspective that your kids take back to school with them in January. Call us today, and we’ll find the right cabin to suit your needs.

Gathering a group for a ski trip creates an experience everyone will remember for years to come. Whether it’s made up of family, friends, classmates or coworkers, you can be sure that a ski trip will get everyone out of their ruts and routines and into an amazing shared experience.

Here at the Grey Squirrel, we’ve got deals to help make your ski trip more economical. Stay with us during the week, and we’ll give you 25 percent off your lodging and ski lift ticket. Book with us on weekends, and receive 15 percent off your lodging and lift ticket.  Mention this blog post, and receive AN ADDITIONAL 10 PERCENT OFF on top of those discounts! These deals are good through the winter, and lift tickets can be used interchangeably at Bear Mountain and Snow Summit. We’re not fans of hidden fees and sneaky catches, so there is only one caveat to this deal, and we’re very up-front with it: at least half the occupancy of the cabin needs to be purchasing the ski lift tickets. So, if you’re staying in a cabin that sleeps 14 people, and only one person is purchasing ski tickets, we cannot apply the discount to that cabin.

We have cabins and vacation rental homes to fit groups of all sizes, from two to 15 people. If your group is larger than that, we’ll work with you to reserve multiple cabins that are close together. For example: Mink, Squirrel’s Nest, Brewers, Plum Ticket and Pappy’s Place are close to one another and can accommodate a total of 68 people. Whether you’re a high school or college group, a collection of neighbors and friends, or planning a family reunion — we’ll make your home-away-from-home just right for you. We also offer a close by Mountain Transportation Bus that provides easy access to slopes.

Call now to make your reservations! We’ll make the process easy, and you and your group can start planning the other details of your trip — like who’s driving, and who’s in charge of bringing movies and board games along!

The calendar may say fall, but it sure feels like winter already in Big Bear! We’ve got snow on the ground early this year. Bear Mountain and Snow Summit are both open for business already; this may be one of the earliest winter season starts our ski resorts have ever had!

When people hear there’s snow, they always think of skiing. Big Bear has some of the best slopes in the state, in our opinion, and is definitely the place to head for Southern California skiing. At The Grey Squirrel, we have discount ski packages available when you book with us, along with Zipline and Segway Tour packages. Because — oh yes! — there are lots of other activities that you can do in the snow besides skiing! Snowboarding, tubing, snowmobile rides and snowshoeing all offer excitement and the chance to experience the season in new ways, and we’re happy to assist you in selecting the right options for your stay.

Of course, nothing bonds a family like building a snowman together, or having a good-spirited snowball fight. Our grounds at The Grey Squirrel lend themselves perfectly to both activities, with a large open area as well as lots of trees. There’s also an area just behind our resort that is perfect for sledding if the snowfall is heavy enough.

So you see, snow means more than just skiing (although the skiing is great!) There’s something for everyone, with all sorts of outdoor choices that can help your family get out of their daily ruts. We hope to see you soon!