The Better Side of Riverside

Located approximately 60 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, Riverside offers unexpected pleasures and treasures.

1. The Mission Inn. Now a luxurious 239-room hotel, the legendary Mission Inn had humble beginnings as a 12-room adobe boarding house. Turned into a grand resort hotel in 1903, this Mission Revival-style landmark has hosted 10 United States presidents and many other luminaries. Stroll the grounds, indulge in a spa treatment, and sample one of the hotel’s distinctive restaurants.

The Mission Inn
3649 Mission Inn Ave.
(951) 788-9556

2.  Heritage House.  Part museum, part house, this elegant 1891 Victorian building offers a glimpse into Riverside’s turn-of-the-century lifestyle. Grandly restored and maintained, come see how the city’s prosperous young couples lived for prices that are, today, below poverty level.

Heritage House
8193 Magnolia Ave.
(951) 826-5273

Fridays (12 PM-3 PM); Saturdays and Sundays (12 PM-3:30 PM); closed July and August
Suggested donation: $3 (adults); $1 (children and seniors)

3. California Citrus State Historic Park. Recapturing the era when “Citrus was King,” this state park preserves bountiful orchard with lemons, oranges, and grapefruits, as well as a visitor center, interpretive structure, picnic area, and packing plant.

9400 Dufferin Ave.
(951) 780-6222
October-March (8 AM-5 PM); April-September (8 AM-7 PM)

4. Riverside Botanic Gardens. Located on the campus of the University of California Riverside, the botanic gardens feature more than 3,500 plant species that attract approximately 200 bird species. Four miles of scenic trails run through the 40-acre expanse.

900 University Ave.
(951) 787-4650
Daily (8 AM-5 PM); closed on major holidays.
Suggested donation: $1 per person