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Shopping With Kate
in Big Bear

"A Breath of Fresh Air"

The slogan for the city of Big Bear, Calif. could not be more true than in the sweltering summer heat of the high desert. Are you near heat exhaustion from day after day of scorching temperatures? You need to escape to the local San Bernardino Mountains.

More than Extreme Sports

If you are looking for extreme sports or a relaxing getaway, then Big Bear might cross your mind. This westerly mountain community’s snow-capped peaks beckon Combat Center skiers and snowboarders. However, it may not have occurred to you that this quaint community is an ideal spot to peruse boutiques, window shop at galleries, explore antiques and see local artistry displayed on store floors. Let me assure all of you discerning shoppers that Big Bear is worth the trip!

Recently, one of my favorite shopping partners (known to me as mom, but to others as Barbara) and I headed up to Big Bear for a nice day of lunch, visiting and as usual… shopping! We were able to find convenient public parking on Baretlett Road, just one block over from the main shopping paradise called The Village on Pine Knot Avenue. Like some of my other shopping adventures, The Village is a quilt of shops. Each store is a new fabric: individualized clothing boutiques, cafés creating culinary delights, artisan shops specializing in everything from wood furniture to intricate gourd designs...

village This is not the place to visit for designer stores; however, many of the stores carry name brand items. The assortment of brands displayed makes each store a unique treasure. My first find was at Schoettger Gallery. While looking at the shop’s collection of display cases and wall décor, I saw a Jim Shore Noah’s Ark birdhouse; a perfect birthday gift for my mother in-law. She loves birdhouses, she loves the story of Noah’s Ark and she loves Jim Shore collections. This was a sure buy! I was thrilled to find that the store offers a 25 percent discount to military families. The sweet grandmotherly cashier even thanked me several times for our service to the country.

As we casually walked through several more stores, Barbara and I stumbled upon a unique pet store with an assortment of leashes and pet accessories. Barbara asked the women working in the store if they had any super tough dog toys. She explained that her grand-dog, Kala, loves to tear toys apart. The women introduced her to a dog toy that had been tested and approved by a tiger. The toys in the store were rated on a scale of one through 10 in durability, with level 10 having passed the tiger’s testing. Barbara decided on a purple octopus rated at level seven.

Shopping Intermission

We took a shopping intermission to rest our feet and feed our tummies. We decided to eat at Stillwells Restaurant located inside the Northwoods Resort. We both chose the Teriyaki Salmon Salad, what we like to call “girl food” and my husband likes to call “rabbit food.” After our wonderful and filling meal, we hit the streets again. At the trendy and reasonably priced boutique, The Clothing Stop, I purchased colorful ballet flats and a frilly spring blouse. Beautifully colored items and soft flowing fabrics filled the displays. At the next store, Mill Creek Trading Company, Barbara pointed out a collection of gorgeous pink conch jewelry.

We finished our tour of The Village’s array of stores and returned to the car. As we drove down Bartlett Road toward Big Bear Lake, we saw a little park. A small playground and a thin beach area make this park a great place to visit before your drive down the mountain if you take children with you on your Big Bear shopping trip. Don’t wait any longer! Plan your escape from the high desert and enjoy a cool mountain breeze in Big Bear, Calif.

Happy Shopping!

Information:

The Village - Big Bear, California
(located on the south side of Big Bear Boulevard on Pine Knot)

Hours of Operation: Vary for each Store

Online Shopping:
www.bigbear.com/shopping.php