Big Bear Discovery Center — Attraction in Big Bear Lake

A nice big nature center with plenty to do! On top of that, it's a FREE activity! There are a handful of rooms to explore inside with things typically found in natures centers: taxidermy, a couple live animals, rock, etc. They have a coloring station inside which is pretty cool too... parents get a much needed rest and break from the sun while the kids color. Inside, there is an Adventure Outpost and gift shop which we didn't partake in... but I was impressed with their vintage looking plush Woodsie Owl stuffed animals. There is a small museum in here too.

Outside there is a very cool area with different activities for the kids. I will say, it wasn't very kept up and almost every station felt more like... "Ah... that must have been cool when it first opened"... but there are a couple things that are still useable. Mostly different places to play with natural looking blocks. But also a rope spider web to climb on, some black boards and chalk, and polls to make structures out of. Lastly, we did the little half mile nature hike which was cool. We saw lots of those little lizards that run away as you walk by and many cool looking flowers and plants. It felt a lot hotter than it was on a not very hot day outside... so I can imagine this getting pretty brutal on seriously hot days! Maybe do this part first and then do the indoor...

I think their customer service is dismal and horrifyingly impolite. I called about find information about our camp site or where we could go to find information.

When we asked to find out what we could do or if we could change plans, a female at the front desk responded with, "I don't know." When we asked to speak with a supervisor, she responded, "I don't have one" She didn't give us a number, didn't take our number, no email, no can you contact us back at a certain time. She displayed such poor character and customer service.

Big Bear is a beautiful place! I absolutely love it. The biodiversity is fantastic. But as for the Big Bear Discovery Center customer service representatives, I think they should go through extensive training. They seem to lack the proper knowledge in their department, lack kindness, and have ZERO problem solving skills.

We called at 3:36 pm on Thursday, April 27, 2017.

But as for the volunteers, they were so much more helpful than the people that actually get paid to do their job. Jim was great! So skip the front desk because they...

The center is located on the north side of Rim of the World Byway (Route 38) on the north side of the Big Bear Lake. Hours of operation vary, and they are only open from 0900 – 1600 hours daily and closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. The center is the lynch pin for a variety of activities and educational programs centering around the local environment and history of the area. Inside you will find interactive and interpretive displays, hands-on activities and daily guided tours (usually two a day). There is a gift shop, information desk, picnic tables, restrooms and conference room inside the main building. Outside you can take in a free guided tour along a short natural trail, which is very easy and informative. There is a amphitheater, which is used to host the Music in the Mountains concert series and an interesting children’s nature discovery zone. There is plenty of parking available including RV parking. Finally, this is a fee-based parking lot, so do not forget to display a valid recreation pass anytime you park...