Big Bear Lake earned serious bragging rights in 2025: USA Today crowned it the #1 10Best Lake in the U.S. and #3 Best Lake for Water Sports. With accolades like that, it’s no wonder this alpine retreat tops our travel list, too. The big buzz? Hotel Marina Rivera, a lakefront gem that recently received high praise from both Sunsetand Travel + Leisure magazines.
Boutique-style Hotel Marina Rivera breathes new life into a vintage 1968 lodge, blending retro mountain aesthetics with contemporary sophistication. Casetta Hotels transformed the space with clever design choices—think cozy textures and alpine nostalgia reimagined for modern travelers who appreciate style.
Year-round amenities include a heated pool, hot tub, barrel sauna and multiple fire pits along the water’s edge—ideal for unwinding after hiking with your pup. Lakefront views come standard in the main lodge, where select rooms also feature gas fireplaces for extra coziness. Bringing the whole crew? “Third Wheel” rooms offer flexible sleeping with queen beds and twin bunks, while six standalone cabins across the street accommodate larger groups of six.
De La Nonna, the property’s Italian restaurant, is the alpine sister outpost of a Los Angeles standout. Wood-fired pizzas are served in the resort’s open-air dining space, which happens to be Big Bear’s exclusive lakeside restaurant. Your four-legged friends will approve of all those outdoor tables!
