Riverside, CA

Riverside's citrus roots still shape how the city looks and feels today. In the 1870s, the arrival of the Brazilian navel orange sparked an agricultural boom that defined the entire Inland Empire. You can still visit the original Parent Navel Orange Tree at Magnolia and Arlington avenues, and California Citrus State Historic Park lets you walk through working groves to taste fresh fruit. That history also created the city's signature look, with tall fan palms, historic irrigation canals, and broad avenues cutting through green citrus parcels that still dot the community.

Downtown Riverside serves as the cultural heart of the city, anchored by the iconic Mission Inn Hotel & Spa. With its Spanish colonial towers, open-air courtyards, and maze-like passageways, the Mission Inn gives the urban core an old-world charm that stands apart from the suburban neighborhoods spreading across the valley. As the Riverside County seat, the city draws thousands of workers to its courts, county offices, and major medical centers. Education is another massive economic driver, centered around UC Riverside on the east side, alongside thriving manufacturing, retail, and logistics hubs spread across the region.

Riverside is geographically large, and daily life often revolves around distinct neighborhood hubs. On the west side, La Sierra operates like a self-contained town with its own university, medical facilities, and bustling shopping centers. Over on the east side, UC Riverside brings a lively student energy, research culture, and expansive botanical gardens. For commuters heading into Los Angeles or Orange County, Metrolink operates three local stations: Riverside-Downtown, La Sierra, and Hunter Park. Having rail options makes regional travel easier, and most residents use cars for daily errands around town.

Community traditions bring residents together throughout the year. On the first Thursday of every month, the Riverside ArtsWalk fills downtown with live music, street performers, and open doors at local galleries and museums. Come winter, the Mission Inn Festival of Lights draws huge crowds for one of the country's most elaborate holiday light displays. When you want some fresh air, a paved hike up Mount Rubidoux offers 360-degree views across the city, the Santa Ana River, and the surrounding mountain ranges. It is an easy way to get above the city and appreciate how Riverside balances lively gathering spots with quiet, scenic open space.