The Inland Empire region includes the city of Riverside in California. Riverside, 60 miles west of Los Angeles and near the Santa Ana River, is home to more than 300,000 people. The University of California, Riverside is located in Riverside, which is also well known as the center of the California citrus industry. For a weekend getaway or day trip, explore Riverside’s many recreational attractions, shopping malls, and entertainment venues. The distance between Riverside and the Pacific Ocean and the famous beaches of Southern California is about 50 miles.
Before your visit, we’ll give you the best fun things to do in riverside California for you to add to your vacation plans.
The Best Fun Things To Do In Riverside California
Visit The Cove Waterpark To Get Wet
Cove Water Park in Riverside where you can do fun things to do in Riverside California. It has many water amusement spots, pools, and slides, making it one of the best family activities.
The water park is open year-round and has areas for children and adults. Lil’ Mates’ Lagoon, a sizable water play facility with a shallow pool, mini water slides, and sprinkler elements is perfect for the little ones.
The Crow’s Nest Slide, a 180-foot slide that flows into the lagoon, is fun for slightly older kids (and adults, too).
Another recreational feature is the Ne’er Endin’ River, which allows kids to relax in the lazy river next to other pools and around Shipwreck Island.
Overall, families with young children do well in the park. All the fun and exciting pirate-themed water elements at the park can be enjoyed by anyone aged 10 and under. Teenagers and enterprising adults may require a little more thrill and immersion than the park can offer.
You may want to wait a few hours before leaving the park as it gets busy as soon as it opens. At the end of the day, the lines start to thin, which is great if you’re traveling with young children who don’t like waiting in line.
In any case, if you’re on vacation with your family, be sure to visit this fun park!
A Monterey Bay Whale Watching Tour can be arranged for other water-related activities in California.
Visit the Fox Performing Arts Center
The Fox Performing Arts Center is a small theater well worth a visit due to its beautiful architecture and preservation, much like the Mission Inn. And this is the activity of the fun things to do in riverside California.
Almost every seat in the theater has great views and a vintage charm. You’ll get a great view even from the “cheap” seats, so don’t spend extra money on VIP tickets unless you really want to.
The original theater opened in 1929 and the City of Riverside later listed it as a historic site. After closing in the late 1990s, the theater remained closed for many years before reopening in the 2010s to host new musical, theater and comedy performances.
The theater is a wonderful example of Spanish Colonial Renaissance architecture and is very picturesque. If you choose to attend a performance at the theater, you will discover that the theater has a very varied schedule of performances.
Latin music, stand-up comedy, rock shows and dance performances are among the most popular genres. While it is technically possible to purchase tickets at the door, you may find it more convenient to do so in advance online. Before the opening night, the theater sometimes sold out tickets.
Investigate the Whitewater Preserve
Want a day trip from Riverside? The beautiful 2,851-acre Whitewater Preserve is tucked away in the San Gorgonio Wilderness. Although the journey to the reserve is long and winding, it is well worth it when you set foot in the park.
The surrounding wilderness is overseen by the Bureau of Land Management, while the park itself is privately owned and supported.
The Whitewater River flows continuously within the reserve and the area provides shelter for migratory birds and endangered species. Visitors love birdwatching and have the chance to see wildlife and wildflowers.
This is one of the fun things to do in Riverside California. There are designated picnic spots as well as trekking options in the area. The Whitewater Sanctuary allows dogs, but they must be kept on a leash at all times.
The conservation offers free entrance as well as parking. Some visitors will combine a trip to Whitewater Preserve with a drive or ride through Palm Springs because the park is actually closer to Palm Springs than the City of Riverside.
There are five paths in the park to explore, and older children and dogs can easily complete the 3.5-mile detour. Just be careful when hiking as it’s not always easy to spot trails in the bush.
Learn More About The Jurupa Mountains Discovery Center
This is one of the fun things to do in Riverside California. The Jurupa Mountains Discovery Center should be visited for a couple of hours or an afternoon if you’re traveling to Riverside with kids. This facility allows you to celebrate birthdays and offers educational picnics for children and families.
Locals admire the Jurupa Mountains Discovery Center for its giant steel dinosaur statues and resident animals, and the park is always in need of volunteers. Consider volunteering at the center if you’re planning an extended stay nearby.
The dinosaur area rock picker game is one of the simpler games for young kids. Children will learn interesting facts about geology while also receiving helpful lessons about collecting rocks, minerals, and fossils.
With conversations about magma, wind erosion, and geological pressure, older kids can join the California Rockhound Adventure at the park. The Discovery Center is for all ages, not just babies and toddlers.
The Discovery Center is the perfect fun things to do in riverside California location to combine fun and education if you’re looking for an outdoor activity you can do with the kids. Children won’t even be aware that they are learning about the geology and history of the area.
Visit The Mission Inn Museum
What are the fun things to do in riverside California? In fact, even if you just visit the Mission Inn. The Mission Inn Museum is a great location and a national historic site that offers free museum exhibits, guided interpretive tours, and educational activities.
To see everything in the museum, plan on two to three hours. Consider this 75-minute walking tour as one of the top fun things to do in riverside California, if you love getting on your feet. When taken on tours of inns and museums, even locals will comment that they have learned something new.
Despite a long history, Riverside is often overlooked in the bustle of Southern California. You’ll appreciate the brief respite from walking around the Mission Inn Museum because of how fast everything around you seems to be moving.
Consider taking a guided tour if you want to get the most out of your visit as the docuseries have a reputation for being enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and kind guides. If you have children between the ages of six and seven, I definitely recommend booking a tour as the walking tour is simple enough for younger guests as well.
The Mission Inn Hotel is another option if you want to stay at Riverside’s most splendid hotel. You will admire the beauty and elegance of the quaint hotel, the luxurious atmosphere of the rooms, as well as the fine dining options! Get the Riverside Corpse Hunt as a side quest.