When you think of a vacation to southern California, you normally imagine sandy beaches and bright sunlight glinting off windows as you stroll through Los Angeles or San Diego or Riverside. However, one of the most beautiful destinations in this area of the country is Big Bear Lake, which is located in the San Bernardino Mountains and offers far more snow than sand.

Big Bear Lake is one of the most beautiful spots in the world and is secluded enough that you'll feel as though you've landed in paradise without having to deal with crowds or traffic. Many Southern Californians own cabins in the woods surrounding Big Bear Lake and visit in both the summer and the winter. If you travel to Big Bear Lake between November and March, you're likely to encounter plenty of snow drifts and snow-capped mountains. Skiing is popular here during the winter months, as are snowboarding and sledding.

This is also the place to go if you are fed up with the impersonal and sterile nature of hotels. There are dozens of cozy bed and breakfasts on Big Bear Lake, whether you prefer a sophisticated Swiss chalet or a romantic Victorian cottage. Many of these B&Bs offer your very own private cabin complete with kitchens, restrooms, satellite television and even hot tubs.

Summer trips are also fun at Big Bear Lake, particularly if you are a fan of fishing and boating. You can literally spend hours on the water every day and never see every nook and cranny of the lake, and there are numerous festivals held here every year so you can meet people and pick up goodies to bring back home to friends and family.

Since hiking is popular in Big Bear Lake, you'll want to bring a pair of comfortable athletic shoes. If you're visiting in winter, a warm jacket is necessary, and you might need to equip your car or SUV with snow tires and chains, particularly if your cabin or cottage is located in the mountains.

Just a few years ago, Forks, Washington, of the Olympic Peninsula, was just your average tiny American town, a hub for fishing and logging but otherwise unnoticed by the rest of the world. Then, in 2005, a writer named Stephenie Meyer published the first of four books in the Twilight series, each of which takes place in Forks.

Suddenly, little Forks, Washington, became the object of much scrutiny and fascination. Although it is still a small town with a relatively tiny population, the tourism in this city has grown exponentially, along with the outdoorsy activities offered to visitors.

Fishing, for example, is no longer simply a commercial pursuit. Thousands of fishermen travel to Forks every year to try their hand at catching as many steelhead trout and king salmon as possible. Guided fishing expeditions are available for the Quillayute river system, which encompasses four major rivers.

There are also activities for Twilight fans who want to see the Forks depicted in Meyer's quadrilogy. You might want to visit La Push, where Bella Swan meets her Quillayute friend Jacob Black, or the Forks hospital, where a parking space is reserved for Dr. Cullen, Edward's "father" in the series.

Also on the Twilight tour are stand-ins for Edward's and Bella's homes, restaurants, the Forks High School and other notable institutions in the quadrilogy.

Of course, the outdoorsy vacation isn't complete without some fun in the sun, which is why many people visit La Push. Here, swimming, water-skiing, surfing and other oceanic activities are all part-and-parcel of the Forks experience.

If you're going to visit Forks, you should know that rainfall is more common here than in any other area of the United States. Make sure to bring an umbrella and a trusty waterproof jacket.

Even with the rain, however, Forks can be a fun outdoorsy adventure, particularly if you enjoy the weather in the Olympic Peninsula and are a fan of the Twilight series.