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Riverside sits along the Santa Ana River in Southern California’s Inland Empire, roughly 60 miles east of Los Angeles. Founded in 1870 as a citrus colony, the city grew into a regional hub known for its Mission Inn, UC Riverside, and a proud citrus heritage that gave Riverside its nickname as the “City of Rivers”. Today Riverside blends historic architecture, university energy, and proximity to mountain and desert recreation.
Riverside traces its roots to the Santa Ana River valley, where the Tongva and Cahuilla peoples lived for thousands of years before European contact. In 1870 a group of investors from Chicago purchased land here and planted the first navel orange trees imported from Brazil, launching what would become California’s billion-dollar citrus industry. The arrival of the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1875 connected Riverside to Los Angeles and the broader market, transforming the settlement into a thriving agricultural town.
By the early 1900s Riverside was one of the wealthiest cities per capita in the United States, its prosperity built on citrus exports and agricultural land values. The historic Mission Inn opened in 1902 and drew presidents, celebrities, and dignitaries to its Spanish Revival towers. The Great Flood of 1938 devastated parts of the city but also spurred modernized water management and urban planning. After World War II Riverside’s growth accelerated as the Inland Empire became a bedroom community for Los Angeles workers, diversifying into logistics, education, and healthcare sectors.
The Mission Inn anchors downtown Riverside as one of the most distinctive historic hotels in California. Its Spanish Revival and Moorish Revival architecture features handcrafted tiles, carved wooden balconies, and rooftop gardens that took decades to complete. Free public access to the main lobby and rotunda lets visitors admire the craftsmanship year-round.
UC Riverside (UCR) adds a college-town energy to the eastern part of the city. The UCR Botanic Gardens spread across 40 acres with collections from Mediterranean, desert, and tropical climates, while the campus itself displays public art including the iconic “Genesis” sculpture by Claes Oldenburg. The university museum hosts traveling exhibitions throughout the year.
Riverside National Cemetery covers more than 1,500 acres and serves as the final resting place for over 300,000 veterans. The Medal of Honor Memorial and the Three Flags Monument are standout features of the landscape.
The Heritage House at the Dominguez Ranch offers a window into the rancho era with preserved adobe structures and period furnishings, while the Riverside Art Museum showcases regional and contemporary works in a former 1930s armory building.
The Santa Ana River Trail runs along the river through Riverside, providing paved paths for cyclists and pedestrians connecting several city parks. Harveyalsa Park offers sports fields, a lake for fishing, and picnic areas that draw families on weekends.
The Jurupa Mountains Discovery Center features trails through volcanic rock formations and a botanical garden showcasing high-desert plant species, while Mount Rubidoux rises just west of downtown with a historic summit cross and paved trail popular with morning hikers.
Riverside’s location puts it within an hour’s drive of both Lake Arrowhead in the San Bernardino Mountains and the Mojave Desert beyond, giving residents and visitors easy access to mountain lakes, hiking, and desert landscapes within a single day.
The California Citrus State Historic Park preserves Riverside’s citrus legacy with recreated packing houses, antique equipment, and living groves of heritage navel orange and grapefruit trees. Guided tours explain the industry’s techniques and its cultural impact on Southern California.
The Fox Performing Arts Center in downtown Riverside hosts Broadway tours, concerts, and comedy acts in a restored 1928 theater with original organ and ornate plasterwork.
The Heritage House and the Dominguez Ranch Adobe connect visitors to the Mexican rancho period, while the Riverside County Heritage House building at the Orange Empire Fairgrounds rotates seasonal exhibitions on local history and folk art.
The best time to visit Riverside is March through May when citrus groves bloom with fragrant white flowers, temperatures range from the mid-60s to low 80s, and outdoor events like the Riverside Shakespeare Festival and downtown food festivals fill the calendar. Spring weather is ideal for hiking Mount Rubidoux and exploring the UCR Botanic Gardens.
Fall brings the harvest season at the California Citrus State Historic Park, when volunteer-led citrus-picking events and agricultural fairs celebrate the city’s agricultural roots. Temperatures cool from the summer highs into the comfortable 70s and 80s.
Summer can push temperatures above 95 degrees, making morning activities and air-conditioned attractions like the Mission Inn and Fox Theater more appealing. The July 4th fireworks over the Santa Ana River draw large crowds.
Winter sees fewer tourists and mild daytime highs in the 60s, though rainfall increases.
Here are some of our recommended things to do near Riverside. Pick your favorite!
History and Culture