Riverside is the birthplace of California's citrus industry and the cultural heart of the Inland Empire. The city's crown jewel is the Mission Inn, a sprawling Mission Revival and Spanish Colonial masterpiece filled with alcoves, wooden beams, stained glass, and antiques. Even if you do not stay the night, walk through the public areas and have a meal.
Downtown, explore the restored 1892 Heritage House and the Riverside Municipal Museum, which showcases Native American culture and local history. The California Citrus State Historic Park preserves the groves and packing houses that once defined the region. At the University of California, Riverside, the 37-acre Botanical Gardens contain 3,000 species from yuccas to redwoods, and the UCR Museum of Photography is worth a stop.
The Riverside Art Museum, housed in a 1929 Julia Morgan building, anchors the city's arts scene. In spring, the Sunkist Orange Blossom Festival brings the citrus heritage back to life.