With the pandemic and lockdown, we couldn’t go out as much. However, we decided to spend a weekend in a cabin at Big Bear for a change of scenery. A mini weekend getaway was what we needed. Even though we could have done outdoor activities, we wanted to be on the safe side and mainly have a break from our usual weekend routines. It’s also great to see snow again, especially since it doesn’t snow in Los Angeles.
The drive to Big Bear wasn’t bad at all – we started the drive towards Big Bear on Friday afternoon and came back Sunday morning. We took Nancy’s Lexus RC, and it was a fun ride even though it involved a lot of braking along the sharp curves. Big Bear is a great place to visit year-round, with endless activities to partake.
dealing with covid-19
Traveling during a pandemic isn’t the easiest, especially with staying at a rental. It is important to be cautious with how you handle things in the beginning. We found comfort by spraying aerosol disinfectant and wiping down all surfaces with disinfectant wipes. Our goal was to have a relaxing getaway, which was still achieved by hanging out in the cabin and staying away from strangers.
homecooked meals
You don’t always have to eat out when you’re traveling. Due to the current conditions, we thought it was best to make some home-cooked meals. Thankfully, our cabin was furnished enough to allow us to heat up our meals. We kept our meals simple, thanks to Trader Joe’s! We cooked up some dumplings, orange chicken, honey walnut shrimp, and some vegetables for dinner. For breakfast, we had a simple but delicious smoked salmon bagel with brie cheese and micro-greens.
Our lunch on Saturday consisted of a charcuterie board. Charcuterie boards don’t need to be expensive. The key is to assemble a diverse mixture, so your palette isn’t overpowered by a certain taste. You’d want a good mix of meats, cheese, snacks, fruit, crackers, jam, etc. We kept ours simple – we wanted to limit the number of leftovers we had. We loaded our trip up with different varieties of Sauvignon Blancs and Cabernet Sauvignons. You can’t go wrong with wine from Marlborough.
indoor activities
There are lots of options when it comes to indoor activities during a trip. We watched the NFL playoffs (go Rams!), continued binging Kim’s Convenience (highly recommended), and played some card games. Sometimes, you don’t have to do the most to make the most out of your time. Big Bear is such an accessible place that there isn’t pressure to explore the town compared to more remote cities.
Did you have any getaways during the pandemic? If so, where did you go, and how did you stay safe? Let us know!
Such a delicious little plate!
have an amazing weekend my friend,
Tiziana
http://www.tizianaolbrich.de
Sounds like such a nice stay!
I can’t wait to book just a weekend somewhere when I can as it will be so nice to have a break away!
Love Lozza x
http://girlygabble.com
Great post! Thank you for sharing this! It sounds like a lovely getaway! I went to a caravan in the summer last year and it was really good!
It’s nice to read a post about a getaway! My hubby is high risk so we aren’t taking any chances until we’ve been fully vaccinated. Thanks for sharing!
Unfortunately I’ve not been able to travel or leave the house at all due to shielding and being in lockdown for most of the year but I love reading people’s travel posts and experiences and nice to hear so many still be able to travel a little and stay safe too.
A trip to a cabin sounds absolutely wonderful – we’d love to be able to do that right now! Sadly we’re completely locked down again, but I completely agree that home cooking and finding fun activities indoors are a great way to make the most of the time 🙂 thanks for sharing!
Your responsible and conscious getaway is so inspiring! It is entirely possible to travel safely and a weekend getaway is a wonderful way to do it. I wish I had some place like Big Bear near to me . . . Your home-cooked meals all sounds delicious, especially your breakfast bagels. I love a good bagel!
Kudos to card games! I love games like Five Crowns and Karma, though some people in my house have taken to playing poker every evening. There is something for everyone in cards. 😆
Thanks for sharing!
A change of scenery is so important! Especially nowadays 🙂
This looks like a great way to enjoy a little getaway in the middle of all this. We’re lucky in that we both LOVE camping and we live in a province where there is a wide variety of different campgrounds and provincial parks to explore. That really has been the one thing that has helped me to keep my sanity over the last year – getting out for a weekend here or there and leaving the stress and anxiety of everything behind.
Ahhh how fun!! I’m so jealous you got to get out town and enjoy some snow. I liked that even though you went out to enjoy yourselves, you were still being safe!
Charcuterie boards are so fun! They’re even more fun when alcohol is present. Love how you guys did you charcuterie board by the way. Glad you two lovebirds had a safe & fun getaway to Big Bear! Looking forward to more weekend adventures 🥳
That platter looks absolutely scrumptious! It is crucial to find ways to still have fun and enjoy some quality time together despite all of the C madness. Hope you guys are doing well xx
Naya
http://www.nayatilly.com
Great post! Thank you for sharing this!
Such a delicious plate! I really miss travelling…
https://uncuaderno4cero.wordpress.com/
This looks like such a lovely getaway! Can definitely appreciate getaways like this a lot more since Covid.
This place looks so right! I’d love to do this.
Glad you had a great weekend getaway.
I was on the road before Covid. Going home aint an option any more so I stayed away. Yeah of course i got stuck in Kenya for 4 months, had to isolate in The Balkans and am now in Mexico. Keeping myself to myself. Keeping myself safe. Learning to live with it!
Best wishes Nomadic Backpacker aka Trevor
True, keeping it safe and eating at home is the best way when traveling. I started watching NFL as well haha.
That sounds like an amazing little get away. I love cabins! Especially when they don’t have much cell signal. So nice to unplug! That charcuterie board looks amazing. That, a good book, and some cards and I’d be a happy camper! I’m glad you enjoyed your get away!
It’s so good that you have been able to get away! I am missing travelling around, here in the UK we can’t go anywhere at the moment that isn’t essential travel. However, a few months ago, was lucky enough to go to a cabin break. They are just relaxing, aren’t they?
Love the charcuterie board you guys made…looks delicious!
Thanks for sharing your trip 🙂
Aimsy xoxo
Aimsy’s Antics
Sounds like a lovely time at Big Bear! It’s definitely good to go on a trip in nature, especially where there aren’t much people. I agree that we don’t have to do so much to truly enjoy time together with our loved ones. Just to spend time together and to be doing things you love together is enough. Thank you for sharing with us!
Anna Jo | http://www.helloannajo.com
Looks like you had a lovely time! I haven’t been able to travel during the pandemic but hope things change soon and I can go on a trip xx
It looks like you had a great time – and the food was a plus for sure! I’ve never been to Big Bear and want to visit one day x
Oh it sounds like a nice and safe going away.
The cabin looks adorable and your charcuterie board looks so delicious.
xx
Margot
https://troughthepasturesofthesky.com
That charcuterie board looks amazing! 😍 What are the green things in the middle? Maybe I should make this next weekend.
I have always wanted to go to Big Bear! The scenery looks so beautiful! The food you made sounds so delicious too!I’m glad you both had a good time! Thanks for sharing 🙂
We had a few staycations last summer, once restrictions had lifted, and I’m hoping we can do the same again this year. Travelling abroad is off the agenda for now, but the upside is we get to see more of our own country instead. That cabin looks gorgeous, the perfect weekend getaway!
This was a great read and it sounded like a lovely getaway <3
Jessica | http://www.overdressedblogger.com
It’s great that the trip was successful. The charcuterie board looks amazingly appetizing.
Aw! I’m so glad that you had a great time. I love that you cooked your meals. I totally am too lazy to do that when I travel Lol! I have yet to have an Airbnb/hotel getaway but I’ve been camping! I’m hoping to head out camping soon. Thanks for sharing x
http://www.lynnmumbingmejia.com
This sounds like such a lovely little getaway! I’m so jealous haha x
I’m so happy to hear the two of you were able to get away for the weekend! It really does feel so good to get out of the house after spending so much time at home in the past year. I’ve never been to Big Bear, but I want to go! That charcuterie board looks absolutely delicious. I love watching Kim’s Convenience too! It is so funny and sweet. Hope you had a good weekend!
Jill
https://jilliancecilia.com/
Your getaway sounds cool! Love your charcuterie board!
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
Staying active and keeping yourself occupied is highly important during these turbulent times. Glad you relaxed and had a good time
https://lookingfabulousat50.blogspot.com/
What a lovely weekend! I also would have gone for a charcuterie board; easy to assemble but an elevated yummy. And I love Kim’s Convenience! Great show to binge on a weekend.
That cheese board looks amazing!
xx- Nina
http://www.stylingwithnina.com/2021/01/my-first-pair-of-designer-shoes-tips-on.html
This looks like so much fun and it seems like you had a great time! I’m really looking forward to when we can travel more freely again.
Tash – A Girl with a View
That’s so good you managed to get away for a bit! Unfortunately over here there’s a complete lockdown so we can’t travel at all, I have been binging a lot of Kim’s Convenience though and I’m loving it!
It really does save so much money when you can make some meals while away from home. I have used Trader Joe’s many times when on vacation as well. They have so many fun and fairly healthy options.
Sounds like you had a really nice time! I do love the mini holidays where you go stay somewhere and just get to fully relax and enjoy the company you’re with. The food you made sounds amazing! We’re not allowed to travel anywhere at the moment, other than the area you live in for a bit of exercise each day but I am very much looking forward to being able to go away somewhere soon! x
Your getaway sounds so lovely and cosy! And that antipasto board looks incredible! Here in the UK we’re in another lockdown so I won’t be able to travel anywhere for a while, but I’m glad I managed to getaway last year when the restrictions were temporarily lifted x
Hi Nancy and Mario. It sounds like you had a great time – thanks for sharing with us. Sometimes its nice just to have a change of scenery, isn’t it? We haven’t managed to get away anywhere for a while due to the lockdown restrictions here. What card games did you play? I used to play a lot of Texas Hold’em but haven’t played for some time now …
Looks like a lovely little getaway, I can’t wait to book one for myself when I can!
We got away a couple of times during the break in lockdowns in the UK but only to the town where my in laws live so that my kids could see them! Would have loved to get away to somewhere like this though!
The charcuterie board looks delicious and it seemed like you ad a great time! Can’t wait to get some time outside London. Hope you get to repeat it soon x
We’re glad you had so much fun on your weekend away. That Charcuterie board looks amazing.
It must have been so nice to get away! It feels like forever since I’ve been anywhere thanks to the pandemic. It’s great that you could drive there and stay in your own cabin to reduce the risk rather than taking flights and hotels.
Sophie
It sounds like you guys enjoyed a beautiful, low-key weekend at Big Bear (which I’ve always wanted to check out & am yet to make it!) This combination of the cabin nested in a snowy backdrop with well-paired food & wine, fun entertainment & good company… okay, I’ve practically just dreamed myself into your weekend story 🙂 Glad you could figure out a nice getaway – so tricky at the moment!