A few weeks ago, Dan and I had the pleasure of spending the weekend at the Lagonita Lodge in Big Bear. It was a last minute trip and we decided that we wanted to try a new place.  Lagonita Lodge is a timeshare and many years ago, family friends were owners. My mom had stayed with them and really enjoyed the property. I always had Lagonita Lodge in the back of my mind as a good place to stay on the lake. When timeshare owners are not using the condos, they are rented as hotel rooms, which is what we did.

Lagonita Lodge is located right on Big Bear Lake, about a mile from the village, toward the North Shore. We left our car in the Lagonita lot and walked to the village so that we could enjoy the Le Dolce Vita Tasting Room, without having to worry about driving. It's a nice walk through a pretty neighborhood.

We were won over with the friendly clerks at check-in that handed us a welcome bag with toiletries, bubble gum and power bars. We were also given an activities calendar, something that we didn't realize was offered at the lodge. We didn't participate, but during our stay they had a pancake breakfast and a BBQ. Other activities on the list included crafts and movie nights. The property also has an indoor pool.

Our room was huge, with two bathrooms and a full sized kitchen. We had a very comfortable stay. My favorite part was the duck family that visited our porch in the morning.

My only minor complaint is that the heater was very loud. It was so loud, that we left it off while we watched television at night and we were uncomfortably cold. The fireplace is more for show, than it is for actually heating up the room. Although, just looking at it, the fire made us feel cozy.

You can fish on property.

It has been an unseasonably warm winter and we could only find this little patch of snow. Pitiful. The ski resorts were open, but the runs were very narrow and thin. I've visited Big Bear many times during previous winters and this was like nothing that I've ever seen. As we spoke with various store and restaurant owners, we really got a feel for how much the lack of snow is hitting their economy. Go to Big Bear and support them!

We walked around the grounds of Lagonita Lodge to take pictures. I loved the wood animal benches!

Finally, Dan took this beautiful panorama shot.

If you're looking for the perfect place to stay in Big Bear, make sure to check-out Lagonita Lodge. The location is fabulous and the rooms are spacious with all of the comforts of home. It's a great base for your Big Bear Lake adventures!