| It's not hard to see why Lake Arrowhead | | | | a reminder of why the Lake Arrowhead |
| has always been popular with the movie | | | | area has been chosen as a backdrop for |
| stars - it's close to Los Angeles, yet | | | | so many motion pictures. There also is a |
| light years away in attitude. The people | | | | special kids trail that shows what |
| with money are here, all right, but | | | | various animal paw prints look like. |
| there is also an element of small-town | | | | Of course there are still more trails |
| America, complete with families and, | | | | just a few miles further into the |
| yes, even family values. | | | | mountains where the Big Bear Lake resort |
| We were walking the waterfront trail in | | | | community offers many recreational |
| front of the Lake Arrowhead Resort and | | | | activities of its own. There are dozens |
| ran into one of the town fathers - a guy | | | | of lodging facilities in the area as |
| whose job it was to walk some 20 miles | | | | well - many more than Lake Arrowhead - |
| around the lake, checking to make sure | | | | creating a different atmosphere and |
| the trails were not only passable, but | | | | experience altogether. Big Bear has more |
| pristine as any semi-exclusive enclave | | | | activities and lodgings; Arrowhead is |
| ought to be. He talked about the movie | | | | quieter, more residential and quite a |
| stars who live in Arrowhead as everyday, | | | | bit easier to reach from Los Angeles. |
| good people. He talked about his | | | | While looking through the local |
| daughter winning the national water-ski | | | | magazines, we noticed an ad for a place |
| championship, and how water-skiing was | | | | called Wildhaven, a ranch devoted to the |
| followed just as closely here as | | | | rehabilitation of sick or injured |
| football or basketball might be followed | | | | animals. It's not the kind of place you |
| in the Heartland. | | | | can just drop in, pay your admission and |
| Well, okay, Lake Arrowhead is not | | | | see the animals. You have to call ahead |
| exactly Des Moines, Iowa. But it does | | | | of time and find out when they are |
| have a small-town feel - in a Southern | | | | scheduling their presentations and tours |
| California kind of way. | | | | - which usually is on weekends. |
| We went to Lake Arrowhead to spend a | | | | Wildhaven is well worth this little bit |
| weekend at the newly renovated Lake | | | | of extra hassle. Located just three |
| Arrowhead Resort, the biggest and | | | | miles from the Lake Arrowhead Resort, |
| best-located resort in the area that has | | | | the drive takes you into some |
| just taken a quantum leap in its overall | | | | "backwoods" residential areas, then |
| appeal to getaway travelers. Prior to | | | | through the forests and up some hills |
| the recent renovation, the resort was | | | | until you come to an area that was |
| getting a little tired and starting to | | | | devastated by fire in October 2003. It's |
| show its age. But it's amazing the | | | | here on a hillside that Wildhaven |
| things you can do with $17 million -- | | | | directors Roger and Diane Williams saw |
| the resort's undergone a total | | | | their facility greatly damaged by the |
| transformation. | | | | fire and have since rebuilt the 30-acre |
| All of the 173 guest rooms were re-done, | | | | compound to house a variety of animals |
| along with the restaurant, bar and spa. | | | | indigenous to the San Bernardino |
| New swiveling plasma TV's, walk-in | | | | Mountains. |
| showers and just an overall sense of | | | | The Williams offer a complete |
| luxury and class are evident in the | | | | presentation in a small theater where |
| guest rooms. Some of the rooms have | | | | they bring out various small creatures |
| gorgeous views of the lake; others look | | | | and explain where they came from and how |
| out on the alpine forests. The new | | | | they are progressing in their |
| restaurant, BIN189, also is at least a | | | | rehabilitation. Most interesting are the |
| notch or two better than its | | | | personal details that Diane provides |
| predecessor, partially due to the | | | | about how, as a little girl growing up |
| efforts of Stewart Redhead, the new | | | | in a troubled home, she found that |
| executive chef who was trained in New | | | | animals helped give her solace and a |
| Orleans before serving in the same city | | | | reason for living. She knew then that |
| as Executive Chef of the W Hotel. | | | | caring for animals would be her |
| It's no wonder that June Lockhart makes | | | | life-long work. |
| the Lake Arrowhead Resort her home when | | | | Many of the animals at Wildhaven will |
| she visits her childhood haunt of Lake | | | | not be able to re-enter the wild because |
| Arrowhead. Her friend Peter Henry is | | | | they may have limited physical ability - |
| General Manager at the resort, the | | | | such as a bird's inability to fly - or |
| latest in a series of upscale lodgings | | | | because they have become too |
| where he has presided. | | | | domesticated. During one demonstration, |
| Aside from the obvious charms that come | | | | the resident mule deer was eating out of |
| with a mountain lake plopped in the | | | | the trainer's hand and showing no fear |
| middle of a scenic forest, Lake | | | | of the group of human onlookers. As |
| Arrowhead has a fun business district | | | | Roger explained, "he wouldn't last an |
| called the Lake Arrowhead Village. Not | | | | hour during hunting season." |
| your typical shopping center, the | | | | Owls, raccoons, bobcats, coyotes, eagles |
| village somehow combines high-end | | | | - there were plenty of species to |
| boutiques with tourist shops and | | | | observe during our visit. Especially |
| carnival rides to appeal to just about | | | | entertaining were the two black bears |
| any type of person who may visit. It's a | | | | doing their tricks and playing in their |
| five-minute walk from Lake Arrowhead | | | | bathtubs while visitors watched from |
| Resort to the village, where you can | | | | just a few feet away outside their cage. |
| also find several different eateries | | | | All and all, this proved to be an ideal |
| and, in the warmer months, listen to | | | | family activity that was both fun and |
| live music in a fairly elaborate concert | | | | informative. |
| area. While we were there, the Rockit | | | | Wildhaven is just another reason why you |
| Scientists kept the crowd rocking as | | | | might consider Lake Arrowhead for your |
| they swigged micro-brews just footsteps | | | | next family vacation. There is plenty of |
| from the dance floor. | | | | luxury and ambiance for the adults, but |
| To get an even better view of the lake, | | | | it's also a chance to visit the Great |
| visitors can board the Arrowhead Queen, | | | | Outdoors - and teach your kids a little |
| a Louisiana-style paddle-wheeler that | | | | bit about how it all got there. |
| takes guests on a 50-minute tour of the | | | | AT A GLANCE |
| lake. On a busy summer day, you'll see | | | | WHERE: Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear are |
| lots of small boats, many of them towing | | | | located about two hours east of Los |
| water skiers. And, it's fun to look at | | | | Angeles and reached by driving a scenic, |
| the expensive waterfront homes and | | | | albeit curvy, highway northeast out of |
| imagine what it would be like to have a | | | | San Bernardino. |
| lake in your backyard. | | | | WHAT: Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear share |
| There also are plenty of hiking trails | | | | the same woodsy feel and plunging winter |
| in the Lake Arrowhead area - trips of | | | | temperatures. Arrowhead is smaller, a |
| various lengths and degrees of | | | | bit quaint and is a quiet romantic |
| difficulty. The lake is at 5,100 feet | | | | getaway. Big Bear offers a larger city, |
| elevation and is nestled in a forest of | | | | but many more choices for dining and |
| pine, cedar and dogwood that give way | | | | lodging. Both offer a variety of shops |
| occasionally to excellent views of the | | | | and boutiques. |
| San Bernardino Mountains. A very easy | | | | WHEN: Year-round. The shoulder seasons |
| trail to start with is at the Heap's | | | | are less crowded, but both summer and |
| Peak Arboretum, easily accessed on | | | | winter are popular because of the area's |
| Highway 18. This half-mile interpretive | | | | many outdoor activities. |
| trail identifies some of the 2,000 | | | | WHY: A complete contrast from the |
| species of flora and nearly 400 species | | | | Southern California climate and |
| of fauna found in these picturesque | | | | lifestyle, yet just an hour or so from |
| mountains. You'll enjoy views that offer | | | | balmy places like Palm Springs. |