Snow-Filled Big Bear Adventure Weekend

One of the things I love most about San Diego is that we’re just a few short hours from so many amazing weekend road trip getaway spots! One of our favorites is the Kopitch cabin at Cienaga Creek Ranch in Big Bear, CA. We went for a visit a few weeks ago and totally lucked out with the weather — thanks go being at an elevation of 8,200 feet, it snowed over a foot on us!

My favorite thing about Cineaga Creek Ranch is that they’re completely off-grid. Everything is powered by the sun and there’s no cell coverage or internet. Now, some of you may be horrified at this but I implore you to think about how relaxed you could be without the need to look down at your cell phone every few minutes! Being there is proof that life can go on — and is immeasurably better — without a constant connection to everyone and everything. Well, until I want to google something important (like 90s song lyrics) and then a slight panic sets in.

The cabin we rented sits on 10 acres all by itself and is completely leash-free. There, it’s peaceful beyond measure. The only sounds we heard were our boots crunching down the powder as we broke trail, our laughs as Roxy tried to dig up all the best sticks ever (most were still attached to bushes currently buried in the snow), and Roxy’s woofs and howls of joy.

Roxy adores the snow. She would happily be outside in it all day long. And, really, I can’t blame her. I love the snow, too. Growing up in the northeast, I thought when I moved to San Diego, I’d be happy to never seen snow again but I was wrong. I miss it terribly — but possibly because when I visit the snow, I don’t have to shovel it.

We were all sad when it was time to head home, but thanks to 4WD and our snow-rated tires, it was an easy trip out from the cabin and down the mountain. It was a beautiful day when we left, so we rolled down the windows and breathed in all the crisp fresh air we could fit into our lungs.

It was just such an amazing weekend away, filled with beautiful landscapes, home-cooked meals, warmth from a roaring fire in the wood-burning stove, and time together with the best little family I could ask for.