Last Updated on July 21, 2024

As one of the sunnier and more historic places in SoCal, there’s a lot to love about Riverside. It’s a vibrant city with summer weather and beautiful mountainside views. It’s also close to Joshua Tree National Park, one of my favorite parks in the state. Today, we’ll be showing some appreciation for the Golden State’s citrus capital and talking about the most unique things to do in Riverside, California!

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Things to do in Riverside, California

Climb Mount Rubidoux

Have you ever seen a castle in California? Riverside has quite a few remarkable old-world style architecture, one of which you can actually see at the peak of Mount Rubidoux. The World Peace Tower and Friendship Bridge standing over the roads look like something straight out of a fairytale. 

Mt Rubidoux

The entire park spans over 161 acres, looking over the whole valley along Riverside. You get great views of the city and spectacular ones of the whole landscape around SoCal. For accessibility, there are numerous paved roads and a few dirt trails to follow. It’s a very popular hiking or jogging spot for residents and visitors. 

While it opens at sunrise and closes at sunset, many of the roads get busy by the time noon rolls in. I’d recommend coming early in the morning if you can. The park is also completely free!

The Trail

Though the park provides two roads hiking up Mount Rubidoux’s peak, I’d advise taking the longer 3-mile trail. It’s easier for beginners than its steeper counterpart and more enjoyable overall. This trail has a steady, paved road that’s designed for runners, hikers, or cyclists. 

Circling the park and up the mountain, you’ll get panoramic views of the valleys below, making for a wonderful sightseeing experience. 

World Peace Tower

You’ll also find some notable landmarks, like the previously mentioned World Peace Tower and Friendship Bridge. Both structures were built for one of Riverside County’s founders, Frank Miller, and were dedicated to his efforts to create peace and cooperation in the world. You can read a little bit about the tower and bridge’s history in the town’s newspaper.

As a whole, the area has a tranquil, magical quality to it that I’ve always loved. At the very end of the trail, you can even find a cross and a flag that signals the peak of Rubidoux–and the end of your journey. 

Visit the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa

Mount Rubidoux is a symbol of Riverside’s heritage, and the European-style Mission Inn brings an extra layer of charm and elegance. This grand, beautifully decorated building in the heart of Riverside is picturesque and a popular spot in town.

Mission Inn Hotel

The hotel is at 3649 Mission Inn Avenue. Booking a room per night can cost anywhere between $119 to $389, and the royal interior makes it absolutely worth it. If you just want to take a look, you can also eat at the numerous restaurants on the premises and walk around after. 

I’d recommend also visiting Riverside near the holiday season, around November 23 to January 6. The hotel is planning to stage its next Festival of Lights during that time this year. It is a major annual event when the inn is lit up with glowing Christmas decorations. 

They’ll also have regular fireworks shows, which bring in crowds of people from all over California to see. I look forward to witnessing them this year too!

Dine at Riverside’s Most Unique Restaurants

Tio’s Tacos

On the same road just down the street from Mission Inn is a bright, cheery Mexican restaurant called Tio’s Tacos. Established in 1990, it’s become a mainstay in Riverside’s culinary scene, and also a colorful place to visit for newcomers in the town.

Entering the premises, you’ll find tall statues attached to palm trees made of various recycled materials. Further in, you’ll find dragons attached to the walls, a skeletal mariachi band, canopies of umbrellas, butterflies, and flowers like the ones you’d find in Lake Atitlan. 

The butterfly canopy at Tio’s Tacos

The restaurant decor embodies the charming spirit of Central and South America’s artistic traditions. Most of the decor shows off how the culture repurposes discarded materials into something beautiful. It’s also just a very fun place to be in, especially during Halloween!

You can find it open daily from 8:30 AM to 10 PM (closing at 11 PM on Friday and Saturday). The Mexican food is also delicious, and you can look through their menu online.

Kalaveras Cantina Urbana

A little further away is also another unique Mexican restaurant called Kalaveras Cantina Urbana. It has a much more technicolor, night-life inspired aesthetic than Tio’s Tacos, boasting a nice array of foods and drinks along the way. 

It opens at a variety of times and closes even later than Tio’s, turning the lights off at around 1 AM on weekends. If you want to learn more, feel free to check out their schedule and menus on their website!

Kalaveras Cantina Urbana

Walk around Mariposa Alley

Since Tio’s Tacos decor became so popular, it’s understandable that the artist behind them went on to make even more gorgeous works around Riverside. Mariposa Alley is one of their newer installations, and this beautiful butterfly installation sprawls over the alleyway next to the between the 9th and 10th street. 

A wall filled with cut-out butterflies in the Mariposa Alley in Riverside, California.
Mariposa Alley

You can find it right behind City Hall, and it’s a lovely little art experience to walk through. Butterfly murals spread around the walls, along with printed cardboard and fabric monarchs, technicolor flowers and all sorts of other pieces hanging above the street.

It’s mostly a photography hotspot, and many people end up posing in front of the wings to frame themselves as butterflies. Feel free to stop by the alleyway as you’re wandering around Riverside!

Explore the California Citrus State Historic Park

 
 
 
 
 
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Did you know that Riverside was where California first got its oranges? Or, at the very least, it was the first county that began the citrus industry in the state, leading to some of the delicious orange and lemon drinks we thrive off of every summer to this day. 

One of the most popular things to do in Riverside, California is celebrating the county’s storied history with this delicious fruit. You can find it all in the California Citrus State Historic Park, just at the town’s southern end. 

The park opens from 8 AM and closes at 5 PM, though the weekends during spring and summer close at 7 PM. It has a thriving museum where you can learn more about the history of the citrus industry, and in-depth grove tours peering through the 250 acres worth of citrus trees. If you come in the ideal season, you’ll even get the chance to taste the ripe fruits from the latest harvest.

Check out performances at the Fox Theatre

Riverside has always had a strong, artistic sensibility, shining through its community, landscape, and history. Fans of cinema and art can fully appreciate this at the historic Fox Theatre, a performing arts center that once showcased the first successful box office film. Watching a performance here is also one of the most inspiring things to do in Riverside, California.

Many of the famous Broadway classics host a showing within these halls, and you can check out what’s new on the schedule on their main website. They also have a number of concerts on their bracket that you can check out here.

Hotels

If you’re heading down to Riverside from San Francisco or other places in California, you can also opt to stay a while. It’s a comfortable place to hang around and marvel at the diverse community and culture. Other than the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, here are a few other hotels I’d recommend:

  • Hampton Inn (Downtown Riverside): A bustling hotel with an outdoor swimming pool and lovely facilities for guests. You can book a room here.

  • Raincross Hotel: A modest hotel within a 5 minute walk from the Fox Theatre. It’s close to many of the hotspots in Riverside, and has a sleek interior. You can book a room on their Booking website.

  • Hyatt Place (Downtown Riverside): A grander hotel with plenty of luxurious amenities, including a fitness center, a cozy bar and comfortable rooms. They can be booked on their website.

As a whole, Riverside is remarkable for its long history and diverse culture. My last visit in the autumn went spectacularly, and I wished I could stay for a little longer for the snowy season. What else will you find on your journey around SoCal?

Do you love exploring California? I created an interactive map just for you! Check out my California Travel Map with over 500 pins of the best spots and hidden gems for California Travel!

Are you curious about other lovely counties California has to offer? Check out my guide on the Best Weekend Travel Guide to Mendocino County.