I joined The Tim Wood Group at Coldwell Banker Mountain Gallery Realtors in January of 1999.  Having lived in Tempe, Arizona my entire life, moving up to the mountains of Southern California was a big leap of faith for me.  After graduating from Arizona State University, I gave my broker, Tim Wood, a 2 year committment and have never looked back.  I am happily married now with 2 children (with another on the way) and couldn't have picked a better place to raise a family.  Big Bear Lake is truly a wonderful place to live, whether it's full time like us, or part time like the majority of our owners who come from "down the hill" to enjoy the outdoors and get away from it all.                                                                                   

I am: 

At The Tim Wood Group, our goal is to demonstrate that professionalism truly exists in the real estate industry, and our committment is to prove this with every Big Bear real estate transaction we complete.  I look forward to meeting you and helping you with your mountain home search!                             

Big Bear Lake....A Four Season Resort Destination

(Click here to read a recent article written by Sam Samuels of the NY Times about Big Bear)

Winter:

(photo courtesy of The New York Times)  

When I think of Big Bear in the winter I automatically think of snowskiing/snowboarding at Snow Summit and Bear Mountain.  Snow Summit is the place for everyday skiers and riders at all skill levels who are looking for a family environment. They have night skiing on most Friday's and Saturday's and holiday evenings from 3pm to 9:30pm. Our daughter has an annual ski pass and she really enjoys boarding at Snow Summit.  Bear Mountain is geared more towards the high school and college snowboarders who enjoy extreme sports and the Superpipe. It is recognized as one of the most progressive terrain parks in the Country and is equally popular. 

Another winter activity my wife and I enjoy is snowshoeing.  We enjoy going over to the Knickerbocker Trail (right in front of the Knickerbocker Bed and Breakfast), or every once in a while we'll try Cougar Crest Trail.  If you like the outdoors and hiking, you should really consider giving this a shot.  There are tons of trails throughout the Big Bear Valley to go and explore.  Recently, Big Bear hosted the first annual Snowshoe the Bear event.  For more details click here.

Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain and Big Bear Snow Play both have excellent snowmaking systems for inner tubing thrill seekers. Each weekend you can drive by these two spots and see hundreds of excited kids enjoying the snow. 

Spring:

(photo courtesy of The New York Times)

This is the time of year to get out and explore the trails by foot, mountain bike or horseback.

Trails are abundant in the San Bernardino National Forest, most notable being the Pacific Crest Trail. The trails in the Big Bear region offer expansive views of the forest, wildlife and valley floor. Most trailheads are easily accessible and lead hikers to summits with outstanding panoramic views. A visit to the Big Bear Lake Visitor Center or the Big Bear Discovery Center provides hikers with every resource to plan a full day of hiking and picnicking.

I always enjoy The Farmers Market which reopens every April over at the Convention Center.  Every Tuesday throughout the Spring and Summer you can pick your own fruits and vegtables grown from California farms.  It's a great way to pick fresh healthy food at reasonable prices. 

For all you hardcore fishermen, The May Trout Classic is always a big hit.  Click here to find out more information about this great local fishing event.  Or if you just want to relax and take in the beauty of Big Bear Lake you might want to rent a pontoon boat or take a tour on one of Big Bear's tour boats (The Big Bear Queen paddelwheel boat, the Big Bear Pirate Ship).

Every May, Big Bear is the host to The Jeep Jamboree, a popular event which brings Jeep owners from all across the Country together to explore the trails of the San Bernardino Mountains. 

Summer:

(photo courtesy of The New York Times)

This is when activities in Big Bear kick into high gear.  Visitors can be found racing across the lake on waverunners or jet skis, kayaking or canoeing along the lake's coves and inlets, skimming the water on skis or wakeboards, or sailing with a little help from the constant lake breezes.

Meadow Park Swim Beach is open daily and has protected areas for children to enjoy Big Bear Lake.  There are areas to play volleyball, tennis and barbecue nearby by. 

The Holcomb Valley Trail Run is always a challenging experience for those who want to test their endurance and stamina.  I ran the 15 mile run a couple years ago and was very impressed at how well organized the event was.  The first pit stop I made along Cougar Crest Trail had homemade chocolate chip cookies and lemonade....you don't find that at the Los Angeles Marathon!  Truly a great experience that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys trail running.  Other notable trails to hike, bike or run are the Pineknot Trail, Champion Lodgepole Pine Trail, Castle Rock Trail, Sugarloaf National Recreation Trail, Grays Peak Trail and The Woodland Trail.  Or if you prefer not exerting too much energy, The Snow Summit Scenic Sky Chair is another great way to enjoy the panoramic views of Big Bear at 8200 feet. 

The Moonridge Animal Park is open daily throughout the summer. And adjacent to Moonridge Animal Park, golfers can get their "fix" at Bear Mountain Golf Course, open May through November; this 9 hole regulation course is located at the base of Bear Mountain Ski Resort.  

Big Bear Choppers Ride the Mountain, the Soroptomist Home Tour, The Discovery Center Gala, the Big Bear Fireworks show, the Antique Car Club Fun Run, the Renaissance Faire, and the Antique Wooden Boat Show all happen during the Summer time making it a great time of year to enjoy the mountains. 

Fall: 

The nice thing about living in Big Bear in the fall is seeing the leaves change colors and visually seeing the season change.  Back when I lived in Arizona the only season change was when it went from hot to really hot. 

I'm really excited about the first annual Big Bear Marathon which will be held September 8th.  Looking at the map, you start in The Village, you run around Big Bear Lake, you go through Fox Farm and up Moonridge over to Bear Mountain (that's miles 18 through 20 which will be the most treacherous), through Eagle Point and finish back in the Village. If you're a runner, this might be something to put on your calender. 

October in Big Bear is all about the Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest (click here to see a YouTube video about Big Bear's Oktoberfest), the highest altitude celebration in the United States.  This event has attracted thousands of visitors to enjoy German food, imported brews, Bavarian bands, traditional dances and competitions, such as, Queen Stein Carrying Contest and the Log Sawing Contest.  You'll find locals and vistors having a good time and doing The Chicken Dance. 

Other events held in the Fall include The Big Bear Lake International Film Festival and the October Trout Fest (the biggest fishing tournament in Big Bear).