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 9, 2026
Meet ArtsConnect, UC San Diego’s Invitation to SoCal Arts Lovers
ArtsConnect brings those experiences into view, helping residents discover what they can see, hear and create at UC San Diego while experiencing the campus in a new way.
Ask most people what UC San Diego is known for, and the arts may not be the first answer. Yet this fall, San Diegans can watch Ghostbusters with a live orchestra, try their hand at glassmaking and wander among more than 20 works of public art woven throughout the university’s La Jolla campus.
ArtsConnect brings those experiences into view, helping residents discover what they can see, hear and create at UC San Diego while experiencing the campus in a new way.
Courtesy of UC San Diego | Photo Cred: Erik Jensen
“The arts are at the heart of UC San Diego’s student-centered mission and vision,” says Alysson Satterlund, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Campus Life. “Whether creating, participating in, or experiencing performances, the arts are essential to a healthy and truly fun Triton student experience.”
That invitation often begins where the arts intersect with other fields.
“Some of the most innovative work and discovery happen where disciplines don’t usually share a stage,” says Cristina Della Coletta, Dean of the UC San Diego School of Arts and Humanities. “So through our unique intersection of the arts with science, technology, and medicine, we are improving lives, physically and emotionally.
Take The Inaudible Ocean, a collaboration between Department of Music Professor Lei Liang and Scripps Institution of Oceanography Assistant Project Scientist Josh Jones. Over eight years, the pair recorded earthquakes, ship noise, whale songs and other sounds in remote underwater locations. They transformed those recordings into a live music experience that allowed audiences to hear the ocean in an entirely new way. The work premiered on campus in May and continues to evolve.
The arts also connect the campus to the global art world and diverse perspectives. Chief Campus Curator Jessica Berlanga Taylor recently curated the Mexico Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale, featuring RojoNegro, the collective formed by Noé Martínez and María Sosa. The collective will unveil a compelling new permanent installation for UC San Diego’s celebrated Stuart Collection later this fall.
ArtPower offers another easy entry point, bringing touring performers to venues including the outdoor Epstein Family Amphitheater and the intimate Loft. The nearly three dozen performances featured through its 2026-2027 season span music, dance, film, theater and conversation.
Among the fall highlights is Ghostbusters in Concert on Sept. 25, pairing the beloved 1984 film with a live performance of Elmer Bernstein’s score. Tickets start at $35, and the amphitheater is located next to the UC San Diego Blue Line trolley station.
“Every member of our community should have access to world-class art, so we work hard to remove the barriers that stand in the way,” says Colleen Kollar Smith, executive artistic director of the Campus Performances and Events Office. “That means affordable ticket prices, and performances, voices and experiences where people see themselves reflected on stage and know they belong.”
The arts at UC San Diego are not only something to watch. The Craft Center offers public classes and workshops in ceramics, jewelry, woodworking, culinary arts and even surfboard shaping. At the new Glass Center, beginners and experienced makers can explore glassmaking through classes, demonstrations and studio experiences.
Whether you want to attend a performance, make something yourself or spend an afternoon exploring public art, there is an easy way in. And the invitation extends well beyond students and alumni.
Kollar Smith says it best: “Visit, participate, spectate or create. You’re invited, and we hope you’ll connect with us soon.”
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.
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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.
It’s estimated that one in five people in the U.S. will develop skin cancer at some point in their lives. When you factor in living in a sun-soaked city like San Diego and the outdoorsy lifestyle that comes with it, that figure can jump to as high as one in three, which makes early detection and intervention all the more important. Dermatologists at Bighorn Mohs and Dermatology Center are using innovative imaging methods and advanced surgical techniques to diagnose and treat skin cancer. For certain cancers in sensitive spots, like the face, dermatologists perform Mohs surgery, removing skin tissue layer by layer until reaching healthy, cancer-free tissue. They also use a process called immunohistochemistry to view tissue samples taken during Mohs surgery in far greater detail than previous methods. Read more about how Scripps is advancing skin cancer care here.
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When endurance athlete Isaac Sanchez learned he had cancer, he felt blindsided. He was healthy, surfed often and was training for an Ironman triathlon. But he had to put that on hold to undergo treatment. His physicians at Scripps Cancer Center developed a plan to treat the cancer in his tonsil and lymph nodes that included six-and-a-half weeks of near-daily radiation and weekly chemotherapy. He also worked with a Scripps Cancer Center dietitian to enhance his nutrition to promote strength and healing. Today, Isaac’s back to doing what he loves. Read more of his story here.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
