Away for the Weekend: The Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa

by Rubin Carson

If your family is desirous of reinventing themselves without burning too much gas, head for the newly refurbished Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa. A two hour jaunt from L.A. (much of it zigzagging on the Rim of the World Highway) leads you into a lakeside Alpine village with clean air - - - more picturesque than any Swiss Tourism poster.

A standard room is surprisingly large with lovely views of the lake (no charge for kids under 18 sharing rooms with parents). Bathroom is equally spacious with a user-friendly shower whose controls can be understood by 3-year-olds and even adults. A 32-inch flat TV dominates one wall with a full menu of kiddie shows and/or celebrity trials on Court TV.

FIRST CLASS DINING: Nothing beats a family open-air lunch on the hotel's terrace. Everyone will be dazzled by the panoramic view of the lake and surrounding forests. Try the pan-fried rainbow trout, which is sensational. You can even have it with eggs for breakfast the next morning. This is a good way for youngsters to sample fresh fish. Tell them that this is what seafood tastes like before McDonald's wraps a bun around it.

NORMAL DINING CHOICES: Papagayo's for Mexican and Woody's Boat House for American are local favorites. Chain restaurants were strictly verboten for years but are starting to filter in. What else is new? - even Paris and Moscow surrendered.

"ARROWHEAD QUEEN LAKE TOUR". Numero Uno family outing. A 50-minute narrated tour on a Louisiana-style paddlewheeler where Captain Bill points out homes of the rich and famous. Downside? Parents will spend most of the time explaining who Clark Gable and Betty Hutton were. Upside? Take them to the hotel's free movie night that features films using Lake Arrowhead locales (some from the 20's). For future scientists, there's also stargazing night where an astronomer from the national park service explains the solar system. No charge for kids desiring to peek through the telescope.

KIDDIE DELIGHTS: Miniature amusement park near hotel features carousel and fun rides. Even the bouncy house has a great view of lake.

FISHING AND SWIMMING: Not available at Lake Arrowhead (lake is private property) but a 5-mile jaunt to Lake Gregory provides plenty of aquatic adventure. Back at Lake Arrowhead, there are numerous forest hiking trails and supervised nature walks for those unwilling to drive anywhere.

It's no surprise that nobody wants to leave this lakeside wonderland.

Got a family travel idea? Share it with Rubin at rubin@familymagazinegroup.com