By Ethan Vo |
It’s that time of year again. The days are shorter, and the temperature gets colder. Wintertime is here and with it comes the vacation everyone looks forward to: Winter Break. If you are struggling to find fun activities to do to cure your seasonal depression or if you just want to experience the brisk winter air, here are some fun activities to check out this wintertime!
Big Bear
Being from SoCal, we usually do not get any extreme weather that dumps snow on us. Luckily for us however, we have the city of Big Bear Lake just an hour’s drive away that can satisfy anyone’s desire for snow. Every year, they expect a least one snowstorm that covers the town in a beautiful white layer of snow. People from all over of Southern California come in droves to experience snow for their first time. On your drive up you always see families parked on the side of the road throwing snowballs at each other, making snowmen, and even sledding down a snow-covered slope. But for those of you who are real adventure seekers, look no further than Big Bear Mountain Resorts.
In the city, there are a total of 2 mountains that are owned by the same company: Bear Mountain and Snow Summit. Together they combine for over 400 skiable acres of land, all for your stoke and enjoyment! Lower down the mountain, you can find Snow Valley, the third mountain that makes up what is known as the SoCal Trifecta. Combined they offer terrain suitable to all skill levels. No matter if you are getting on the snow for the first time, or are an experienced skier or snowboarder, the SoCal Trifecta has you covered!
Not a skier or snowboarder? No worries, Big Bear has multiple snow tubing park locations that will still provide a whole mountain of fun. Big Bear Snow Play & Ropes Course, Snow Tubing at Alpine Slide, and Grizzly Ridge Tube Park are all open during the snow season for all age enjoyment!
When it starts snowing, be sure to plan a trip up the mountain for some fun in the snow. Any hillside becomes a free attraction and activity that you and your friends can do. Just take any sled or even just large piece of cardboard and slide the hill. Sledding has been a Big Bear local favorite and will always continue to be. It’s always a mission to find the best sledding spots, and if you ask a local, they might just know.
Get out, build a snowman, get in a snowball fight with your siblings and parents, lay down in the snow and make a snow angel, and experience the cold refreshing air up in the mountains this winter.
Festival of Lights
One of California’s most visited Holiday events is Riverside’s own Festival of Lights that happens until January 7th. The renowned Mission Inn Hotel is decorated in 5 million lights to bring the festive cheer. Throughout the festival, there are many vendors are out giving you a chance to take home some holiday gifts or even some decorations.
Campus Riverside Business Crawl
Looking for something to do after New Year’s? Campus Riverside is hosting a Business Crawl of Downtown Riverside! Come out to experience the Festival of Lights, as well as get exclusive Campus Riverside discounts from businesses downtown. Happening on January 5th, it will be a great time to go out before the start of school and connect with others!
