Thars Gold in Them Thar Hills - Gold Mountain Manor in Big Bear, California by Kim and Don Tatera
Thars Gold in Them Thar Hills - Gold Mountain Manor in Big Bear, California
Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com
To read this entire feature FREE with photos cut and paste this link:
http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/hotels/calif/gold/gold.html
Big Bear City has been a four-season mountain paradise ever since Southern California's largest gold rush way back in 1885, caused when William F. Holcomb was hunting and accidentally bagged gold.
Book The Gold Mountain Manor With only 21,000 permanent residents and numerous visitors, it's hard to believe that Big Bear is located only 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles, and yet, it is a world of difference.
Whether you come up the 6,574-foot elevation to where the air is crisp and clean for snow, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, or just enjoying the quaint shops and fresh air, Big Bear is the place to be. Their Department of Tourism certainly has their catch phrase nailed dead on: It's cooler up here. Luckily, not everyone can live in Big Bear, so visitors can discover gold themselves by staying at the beautiful Gold Mountain Manor Bed and Breakfast. It's a welcomed slice of heaven with seven bedrooms spread around 6,000 square feet in a historic log mansion built in 1928 and gracefully set on an acre of Ponderosa Pine high in the mountains of Southern California.
Gold Mountain Manor is certainly no fool's gold.
Trish and Jim Gordon, the innkeepers and owners of Gold Mountain Manor, along with their two people friendly, furry, four-legged kids, Cappy and Mat, are there to make your stay romantic and relaxing. As you lead your pack mule or whatever up the steep, curving stone covered driveway, you will spy a gorgeous wood shake roofed log cabin that beckons you to visit, relax and want to come back again, and again.
The chunks of red granite that comprises the large wrap around front porch columns and house foundation, along with the well-oiled logs that were carefully erected into a three-story retreat take you back in time to when life was simpler. The feel of this lodge, with well-crafted antiques, hardwood floors, soft earth tones, and warm plaids, welcomes you to enjoy a cool glass of iced tea and laze away a summer afternoon watching the squirrels scamper to and fro as the intoxicating smell of pine needles wafts through the air.
The one acre grounds are very well landscaped and easily worth a meandering tour. Although a number of ponderosa pine trees were recently cleared away thanks (?) to bark beetle infestations, hollyhocks, irises, and daisies were in bloom as humming birds squeaked and danced in the air from flower to flower. Whether you want to crack the binding of that new book or find just the right place to be alone, you don't have to look too far: areas are amid the rustic swings, nestled on a hammock built for two, or out in the warm mountain sunshine on the white Adirondack chairs. Don't worry about the dreaded bark beetle, since there are still many towering ponderosa pine trees scattered among the lush green grass clearings. (Editor's note: the devastating 2003 fires spared Gold Mountain Manor, although some of those pines are now gone.)
Planning a large wedding, small picnic, or just stealing a little naptime? The expansive grounds at the Gold Mountain Manor are the perfect place for all of these options.
Above: The den, complete with pool table
and beautiful forest views.
Below: The living room with comfy couch,
piano and desk.
Indoors, it's much easier than breaking your back panning for gold to find a number of places amid the 6,000 square foot log cabin for relaxation and romance. Throughout, you will spy bird's eye maple floors and exposed beamed ceilings and numerous period antiques to cozy up to and nosh on a warm, freshly baked cookie, no matter what season of the year. In the living room, a Kimball player piano caught my eye and required further investigation after I read the guest books filled with lavish praises. Creaking wood floors, comfy overstuffed chairs and lodge décor invites guests to make ones self at home in what I'd certainly call the real thing. Soak in the atmosphere, watch the large screen television, or test your luck on their antique nickel slot machine, but the large game room is perfect for relaxing after a day laboring in the gold mine, hiking, or skiing on the nearby slopes. Warm your bones by one of many real wood-burning fireplaces, either in the game room, your own suite, or in the antique filled living room.
In your room, therapeutic aromatherapy milk baths built for two are the perfect place to share a bottle of champagne with that special someone, as the bubbles float around your luxury suite. It's a guarantee that no matter where you go throughout the Gold Mountain Manor, a flock of charming antique bird houses or lit accent candles will easily be found. It's no rumor; some birdcages even have captive monkeys, so see if you can find them while soothing music is piped through hidden speakers in the public areas tantalizing your ears.
To read this entire feature FREE with photos cut and paste this link:
http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/hotels/calif/gold/gold.html
John Ross, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com
About the Author
Kim and Don Tatera, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent. Join the Travel Writers Network in the logo at www.jetsettersmagazine.com Leave your email next to the logo for FREE e travel newsletter.
http://www.aaarticles.com/article21639.html