So you finished a session, or maybe decided to book a session? Either way, here's the things we tell people to do when they aren't at the studio. Keep in mind you're in remote mountain towns, so plan a bit for food / gas etc.
The resort is the easy answer and it's a good one. If there's five of you and you're here four nights though, having a place to yourselves tends to win - one kitchen, one living room, somewhere to put the cases, and nobody complaining about the noise at eleven. The Kingsley will rent you the whole hotel, and there's no shortage of cabins on the usual rental sites.
Mountain hours are their own thing. Plenty of places shut early, some close a couple of days a week, and everything gets quieter off season - call ahead if you're rolling in late. Most of this is in the Village, which is the closest to us. The Stockade is over in Crestline and worth the drive. Roughly in the order we'd send you.
The lakefront strip - shops, food, the boat dock. Most of what's above is here, and it's the one place on the mountain where something is reliably open.
OK, this part gets confusing. There's two lakes up here and they're very different from each other. Check it out below.
It's not a public lake. No public ramps, no open launch, and you can't swim, kayak or paddleboard on it unless you hold lake rights - those attach to the property deed - or you're the verified guest of someone who does. Staying at a hotel in the Village doesn't get you on the water.
What anyone can do is take the Arrowhead Queen, the tour boat that runs out of the Village, or book a rental that comes with a captain.
The one over in Crestline, and open to everybody. County park with a swim beach and day passes, running roughly late May through early September. There's a beach-only pass and a pricier one that gets you the inflatables and the water slides - current rates are on their site.
Ontario (ONT) is the closest airport. The last reliable gas is the Valero on Highway 18 - fill up there rather than assuming you'll find something further up.
One thing worth planning for: we keep a solid supply of gear, but you'll be 45 minutes from the nearest Guitar Center. Bring strings, sticks, reeds, and whatever else you go through - anything you'd hate to lose half a day driving down the hill for.
Book your session Read the FAQs