When you thing of San Diego and Souther California, you probably think of year-round sunshine and beach trip right? Well, what a lot of people don’t know is that you can find snow just 1 to 2 hours away from the beach in San Diego.
We took a trip to the mountains last weekend and it was only a 45 minute drive to the prettiest winter wonderland! Coolest part? We were at the beach the day before. Where else are you able to hit the beach and the snow in less than a 24 hour period?
Here’s a list of my favorite places to find snow in So-Cal and what to expect at each of them!
Big Bear
If you’re looking for a ski town- Big Bear is your spot. About 2.5 hours away from San Diego (about the same drive from LA), Big Bear is known for Snow Summit. Snow Summit has a little something for everyone- bunny slopes for beginners to high slopes for those pro snowboarders and skiers. There’s also places to go tubing for kids (or you can just find a hill and skip the fee), a local zoo and several restaurants, lounges and a bowling alley.
If you’re heading to Big Bear, I highly recommend looking into a cabin near Snow Summit. Book early as prices go up during peak season and this is usually a local’s go-to destination for some fresh powder!
If you’re heading to Big Bear, I highly recommend looking into a cabin near Snow Summit. Book early as prices go up during peak season and this is usually a local’s go-to destination for some fresh powder!
Lake Arrowhead
I can’t believe how long it took me to go to Lake Arrowhead- we made our way up there in November and it is beautiful. We stayed at the Lake Arrowhead resort which overlooks the lake and had the most amazing views from our room. There’s also several small restaurants, breweries, etc. in the town. Skypark is also open for fun snow activities- they have sledding, snow shoeing, ice skating and more.
Lake Arrowhead may just be our favorite little town to visit during the winter and we are planning to make it back out before the winter season is over. Quaint little town and perfect for an off the map getaway.
I recommend staying in Lake Arrowhead for a few days to really get to experience all the beauty it has to offer!
Julian
Craving apple pie or a delicious stack of apple pancakes? Julian is your spot. Julian is known for their apple pie all throughout Southern California. In addition to having delicious apple pie, they also have several homestyle cafes that serve up delicious breakfast. We love Julian in the fall and So-Cal residents rush to Julian as soon as the weather cools down. There’s plenty to do- with bed/breakfasts in town, wine tasting, seasonal apple picking and mining- it’s been a go-to destination since I was a kid.
If you are planning to head up to Julian for a snow day and some apple pie, I highly recommend hitting the road EARLY in the morning. Getting up the mountain can take hours, restaurants fill up quickly and yes- they do run out of pie!
I love Julian because they have plenty of things to do for a full day of activities for the whole family.
Mount Laguna
We recently took a trip up to Mount Laguna for the first time and loved it! It was so gorgeous with desert backdrops behind the snowy mountains and was just a skip and a hop away from home (okay, sorta). About 45 minutes away from San Diego’s beaches in East San Diego, you’ll find Mount Laguna.
We left at 7 a.m. to beat the crowds and hit no traffic heading up the mountain. Other than a cafe or two, mountain goers are likely just heading up for a day of sledding and snow fun. About half a day at Mount Laguna will give you your snow fix and then you can head back to your regular San Diego beach activities in the same day. Crazy right??
Anyways, I highly recommend going up early as when we left around noon, there was a crazy line to go up the mountain and they were regulating how many cars can make it up! There’s limited parking and a one way street in Mount Laguna so you don’t want to get caught in that crowd.
Whichever destination you choose, be sure to plan ahead, head out early and prepare plenty of snacks and a change of clothes for the kiddos for the car ride home.
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