From the stone terrace of the Top of the Notch Restaurant, munch on a burger in the clean, crisp mountain air and gaze down between the mountains on the clouds covering the L.A. Basin. Yes, we said gaze down on the clouds. At 7,800 feet you are higher than anything east of the Pecos, and higher than 36 of our 50 states. The fare is simple grill food, but things seem to taste better in the clear, mountain air. During the non-ski season the restaurant is only open on weekends and holidays, which is, not coincidentally, when the chair lift to get you there is running — unless you would prefer to hike up and really build up an appetite. End of Mt. Baldy Road, Mt. Baldy. (909) 982-0800.

—Jedd Birkner

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