Riverside, CA Road Trips

While Riverside might be perceived as a "suburb" of Los Angeles, its population of over 300,000 would make it a substantial city in its own right pretty much everywhere else and the twelfth largest in California. It is one of the centers of the Inland Empire and host to UC Riverside.

1 The Riverside Metropolitan Museum, 3580 Mission Inn Ave (2 blocks east from Downtown bus terminal), ☏ +1 951 826-5273. Tu W F 9AM-5PM, Th 9AM-9PM, Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 11AM-5PM. The museum rotating exhibits on various topics and standing exhibits on local history, geography and culture. It's a half-hour's walk-through, but well worth the price. Donation, suggested $2. 2 The Riverside Art Museum, 3425 Mission Inn Ave (3 blocks east from Downtown bus terminal), ☏ +1 951 684-7111. M-Sa 10AM-4PM. The museum has rotating exhibits featuring a variety of local artists, including projects from the University of California-Riverside. $5, seniors and students $2. 3 The Mission Inn Museum, 3696 Main St (2 blocks east from Downtown bus terminal), ☏ +1 951 788-9556. Daily 9:30AM-4PM. Located on the ground floor of the historic Mission Inn, this space showcases the history of the building, including a chair crafted for the legendarily girthy President Taft. donation, $2 suggested. UCR Culver Center for the Arts, 3834 Main St (on the Main Street Pedestrian Mall, 2 blocks east from Downtown bus terminal), ☏ +1 951 827-3755. Tu-Sa noon-5PM, 1st Th 6PM-9PM. The renovated UCR Culver Center for the Arts contains two institutions: the Sweeney Gallery, which shows a rotating collection of artistic endeavours from various, often UCR-affiliated, artists; and the UCR-California Museum of Photography, which offers a collection showcasing the artistic and historical uses that photography has been put to over the years. Admission covers both institutions.

Riverside has many activities to occupy your time. Local concerts are often held in various venues around the city. The college's independent FM radio station, KUCR 88.3, has a reasonably good listing of cultural events in the area. 1 Sky Zone Riverside. 2 Castle Park, 3500 Polk St, ☏ +1 951 785-3000. The local amusement park is just off the 91 freeway at La Sierra and a short walk from the 1 and 15 buses. It has a small roller coaster, as well as numerous carnival-like rides, a log flume ride, an arcade, and miniature golf. An unlimited ride wristband will run adults $20 and children around $14, depending on height. Box Springs Mountain Preserve. Hiking and biking are available in the Box Springs Mountain Preserve, a large open space to the north of the city. Trailheads are accessible at the end of Big Springs St. and Blaine St. (an easy walk from the terminus of the #10 bus) as well as off of Central Ave and Chicago Ave (accessible from the #20 and #22 bus). Parking is free, but trail information is scarce. A popular pastime of local college students is hiking to the large, concrete "C" on the side of Box Springs Mountain. What they do while at said location is their own business. Van Buren Cinema 3, Van Buren Blvd (just off of the 91 freeway in the south of the city). Double features are common. $6 for adults, with children 9 and under free. Rubidoux Drive-In. The second of Riverside's drive-ins is just outside of the city limits off the 60 at Valley Way. In addition to holding Swap Meets every weekend, the Rubidoux Drive-In shows double features nightly.

Riverside has the major chain-restaurant fare around major establishments. Applebee's is near the train station, TGI Fridays at the Galleria, and Denny's, and IHOP share a corner at Iowa and University near UCR. However, there is some local fare to be proud of as well. 1 The Lucky Greek, Magnolia and Merrill (close to the 91 at Central and short walk from the #1 and #10 buses), ☏ +1 951-686-2621. No trip to Riverside ought to be complete without a greasy hamburger here. The Lucky Greek has been serving up their signature greaseballs and pastrami for over 20 years. Expect to pay around $5.50 for a burger, fries and a coke. The decor hasn't been updated since they opened, but the food will make you forget about it shortly. 2 Templo Del Sol (routes 1, 14, 16, and 51). A run-down looking establishment on University between Iowa and Cranford. The service is friendly but excruciatingly slow, but the food is inexpensive, authentic and excellent. Happy hour specials Monday through Thursday include $2 beer and $1 tacos. $5–7/plate. Downtown, Canyon Crest, Mission Grove and Riverside Plaza each have restaurants which are worth visiting.

There are a few night clubs around the city. Getaway Cafe, 3615 Canyon Crest Dr # B. The college pub (beer & wine, but delicious pub grub). (bus lines 1, 16, 51, late-night 53) Sire Restaurant, 6440 Magnolia Ave. A total neighborhood dive bar. (bus lines 1, 13 and 15) The Yard House, 3775 Tyler St (next to the Galleria at Tyler). The Yard House is an excellent choice for a beverage or two. (bus routes 1, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 21, 27, 216)

Comfort Inn Riverside, 1590 University Ave (Bus routes 1, 14, 16, 22), ☏ +1 951-683-6000. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Free deluxe breakfast, free Wi-Fi, business center, and spacious parking for tour groups/buses. $79.99+. Courtyard Riverside, 1510 University Ave (Bus routes 1, 14, 16, 22), ☏ +1 951-276-1200, fax: +1 951 787-6783. Days Inn Riverside Tyler Mall, 10545 Magnolia Ave (Bus routes 1, 15, short walk from 10, 12, 13, 14, 21, 27, 216), ☏ +1 951-358-2808, fax: +1 951 358-0670. $60. 1 Historic Mission Inn (Short walk from the downtown bus terminal.), 3649 Mission Inn Ave, ☏ +1 951-784-0300. The glorious historic Mission Inn is one of the great landmarks of California, with many quirky architectural features and featuring a pool and spa and three restaurants. Tours are offered of the Mission Inn for a fee. Motel 6 Riverside East, 1260 University Ave (Bus routes 1, 14, 16.), ☏ +1 951-784-2131, fax: +1 951 784-1801. Motel 6 Riverside South, 3663 La Sierra Ave (Bus routes 1, 15), ☏ +1 951-351-0764, fax: +1 951 687-1430. Riverside Marriott, 3400 Market St (Bus routes 12, 16, 29, 50, long walk from downtown bus terminal.), ☏ +1 951-784-8000, fax: +1 951 369-7127. Thunderbird Lodge, 2711 University Ave, ☏ +1 951-683-2070. Art deco style hotel with outdoor pool. $85.

Riverside is part of the Inland Empire of Southern California. It is about a 17-mile drive from Ontario International Airport. This medium-sized airport has direct flights to many American cities (and Mexico), an uncrowded terminal, and generally easy freeway access. Travelers interested in flying into Ontario should probably look into Southwest Airlines which generally has reasonable prices. Flying into the other Los Angeles-area airports to reach Riverside is certainly possible, but not recommended. LAX, Burbank Airport, Long Beach Airport, and Orange County's John Wayne Airport are all about an hour's drive away; and that's without congestion, which isn't likely. If you have your own aircraft, Riverside Municipal Airport is centrally located and offers easy access to the city. No commercial passenger flights serve this airport. After arriving at Ontario Airport, you can use Southern California's infamous freeway system to get to Riverside. Follow the signs for Interstate 10 East, then get on the I-15 South, and get on the CA-60 East. You will spend only about 2 miles on the I-15, so stay in the two right-hand lanes. After that interchange, you're only about 15 miles outside of the city. It is possible to take public transport from Ontario International to Riverside. However, it is most certainly difficult. For non-drivers or frugal travelers, here's the information: Take the airport shuttle around to the Omnitrans bus stop on Airport Dr, and wait for the Omnitrans 61 bound for Ontario/Fontana. This will cost you $1.15, exact change only.

Riverside is in Southern California and Southern Californians are slaves to the automobile. Most of the time, getting around in Riverside will involve some form of car, and traffic congestion can ruin your day, and the poor driving habits of some other drivers may make you want to pull your hair out. The CA-60/I-215 runs along the north side of the city. (Confusingly, the two freeways merge at the Riverside 60/91/215 interchange and then split again at the Moreno Valley Interchange, which is still actually within the city limits.) The Market Street exit provides access to Downtown, the 3rd/Blaine and University exits allow easy entry into the University neighborhood, and the Martin Luther King exit will allow you run of the mostly-residential Canyon Crest area. If you proceed on the CA-60 just past the interchange, get off at Day Street and you'll arrive at one of two area malls, the Moreno Valley Mall. It isn't in Riverside proper, but many people shop there rather than brave city traffic to go to the Galleria at Tyler. The CA-91 runs from its origins at the 60/215/91 interchange in the north of the city, and runs the length of Riverside, eventually extending into Corona, Orange County and terminating in Long Beach. Notable exits include University Ave., which borders Downtown, Central Ave., which is near the new, upscale Riverside Plaza, Tyler St., immediately next to the Galleria at Tyler mall, and La Sierra Ave., which is near the city's second Metrolink station, and Castle Park. The major crosstown arteries are Arlington and Magnolia Avenues.