Rent this delightful two-bedroom, two-bath farmhouse this weekend at a price your forefathers may have paid for a place to stay back in the early 1900s. Really! With the price of everything from gas and food to utilities and entertainment going up, you may think your family will have to give up fall weekend getaways to the mountains.

You'll fall in love with this home-away-from-home the minute you arrive. Painted a barn red and cottage white on the outside, the interior is decorated in red-white and blue colors and dotted with memorabilia that will remind you of a simpler time in America. All floors are wide-plank pine, and the T&G ceilings are supported by massive wood beams. The gas stone fireplace keeps the entire house toasty warm at night. Behind glass doors of a living room china cabinet is a large, flat-screen TV and DVD player. The roomy eat-in country kitchen is large enough for the entire family with table service for six. Loaded with country charm, it also offers modern conveniences -- a microwave, dishwasher, and washer-and-dryer, hidden behind barn doors.

The spacious retreat is a perfect place to return to after a day at Octoberfest, exploring mountain trails or the shores of the lake, which are only a brisk walk away from the farmhouse. While other parts of the state are still experiencing Indian Summer, Big Bear boasts warm days that coax farmhouse guests outside to relax in Adirondack chairs on the upstairs deck. From this vantage point, you can watch the sun set into Big Bear Lake as it causes the Gold Mountain range to the north to live up to its name. Or you can fire up the barbecue on the back porch and enjoy an economical meal of burgers and franks.

When it's time to tuck in the youngsters, climb up the pine wood staircase, and they are bound to love the "Blue Room." It has a delightful bead board trundle bed that can accommodate two individuals. There's a walk-in closet as well. The romantic master bedroom contains a queen-sized bed and armoire, complete with a TV and DVD unit. There’s also a spacious, mirrored closet. The two bedrooms are separated by a full bathroom. In addition, there's a queen sleeper sofa in the living room that brings the sleeping capacity to six. The second bath downstairs adds to everyone's convenience. And what’s a farmhouse without pets? They can romp in the fenced backyard, or curl up with the family in front of the fireplace.

The large-screen TV offers access to hundreds of satellite cable television channels, as well as numerous films on HBO and Showtime. In addition, everyone has unlimited coast-to-coast phone calls during your stay so you can extend "wish-you-were-here" greetings to distant relatives and friends across the country