Inland Empire
Around Inland Empire
Photo: Juan Enrique Gilardi · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · California · 4.7M people
Inland Empire
“IE”, “The 909”
Riverside · San Bernardino · Ontario · Chino · Corona · Palm Desert · Redlands · Temecula
Sun, citrus, and mountain air.
Burnt orangeDeep blue
Welcome to the Inland Empire! Where the mountains meet the desert and the 215 is always a little busy. Get ready for some of the best food and outdoor adventures around.
Clubs for Inland Empire
No clubs for Inland Empire yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Inland Empire. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Inland Empire. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Mission Inn Historic Mission-style hotel in downtown Riverside
- Mount Rubidoux Iconic hiking spot with panoramic views of Riverside
- Santa Ana River Trail Long paved path for biking and walking
- Big Bear Lake Mountain lake for boating, fishing, and winter sports
- Lake Arrowhead Alpine lake village with shops and cabin rentals
- San Bernardino National Forest Vast forest with hiking, camping, and scenic drives
- Outdoors Hiking Mount Rubidoux
- Outdoors Boating on Big Bear Lake
- With kids Ontario Mills
- With kids Victoria Gardens
- Evenings Downtown Riverside bars
- Evenings Toyota Arena concerts
- Locals love Citrus groves
- Locals love Swap meets
Through the year
- Route 66 Rendezvous September Classic car show in San Bernardino
- National Orange Show May Citrus-themed fair in San Bernardino
- Riverside Airshow April Aviation display at March Air Reserve Base
- San Bernardino County Fair June County fair in Victorville
- Fontana Days July Independence Day celebration with parade and fireworks
The Inland Empire has a desert climate with hot, dry summers and mild winters. The best time to be out is spring or fall, when temperatures are comfortable. Best: Spring and fall are ideal for outdoor activities.
Talk like a local
- “IE”
- Inland Empire
- “The 215”
- Interstate 215 freeway
- “The 10”
- Interstate 10 freeway
- “The Pass”
- Cajon Pass
Getaways
- Los Angeles Big city attractions, beaches, and entertainment
- San Diego Zoo, beaches, and Balboa Park
- Oxnard Coastal harbor and Channel Islands gateway
- El Centro Desert town near the Salton Sea
Local flavour
Teams
- UC Riverside Highlanders NCAA Division I
- Cal Baptist Lancers NCAA Division I
- Inland Empire 66ers Minor League Baseball (California League)
- Rancho Cucamonga Quakes Minor League Baseball (California League)
- Ontario Reign AHL
Also rooting for Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Kings, LA Galaxy, Angel City FC
Eat and drink
- Carne asada fries A staple of the region's Mexican food scene
- California burrito More associated with San Diego but popular locally
- Baker's Drive-Thru Local fast food chain known for burgers and shakes
Where people go
- Citrus groves Historic orange and lemon orchards
- Mountain towns Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead for recreation
- Desert parks Joshua Tree and Mojave Desert access
- Swap meets Local open-air markets
Heritage and traditions
The Inland Empire is proud of its citrus-growing heritage, its role as a crossroads of Southern California, and its diverse communities that blend Mexican, Anglo, and Asian traditions, all set against the backdrop of mountains and desert.
This time of year in Inland Empire
- Fall car show Fall Route 66 Rendezvous in San Bernardino celebrates classic cars in September.
Say it like a local: “Orale” — Okay or right on
Festivals
- Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival April Massive annual music and art festival in Indio, drawing global crowds.
- Stagecoach Festival April Country music's biggest weekend in the desert.
- Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival February Celebrates the region's date industry with camel races and carnival rides.
- Redlands Bowl Summer Music Festival June-August Free outdoor concerts under the stars at the historic Redlands Bowl.
- Riverside Dickens Festival February Victorian-era costumed characters and readings in downtown Riverside.
Landmarks with a story
- San Bernardino Asistencia A restored 1830s mission asistencia that served as a farming outpost.
- Agua Mansa Historic District One of the earliest settlements in the region, with adobe ruins and a cemetery.
- California Route 66 Museum Located in Victorville, it preserves the history of the Mother Road.
- Santa Fe Depot A grand 1918 Mission Revival depot in San Bernardino.
- Fox Performing Arts Center A beautifully restored 1929 movie palace in Riverside.
- Heritage House A Queen Anne-style home from 1891 in Riverside, showcasing early citrus-era life.
Food traditions
- Holiday tamale-making Families gather to make tamales for Christmas, a tradition passed down through generations.
- Sunday menudo A hearty tripe soup enjoyed on weekend mornings, often as a cure for the night before.
- Pick-your-own citrus Families visit local groves to pick oranges, lemons, and grapefruits in winter.
- Swap meet snacks Elote, churros, and tacos are staples at local swap meets.
- Panadería runs Fresh conchas and bolillos from neighborhood Mexican bakeries are a morning ritual.
Music and arts
- Inland Empire punk rock scene (The Offspring's roots) A raw, DIY sound that emerged from the region.
- Chicano murals in Riverside and San Bernardino Vibrant public art reflecting cultural identity.
- Lowrider car culture Customized cars and cruising traditions.
- San Bernardino Symphony Classical performances in the historic California Theatre.
A little history
- 1870s Navel oranges introduced, sparking the citrus boom that made the region famous.
- 1880s Railroads connect the region, opening it to trade and growth.
- 1940s Military bases like Norton and March bring jobs and population growth.
- 1960s Freeway construction (I-10, I-15) transforms the region into a commuter hub.
- 2000s Warehouse and logistics boom makes the Inland Empire a national distribution center.
Rivalries
- UC Riverside vs Cal Baptist Local college basketball and soccer games
- Riverside vs San Bernardino Friendly jab about which is the real county seat
- Game day Friday night lights for high school football
- Game day Minor league baseball games
- Outdoors Camping in the San Bernardino Mountains
- Outdoors Stargazing in the Mojave Desert
- With kids Castle Park amusement park in Riverside
- With kids Big Bear Alpine Zoo
Locals speak with a typical Southern California accent, often mixing Spanish words and phrases. Freeways are referred to with 'the' before the number, and 'dude' is a common term of address.
Only here
- The first McDonald's opened in San Bernardino in 1940 (now a museum).
- The Inland Empire is the warehouse capital of the US, with massive distribution centers.
- The Mission Inn in Riverside is one of the largest Mission Revival buildings in the country.
- Route 66 runs through the heart of the region.
New here? A few tips
- Be ready for hot summers; stay hydrated and use sunscreen.
- Traffic on the 10, 15, and 215 can be heavy, so plan accordingly.
- A car is essential; the region is spread out.
- Try the local Mexican food, especially carne asada fries.
- Take advantage of the mountains and desert for weekend getaways.
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Part of Greater Los Angeles
Nearby
Every areaRiverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.