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Brian Stevens
San Bernardino Museums
San Bernardino Museums
Discover local and natural history and see art from around the world at area museums
Two local museums let you experience everything from the natural side of the Inland Empire to the treasures of ancient Egypt.
The San Bernardino County Museum offers a look at the area’s past, with exhibits of Native American crafts, and displays of mining equipment, lumber wagons, and a steam locomotive that helped build the Inland Empire. The museum also commemorates the area’s citrus heritage and celebrates its natural environment with desert gardens and The Exploration Station, a gallery with live animals.
At Cal State University San Bernardino, the Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art spans the millennia. It boasts more than 500 artifacts tracing 4,000 years of Egyptian history, as well impressive collections of ancient Mediterranean ceramics and contemporary art.
Southern California
Southern California
Discover the Inland Empire
With its inviting destinations and uncrowded wilderness, this region feels like an insider’s secret amid the bustling excitement of Southern California.
Mount San Gorgonio—nicknamed “Old Grayback”—is the tallest peak in Southern California, at 11,502 feet/3,506 meters.
Surprising alpine scenery around Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear beckons, with pine-scented trails in summer and winter sports when the snow flies. If you’re into action, get the adrenaline rush of seeing the world’s best NASCAR racers compete at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana. For a dreamier escape, float in a hot-air balloon above rolling Temecula Valley wine country.
Chip Morton/Alamy
Spotlight: Temecula Valley
The Inland Empire area offers under-the-radar wine finds, locavore cuisine, and rolling scenery
A historic town square surrounded by vineyards and rolling hills, with mountains rising in the distance: The...
Chon Kit Leong/Alamy
Road Trip: Inland Empire’s Rim of the World
Drive this picturesque route through the Inland Empire
A short drive from the surf and sand of Southern California, an entirely different landscape emerges: the mountains, lakes, and scenery of the...
Courtesy of SkyPark at Santa's Village
SkyPark at Santa’s Village
Hike, bike, ride ziplines, and even meet Santa near Lake Arrowhead
Glide through a forest on a zipline, try out mountain bikes on well-maintained trails, or maybe even sit down for tea with Mrs. Claus. Located...
John Bilous
Riverside
Visit this Inland Empire city to learn about its citrus past, stay in a world-famous inn, and tour gardens and galleries
Sixty miles east of Los Angeles, Riverside boasts a number of firsts, including...
SPECIAL FEATURE
There are tons of reasons why you might plan a winter trip to Big Bear. Here are some you might not have thought of
With plenty of groomed runs and terrain parks at Big Bear Lake’s two alpine resorts, ...
Courtesy of Big Bear Mountain Resorts
The bald eagle, America’s national bird, flies south from Alaska and Canada to spend winter in the San Bernardino Mountains.
Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa in Corona is home to Club Mud, California’s only therapeutic red clay mud bath.
Ron Thomas/Getty Images
Temecula Valley Wine Country
Taste your way through Southern California's leading wine region
For many visitors, the Temecula Valley wine country is a surprise. After...
SPECIAL FEATURE
Kid-friendly fun zones, special kids' menus & amazing wine for the grownups
Sure wine country is romantic, but now it’s a surprisingly great destination for families too, with a growing number of vineyards trading in elegant tasting rooms for kid-friendly fun zones that...
John/Flickr
Temecula Valley is known for its variety, growing and producing over 50 different varietals of wine; from Cabernet Sauvignon to Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot to Mourvedre, Viognier to Chardonnay.
Getty Images
Big Bear Lake
Escape to Southern California’s mountain wonderland
Just two hours from Los Angeles, the San Bernardino Mountains offer a cool, pine-scented escape. At an altitude of 6,759 feet (2,060 meters), Big...
Dave Lauridsen
Route 66
Get your kicks on America’s legendary highway
Back in its glory days, Route 66 began in Chicago and ended along the bluffs overlooking the Pacific, a 2,451-mile journey through farmlands,...
Courtesy of Auto Club Speedway
Auto Club Speedway
Rev up for racing action at this classic track
Whether you’re into NASCAR or drag racing, Auto Club Speedway delivers all kinds of thrills for fans of powerful cars and high-speed action. The 2...
Courtesy of Auto Club Speedway
This idyllic oceanfront city, bounded by a 3.5-mi/5.6-km-long beach, feels more like a weekend getaway spot than a city just a few minutes west of downtown Los Angeles. Hang out on the city’s broad beach or lively Pacific...
Protecting an astounding 1.6 million acres/647,497 hectares of pristine desert wilderness, the Mojave National Preserve lets you hear singing sand dunes, explore weirdly contorted Joshua trees, and hike up volcanic cinder cones. Take time to explore, and let the desert’s magic unfold.
Don...
May/June
Hot-air ballooning is a popular activity in Temecula year-round—but every June, it becomes just a...
The first Balloon and Wine Festival was launched in the spring of 1984 and was a monumental success for a town of only 9,000 residents. More than 4,000 people attended, as 35 balloons were launched from the Rancho California Plaza.
Harriot Manley/ Sunset Publishing
Inland Empire Outlets
Find bargains on brand names at major outlet centers
The only thing better than scoring the perfect outfit or designer shoes is to get them for a bargain price. That’s why shopping in the Inland...
SPECIAL FEATURE
Where to release your inner fashionista
Shopping is an art form in California. Whether you're in search of the perfect cocktail dress or an authentic Mexican piñata, you'll find it here. Want to sample fresh produce? Try our farmers...
Courtesy of Mission Inn
Mission Inn Hotel & Spa
Old world romance, contemporary comforts
Lavish and elegant, Riverside’s Mission Inn Hotel & Spa combines Old World romance...
SPECIAL FEATURE
Where to save on Gucci, Versace, and other big-name brands
With bucket-list magnets like Rodeo Drive and Union Square, California has undeniable star power when it comes to shopping. But all those fashion finds and gifts for everyone back home don’t have...
Robert Sheie/Flickr
Brian Stevens
Idyllwild
Nature and the arts find a perfect balance in this quaint mountain hamlet
Backed by mountain wilderness and filled with galleries, Idyllwild is a haven for both outdoor recreation and the arts.
Steep forested...
San Bernardino National Forest is the largest urban forest in the United States.
Alex Farnum
Lake Arrowhead
Escape to an exclusive mountain haven
The drive from San Bernardino to Lake Arrowhead is a quick one—just 23 miles/37 km....
Spotlight: Sonoma County
Tour companies abound in Sonoma County, which are great for helping you visit a variety of wineries, with...
Spotlight: Channel Islands National Park
The kayaking opportunities at the Channel Islands are some of the best anywhere in California. Visitors can kayak on their own or go with a park-authorized outfitter. ...
Discover the Central Valley
Madera is both an up-and-comer and a historic wine region. The first vines were planted well over 100 years ago, but few survived Prohibition in the 1920s....