A 37-acre botanical garden at UC Riverside with around 3,000 species from cacti and succulents to coast redwoods. Admission is free, and the garden is rarely crowded — it makes an excellent destination for a quiet morning walk away from the downtown bustle. The collection is organized by geographic origin and plant type, with particularly strong sections on California natives, desert plants, and subtropical species. On a clear morning the views toward the San Bernardino Mountains are a bonus.