Big Bear Lake (from Los Angeles)

Two hours from LA traffic and you're at 6,750 feet in the San Bernardino Mountains, looking at a lake that reflects the sky like a mirror. Big Bear is LA's four-season escape — skiing at Snow Summit in winter, kayaking and mountain biking in summer, and fall colors that prove California isn't all brown hills. The Village has enough shops and restaurants to fill a weekend without feeling touristy. Bonus: the Alpine Slide is the most fun you can have at 30 mph.