Big Bear Today Magazine August 2022

Page 12—August 2022
See sites, sights on Queen lake tours
Cruise the lake aboard Big Bear
Queen with longtime captain Chris Bellows,
Big Bear’s top-ranked Tripadvisor
tour, sailing out of Pine Knot Marina.
Big Bear’s original paddlewheeler
with colorful flags flapping in the breeze
has been plying the lake’s waters since
1989 after arriving from Newport Beach.
His dad Dave was the original skipper with
Chris serving as backup, and now son continues
the tradition, narrating local history
that he and family have knowledge of.
The Bellows family has been leading
narrated tours of the lake sites and sights
aboard the colorful Queen for over 30
years. Chris previously captained on the
lake aboard Pine Knot Landing’s original
tour boat Sierra before taking over Big
Bear Queen two decades ago.
Spread out on upper and lower decks
plus open air bow and be entertained by
Early visitors to Big Bear didn’t have
Hwy. 18 or 38 to get here. Instead they
negotiated the steep, challenging
switchbacks of Clark’s Grade and other
treacherous routes.
Well-known writer and local historian
Nick Cataldo from San Bernardino
will detail just how arduous the treks were
on Thursday, August 11 at Big Bear Valley
Historical Society’s general meeting.
Cataldo will present the historic routes
colorful Big Bear stories and history, while
experiencing first hand Big Bear Lake and
surrounding mountains that include the ski
areas plus 11,502 ft. Mt. San Gorgonio.
While capacity is 60 passengers, Big Bear
Queen sails with fewer than that to allow
plenty of personal space.
The open air design on both decks allows
guests to experience as well as see
the lake, as they can hear the boat ply
through the water and taste lake spray and
breezes. New old-time photos line the
Queen’s sides, depicting Big Bear history.
On board potty too.
Captain Chris expertly navigates the
boat he’s piloted for so many years around
China Island and past the Zebra Room.
Talks about the creation of the dam, aeration
system, Teetering Rock, the old
damkeeper house and many more fascinating
points of interest. Cruising past the
Talk explores early roads to Big Bear
leading to Holcomb and Big Bear Valleys
back in the early days when travelling
to the mountains was a challenge.
The meeting is at 7 p.m. at Bridges
Presbyterian Fellowship at 579
Knickerbocker in Big Bear Village and
is open to the public. Opportunity drawing
with terrific prizes like gift baskets
and items from the museum gift shop are
highlights. As are refreshments including
delicious desserts and cookies.
Big Bear Today
Bring your favorite beverage and see the sights and sites on Big Bear Queen
Solar Observatory is another highlight and
bald eagles sometimes thrill guests, soaring
above the boat and swooping down.
Sail past the homes of celebrities—if
you’re lucky Noel Blanc, who with his father
Mel mouthed the voices of Bugs
Bunny, Porky Pig and other legendary
characters for decades, will come out to
hail Big Bear Queen guests.
Each tour is 90 minutes, departing
from Pine Knot Marina with up to four
sailings daily at 11 a.m. plus 1, 3 and 5
p.m., which returns at day’s end for awesome
vistas. Big Bear Queen, pioneer of
guaranteed lake tours that sail no matter
how many are on board, assures the 1 and
3 p.m. tours go out..
Big Bear Queen is spruced up for the
2022 season after getting new carpet and
paint. Guests are welcome to bring their
own beer, wine (corkscrew on board),
champagne or cocktails, picnic baskets etc.
Daily Big Bear Queen fares are $29,
senior-military $27, ages 3-12 $19, under
three free. Book online for contact-free reservations
at BigBearQueen.com.
CLICK US UP!
bigbeartodaymag.com
Year-Round
Christmas Room!
Our rooms are
filled with gifts
and treasures
from nearly
20 artists!
Come Up the Historic Staircase of the 1920's Navajo Hotel
• Bear-ly Used
Books
• Jerky
• Pottery
• Aprons
• Sports
Memorabilia
• Everything
Bears & More
Open 7 Days
a week
Big Bear's from 9:30 a.m.
Shopping Experience
There is not “Anything” we do not have!
Village Faire
40794 Village Dr.
(909) 866-8220
Above the Leather Depot in Big Bear Village