We’ve all seen the postcard worthy fall color landscapes of European and East Coast destinations. But did you know these scenic views can be enjoyed right here in your own Southern California backyard?
Big Bear Lake invites you to experience fall in full color! From late September to about mid-November, the Valley’s oaks, aspens, and maples paint the forest with impressive crimson and golden hues. This time of year doesn’t last long, so take a look at some of the best ways to enjoy Big Bear’s fall foliage.
Big Bear – zipline
Take A Tour!
Hop on a Segway tour of The Village at Big Bear Lake! Manicured trees and flowers keep The Village looking Instagram ready in any season, but the changing leaves of fall make this downtown hub a special sight to behold. Fall Color Segway Tours with Action Zipline, Segway, and More begin in October and continue until the colors fade away.
Big Bear – Segway
Most of Big Bear’s touring experiences are available year-round and are especially popular when the leaves are changing. Book an action-packed off-roading Jeep tour and learn a little history while you navigate some of SoCal’s most popular 4X4 trails. Don’t forget the camera, you’ll want to record your off-roading feats and the gorgeous fall forest along the way.
If a slower pace is more your style, horseback tours and lake tours offer all the beautiful scenery at a leisurely pace. Guided horseback tours get you off the beaten trails and expert captained lake tours let you see the Valley from the center of it all.
If you’re up for a high-flying adventure, helicopter tours give you a bird’s eye view of the Valley forests and their changing leaves. With so many ways to take in the fall season, the only thing to do is book your tour before the season ends!
Big Bear – Oktoberfest
Autumn Fun
When the last leaf falls, there will still be fall fun for everyone to enjoy this season. Most notable of the events lineup is the Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest. Celebrating 50+ years of German tradition, the 2021 festival will offer limited capacity with indoor and outdoor seating every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through November 7. Guests can expect live music, traditional Oktoberfest contests, delicious brats, sausages, sauerkraut, German pretzels, strudel, and an array of German beers and more. Guests are also urged to take advantage of a shuttle to and from Oktoberfest free of charge.
Big Bear – leaves
Sam Rice
Big Bear Alpine Zoo is open year-round with animal presentations and talks to share the work they do as a wildlife rehabilitation center.
Big Bear – trail
Sam Rice
Head out on a smartphone guided scavenger hunt with Urban Adventure Quest or Riddle Routes. Solve riddles, find clues, and put your mind to the test with a team of family members or friends. Use code word LEAVES for a discount on the Riddle Routes hunt.
Big Bear – leaves and bikes
Sam Rice
Enjoying Big Bear’s autumn season can be as easy as renting a bike for the day from Goldsmith’s Sports or Bear Valley Bikes. Both expertly staffed sport shops can direct your outing based on your interests and ability level. Rental bikes range from cruisers, to full suspension mountain bikes, to e-bikes, and more.
Big Bear Lake is a hub for freshwater fishing but some may not know that fall is a prime fishing season. Rainbow trout – Big Bear’s most notable fish – thrive in colder environments and are therefore more active in the spring and fall months. These trout feed heavily on insects and other bugs near the water but such grub isn’t available with the colder temperatures leaving trout hungry for something to munch on. So ready those lures!
Big Bear – fishing
Last but not least, a fall getaway in Big Bear isn’t complete without taking full advantage of seasonal lodging specials. Find the perfect home for your vacation at BigBear.com and follow the link to ‘Fall Into the Most Colorful Season of All’.
Looking for more information? Call the Big Bear Lake Visitor Center ahead of your arrival to get even more activity and event ideas for your Big Bear Lake fall getaway.
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Studio S
SEPTEMBER 11, 2026
Vi at La Jolla Village – Senior Living in the Heart of Everything
At Vi at La Jolla Village, residents don't have to choose between security and adventure, connection and independence. They get all of it.
Today’s seniors are more connected than ever, with a renewed focus on retirement as a time of discovery and enriching experiences. The ultimate reward for a retirement well-earned is the wisdom to appreciate it all, and what better place to enjoy that unique perspective than Vi at La Jolla Village, in the heart of San Diego.
All-access pass to good living.
As a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC), Vi provides access to a connected and fulfilling community while making it easy to plan for future care, should the need ever arise. With a care plan in place, residents enjoy greater financial predictability and long-term value, freeing them to focus on making the most out of retirement.
Resort-style amenities at the epicenter of a cultural hub like San Diego offer a retirement experience unlike any other. Paired with exceptional dining, spacious accommodations and dedicated staff, the best of maintenance-free living is all around. And with the introduction of Vista 360 Well-Being, Vi’s panoramic approach to wellness, there are more ways than ever for residents to access it all.
The harmony of mind, body and community.
Courtesy of Vi at La Jolla Village
The key to longevity is striking the right balance in maintaining an active lifestyle with an active mind in a fulfilling community. With newly renovated community spaces and restaurants, Vista brings a variety of opportunities for residents to elevate their well-being through Vi-exclusive “Signature Experiences.”
Vista Enrich takes an evidence-based approach to brain vitality, keeping residents at the forefront of cognitive health through exergaming (exercising + gaming), nutritional plans and informative workshops. It is also home to The Brain Vitality Studio, an innovative facility dedicated to cognitive fitness that has garnered national recognition.
Vista Discover invites residents into stimulating educational experiences, from chef-led cooking demos and guided wine tastings to lectures at local universities and intimate lectures following cultural outings.
While Vista Enrich focuses on brain health and Vista Discover engages residents intellectually, Vista Explore cultivates a sense of adventure through curated travel and local excursions. But broadening one’s horizons doesn’t always require a plane ticket. One recent event brought a taste of the world right to the community: an onsite “jazz cruise” featuring live music and global cuisine served at a series of themed “ports” all within the community’s own ballroom.
“Location, location, location”
Courtesy of Vi at La Jolla Village
One of the biggest perks of life at Vi at La Jolla Village is its proximity to just about everything. With easy access to transportation and local attractions just steps away, residents can explore and engage with their community at their own pace.
“There are trolley and bus stops within a 5-minute walk that will get you to the beach, UCSD Campus, medical appointments, downtown La Jolla or San Diego, et cetera. We rarely use our car,” said resident Tom Yager.
With the best of San Diego just steps away, residents don’t just live in the city, they live within reach of everything that makes it special.
The best of all worlds.
Courtesy of Vi at La Jolla Village
At Vi at La Jolla Village, retirement isn’t a chapter to slow down; it’s an invitation to discover more. Tailored community experiences created by Vista, paired with the vibrant pulse of San Diego just outside the door, mean that residents don’t have to choose between security and adventure, connection and independence. They get all of it.
This is what an all-access pass to good living looks like: the comforts of an elevated lifestyle, a community built for growth and a city made for discovery – all in one place.
To learn more about Vi at La Jolla Village or for details on available floor plans, visit ViatLaJollaVillage.com/SDM.
NewBridge School is San Diego’s only school dedicated to the education of students with dyslexia and related learning profiles. For 30 years we have successfully served students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, receptive/expressive language disorders, ADHD, executive functioning and memory deficits. Students transition successfully into academically rigorous high schools and colleges across the country. Why NewBridge? Training, training, training (plus intensive individualization, and comprehensive program design). All teachers are trained and retrained biennially in Orton-Gillingham, the only approach proven to remediate dyslexia based on Science of Reading research, and complete a year-long training program. Every aspect of our program is designed around our students’ learning styles and needs. Every class is taught by a highly-trained expert, and our Speech/Language and Occupational Therapy teams embed throughout the day. Our multisensory, multi-tiered math program has been developed in conjunction with sister schools and experts across the country. Don’t wait—early intervention is magic!
The Children’s School (TCS) is an independent school in La Jolla working with students from toddler through eighth grade. Rooted in the belief that every child has unique strengths and limitless potential, TCS provides a joyful, challenging education that inspires curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning. Experienced teachers know each student well and create meaningful opportunities for academic, social, and emotional growth through personalized instruction and hands-on, interdisciplinary learning. A culture of respect, inclusion, and collaboration encourages students to ask questions, take thoughtful risks, and develop a strong sense of responsibility to one another and the world around them. At TCS, learning extends beyond the classroom through meaningful connections with the local community and natural environment. Graduates leave TCS with a strong academic foundation, a sense of purpose, and the character to thrive in high school and beyond as engaged learners, compassionate leaders, and thoughtful citizens.
Enrollment: 240
Grades: Toddler – Grade 8
Tuition: $10,800 – $34,000
Deadline: Priority Application & Tuition Assistance for new students: Feb. 1, 2027
Gender: All-inclusive
Details Progressive, independent school. No religious affiliation
Growing up, Laika Nur, MD, Scripps Clinic sports medicine specialist, loved watching beach volleyball when the Association of Volleyball Professionals tour came to her hometown of Chicago. A talented volleyball player herself, she remembers sitting in the stands all day, and once, even got a couple autographs. Years later, Dr. Nur was attending a professional event focused on women’s sports, and the discussion turned to a new professional women’s volleyball league. The general manager and coaching staff for San Diego’s team, the Mojo, happened to be in attendance, and Dr. Nur took the opportunity to ask them if they needed a team doctor. Flash forward to the Mojo’s inaugural 2024 season, when Dr. Nur officially became the team physician. Click here to read more about Dr. Nur and how she incorporates lessons she learned on the court into her practice.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
Your feet and ankles probably aren’t something you give much thought to—until something goes wrong. Orthopedic surgeons at Scripps Clinic are on the leading edge of foot and ankle reconstruction, treating patients with sports injuries, deformities, traumatic injuries and other conditions. That includes repairing torn Achilles tendons with a minimally invasive procedure that shrinks the incision site to less than a centimeter, and performing advanced ankle replacement on some patients with ankle arthritis. Read more about Scripps’ innovations in foot and ankle care here.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
Mai Vue was just 34 weeks pregnant when she delivered her baby. Her pregnancy had been complicated, and she’d had a recent second trimester pregnancy loss, which led to her receiving specialized care from Sean Daneshmand, MD, a Scripps Clinic perinatologist who oversees high-risk pregnancies. Dr. Daneshmand and his team took care of Mai during her pregnancy, through the birth of her healthy baby girl and beyond. Mai was part of a program Scripps launched to provide support to new moms in the weeks and months after delivery. The postpartum program, known as Scripps Health’s Fourth Trimester Continuum of Care, provides care for women with high-risk pregnancies to optimize their health after childbirth and reduce the risk of complications in future pregnancies. Click here to learn more.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
