Maple & Bird

The first thing you notice is the pitch. A steep black gable rising straight out of the pines, windows stacked two stories tall, the whole thing glowing amber once the sun drops behind the ridge. Maple & Bird is the kind of mountain home that doesn't apologize for being modern --- dark and architectural on the outside, flooded with light on the inside, and so newly finished that yours may be among the first names in the guest book. Everything here still has that just-completed crispness, and there's enough room for eight people to share it without anyone feeling underfoot.

Step in and the ceilings do the talking. The great room opens all the way up, with windows running floor to rafter and treetops filling every one of them, so the forest is part of the room whether you're on the sofa or halfway up the stairs. The kitchen is the working heart of it --- premium appliances, generous counter space, a KitchenAid mixer for the bakers in the group, and enough room for two or three people to cook at once without a traffic jam --- and it opens straight onto a dining table set for eight. That's the table where the big meal happens, where the card game runs long, and where somebody inevitably sets up a laptop with good intentions. A Samsung Frame TV anchors the living room for movie nights and hangs like a piece of art when it's not in use; a second Frame TV in the primary bedroom covers the slow mornings when nobody's in a hurry to come downstairs.

Sleeping is sorted for a full house. The primary bedroom is anchored by a king, a second bedroom carries a queen, and then there are the two rooms the kids will negotiate over: a bunk room with a twin-over-twin, and a fourth bedroom with two twins side by side. Four bedrooms, two full bathrooms, luggage racks so suitcases never end up on the floor, and a layout that gives couples, kids, and the friends who came along their own corners to retreat to.

There's more here than a standard cabin gives you. A dedicated office means the person who couldn't quite unplug has somewhere real to take the call --- door closed, work done, back to the group by lunch. An arcade cabinet turns the in-between hours into a tournament, and a cabinet stocked with board games, puzzles, toys, and a record player keeps the analog entertainment going long after the arcade high scores are settled. A washer and dryer on site quietly earns its keep on a long weekend or a snowy stretch when everything comes back wet.

Outside is where the day lands. A fire pit ringed with five chairs waits for the part of the evening when the mountain air turns sharp and everyone drifts out with a blanket. A Blackstone griddle handles dinner --- smash burgers, breakfast for eight, whatever the crowd votes for --- and a picnic table sits ready for the kind of meal that starts outside and stays there until the stars come out.

The setting is one of Southern California's most beloved mountain escapes, and you're close to the middle of it without sitting in the noise. Lake Arrowhead Village is a few minutes down the road, with lakeside dining, shopping, a full grocery run, and the Arrowhead Queen tour boat pushing off from the waterfront for a look at the lake from the water --- the easiest way for visitors to get out on it. The mountain also has a quietly great thrifting and antique scene, the kind where an idle browse turns into a backseat full of finds. Blue Jay Village and its seasonal ice rink are just past that, and there's a small market minutes away in Cedar Glen for the things you forgot. When you'd rather be moving, the Will Abell Memorial Trail and the North Shore trail put real hiking within a short drive, SkyPark at Santa's Village in Skyforest brings zip lines, mountain biking, and year-round family days, and Lake Gregory in Crestline opens up paddling, swimming, and stocked trout fishing to anyone who shows up. Come winter, Snow Valley is roughly half an hour east for skiing, boarding, and snow tubing, with Big Bear an easy day trip beyond it. The Rim of the World scenic drive stitches it all together, so even the getting-there is part of the trip.

Bring the whole group, claim a chair by the fire, and let the mountain set the pace. Maple & Bird gives you the space, the light, and a warm place to land at the end of every day.

AvantStay provides a personalized hospitality experience to elevate your stay. With our Concierge Service, guests have access to our tech-enabled services like fridge stocking, private chefs, massages, transportation, special occasion celebrations, baby gear rentals, ski gear, beach gear, and more. For anything you need, we're at your fingertips via concierge@avantstay.com.

Known as "The Alps of Southern California," the beautiful Lake Arrowhead is a well-kept secret, even from California natives. The quaint, European-style Lake Arrowhead Village makes a good place to pass your days, but visitors most often spend their time delighting in the area's outdoor activities. Water skiing on the lake, fishing, and ATV riding are all popular pastimes in summer, while in winter, snow sports fanatics can get their fill of skiing on the local slopes. Whatever time of the year you visit, the temperate climate and numerous opportunities for adventure ensure a fun time for all.

Local Attractions: Will Abell Memorial Trail at Arrowhead Ridge, San Bernardino National Forest, LuluBelle's Coffee House and Bakery, The Lakefront Taproom Bar and Kitchen, Lake Arrowhead Brewing, Stone Creek Bistro, SkyPark at Santa's Village, Lake Arrowhead Village, Heaps Peak Arboretum

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All bookings over 30 days require a security deposit to be charged after booking.

STR Permit: CESTRP-2026-00829