Referred to as the Inland Empire, Riverside is a city in California. The city, which derives its name from the fact that it’s in close proximity om the Pacific Ocean and Los Angeles, was once known as the Orange Empire on account of the citrus groves that used to dominate the area. The 300,000+ person city is still regarded as a central part of the state’s citrus industry.
But oranges aren’t the only thing this city is known for. In fact, there’s a lot to love about Riverside. What follows is a look at some of the things you can do in the Inland Empire.
University of California Riverside Botanic Gardens: Situated in the Box Springs Mountains’ foothills, the University of California Riverside Botanic Gardens spans 40 acres. It contains gardens with a wide variety of flowers. There are actually two components of the attraction, namely the University of California Riverside campus as well as the botanical gardens. You’ll be able to see collections such as the herb garden, rose gardens, and cactus garden. But you won’t only see different types of vegetation. The gardens are home to different species of birds, gopher snakes, rattlesnakes, skunks, kangaroo rats, coyotes, bobcats, and more.
Castle Park: Are you and your family interested in amusement parks? If so, then Castle Park is a must-see and must-experience site. The 25-acre amusement park features fun options for the entire family. There are 35 unique rides and attractions, an arcade with 200+ video games, four 18-hole miniature golf courses, and more. There are also special events throughout the year as well as family dining options if you want to end the day with some family time around the table.
California Citrus State Historic Park: Before Riverside was known as the Inland Empire, it was known as the Orange Empire…and for good reason. The area has a rich history in the citrus industry. Paying homage to the citrus sector in southern California, the California Citrus State Historic Park aims to preserve the history of yesteryear when the citrus industry loomed large in the state. So if you like history and love oranges, then this attraction might be of interest. You can enjoy fruit tastings at the facility’s visitor center and even go for guided tours that will allow you to step back in time to experience the state’s citrus industry.
Itty Bitty Mobile Petting Zoo: Will you be travelling with little ones? At the Itty Bitty Mobile Petting Zoo, you and your family will enjoy various petting-zoo options. The small petting zoo includes goats, pot belly pigs, tortoise, chickens, ducks, bunnies, and guinea pigs. The large petting zoo includes approximately 30 animals. It’s also possible to enjoy horse and pony rides, and more. The best thing is that the Itty Bitty Mobile Petting Zoo is available 24 hours a day.
March Field Air Museum: Are you interested in aviation history? The March Field Air Museum provides a history of aircraft, so you’ll see the best of past and present planes. Examples of the dozens of aircraft on display include the March Field Air Museum, which was used for numerous missions during World War II; the Boeing B-52D Stratofortress, which was used on many combat missions during the Vietnam War; and the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15, a fighter jet developed for the Soviet Union. Of course, that’s just a small sampling of the aviation history you’ll see. With the options in this historic museum, there’ll be something for everyone in your family.
As you can see, there’s a lot to see and do in Riverside, California, the Inland Empire. The aforementioned tips represent just the tip of the iceberg…or the crest of the mountain. So if you’re interested in visiting someplace with loads of history and plenty of options for everyone in the family, ensure that Riverside is on the list.