| The 2006 Winter Olympics have riveted | | | | Southern Californians, Lake Arrowhead also |
| Americans with the awesome vistas of the Italian | | | | boasts four utterly distinct seasons, including snow |
| Alps. If you're one of the many people who have | | | | on the mountains in winter-yet with daytime |
| added the Alps to their list of destinations to visit | | | | temperatures that rarely go below freezing and |
| someday, take heart. There are places closer to | | | | often reach 60 degrees Fahrenheit. |
| home that offer those same stunning vistas. One | | | | Things to do: |
| such place, in fact, is a short drive from Los | | | | Skiing. Lake Arrowhead's climate is perfect for |
| Angeles, in San Bernardino county: Lake | | | | skiing: just cold enough for snow, but rarely below |
| Arrowhead, California. | | | | freezing during the day. The most popular places |
| Lake Arrowhead has been called "California's Alps." | | | | to ski are Snow Valley and the Big Bear Lake |
| While the people of this community have all of | | | | area. |
| Southern California's famous warmth, the | | | | Blue Jay Ice Castle. A world-class ice skating rink |
| mountains, the pine trees, and the climate are | | | | often used by the premier American woman |
| totally alpine. Snowy but mild winters make for | | | | figure skater, Michelle Kwan. |
| some of the West Coast's best skiing. In the | | | | San Bernardino National Forest. The San |
| summer, Southern Californians escape here to | | | | Bernardino National Forest wraps around Lake |
| swim or canoe in the lake and breathe in the | | | | Arrowhead, ensuring that much of the area's |
| mountain valley's cool, clean air. | | | | natural beauty remains open to all, and protecting |
| Lake Arrowhead, California Real Estate | | | | the area from over-development. Wildlife includes |
| Close-to-home wonderlands like Lake Arrowhead | | | | the Southwestern Arroyo Toad, an endangered |
| aren't just great places to visit. Many people in | | | | species. Activities include camping, hiking, |
| tight real estate markets are finding that such | | | | horseback riding, and mountain biking. |
| places offer a unique opportunity for owning and | | | | Deep Creek Hot Springs: one of the most popular |
| investing in real estate. According to Lake | | | | areas of natural hot springs in southern California. |
| Arrowhead realtor Louisa Millington, owning your | | | | The springs are located inside San Bernardino |
| weekend getaway can save money over the long | | | | National Forest. You have to hike to the springs |
| term. In addition to any possible appreciation of | | | | themselves, but the springs and the surrounding |
| the property value, renting can provide | | | | canyon landscape are worth the relatively easy |
| investment income. In the Lake Arrowhead real | | | | trek. |
| estate market, you can rent not only to | | | | The Arrowhead Queen. See the lake area from |
| long-term tenants, but also to vacationers at | | | | the best perspective: the lake itself, on this |
| higher vacation rates. | | | | enclosed paddleboat. |
| If you check out the Lake Arrowhead (CA) home | | | | Lake Arrowhead Film Festival. The theme of the |
| prices, you'll find that prices are still more down to | | | | 2006 festival (May 5-7) is "The Future of Film In |
| earth than in much of southern California. | | | | the Digital Age - the newest in techniques and |
| What's most amazing is that if you're not a native | | | | services that bring strong and innovative |
| of Southern California, you may never have even | | | | movie-making." |
| heard of this place. Perhaps it's Lake Arrowhead's | | | | Shopping: Check out the Lake Arrowhead Outlet, |
| lower profile that has saved it from | | | | as well as specialty stores on the south shore of |
| overdevelopment, preserving its quiet beauty. | | | | the lake. |
| Lake Arrowhead Information | | | | VIP and Hollywood celebrity-watching. Lake |
| Climate: | | | | Arrowhead has been one of southern California's |
| According to UCLA, Lake Arrowhead enjoys "310 | | | | "playgrounds of the rich and famous" since at |
| days of sunshine." While that may not impress | | | | least the 1930s. |