Hot summers and warm winters portray their climate, Riverside County is situated sixty miles
west of Los Angeles. Riverside CA is part of the Inland Empire area with a population of 300,000-plus
people. Known as the hub of the California citrus growing industry. Riverside made the
California citrus industry, an entire empire built around the zesty and sugary sweet navel orange.
Also known as the home of the University of California, Riverside. Riverside has a large selection
of fun tourist attractions, with restaurants, shopping malls, two dozen nationally registered
historic sites and more than 100 city landmarks commemorate this city’s flavorful history to
explore on a day trip or your weekend getaway. Not to mention the Southern California’s famous
beaches are approximately 50 miles away from Riverside.
Though Riverside can be visited any time of the year, summer is probably the best if you want to
explore some of the most amazing places. Here’s a list of some of the best things to do in
Riverside:
- California Citrus State Historic Park
At the California Citrus State Historic Park, visitors can join a free guided tour that includes samples of freshly-grown California oranges. The park also has an amphitheater and picnic areas that groups can rent out for a small fee. - Riverside Metropolitan Museum
Riverside Metropolitan Museum has three main collections that focus on history, nature, and culture of the Riverside area. With an extensive archive that includes photographs, scores of documents, and ephemera from Riverside’s history. The Riverside City Council opened the Riverside Metropolitan Museum in December of 1924. It made its way on to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987, and in 2004, the museum acquired the historic Harada House. - Mission Inn Museum
The museum contains a variety of artifacts from the founder and owner of the inn, Frank Miller. During the tour, visitors can see exhibits on key events from Riverside’s history, view artifacts from Frank Miller’s life, and learn about the citrus growing industry in California. The Mission Inn Museum is located in the famous Mission Inn Hotel on the corner of Main Street and Mission Inn Avenue. - University of California Riverside Botanic Gardens
The Botanic Gardens at the University of California, Riverside contain vast amounts of flowers,
grasses, shrubs, and trees. At the geographical collection, visitors can see a selection of desert
plants and displays with plants from Australia and South Africa. There is also a large plot of
plants that grow in California’s Sierra Foothills region. Altogether, the park contains hundreds of
different plant species from all over the world. Admission to the gardens is free, but guests are
encouraged to make a $5 donation.
- Whitewater Preserve, Riverside, California
The 2,851-acre Whitewater Preserve was created to protect the fragile environment around the Whitewater River. Visitors can check out the reserve’s numerous trails while watching for unique wildlife and enjoying the ponds that dot the landscape. The area around the river is home to a diverse riparian habitat that includes rare plants like the Southwest willow flycatcher and Bell’s vireo. Animal life in the area includes bighorn sheep, deer, bear, and the endangered fringe-toed lizard. Whitewater Reserve is open daily from 8 AM to 5 PM. - Fairmount Park
The park contains picnic facilities, a playground, a lawn bowling green, two tennis courts, and a golf course. Fairmount Park is filled with recreational activities for visitors of all ages. Three tranquil bodies of water in the park Brown Lake, Lake Evans, and Fairmount Lake, which are perfect for fishing, paddle boating, and other water sports. Fairmount Park’s recently renovated nine-hole golf course features two practice greens and a fully loaded snack bar. The golf course is open 365 days a year. - Castle Park
The park has 27 different types of rides, including roller coasters, a drop tower, a water log slide, and a merry-go-round. Castle Park is a family-friendly amusement park that has attracted out-of- town visitors and Riverside locals since 1976. The park features more than 200 fun arcade games for players of all ages. Castle Park features more than 200 fun arcade games for players of all ages. - The Cove Waterpark
The Cove Waterpark is a popular family fun center in Jurupa Valley. The park contains all sorts of exhilarating rides and attractions, including waterslides, a flowrider, a lazy river, and a competition-sized swimming pool. Though the pool is often used for local swimming and diving competitions, it’s also open to the public at certain times of the week. The Cove Waterpark can be rented out at any time for birthday parties and other special events.
So, feeling excited about exploring these places? Riverside will give you the best experiences and
will make your adrenaline rush and that you don’t want to miss! Its extraordinary landscape and
beauty are worth traveling for! So, what are you waiting for?! Pack your bags and get ready for
this crazy adventure. Well, maybe once this pandemic is over.