Located on the edge of the city, Mount Rubidoux (1,331 feet) is one of Riverside's iconic landmarks. The oldest outdoor non-denominational Easter Sunrise service in the United States started here in 1909 and would draw 30,000 people at its peak in the 20's. The mountain features a famous cross dedicated to Mission founder Father Junípero Serra as well as a World Peace Bridge. It is now a city park with more than 3 miles of hiking trails providing stunning views of Riverside and the Inland Empire.
#196 California Citrus State Historic Park
California Citrus State Historic Park preserves one of the last remaining citrus groves in the Inland Empire, once known as the Orange Empire. The citrus industry of California was known as the 'second gold rush'. In the 1870's, the introduction of the navel orange created an extreme economic boom. The parallel boom of the railroad industry allowed the 'gold' to be shipped across the country and America went crazy. Though the boom today is only a fragment of its past, it is still a billion dollar industry in California. Park trails allow visitors a glimpse into the romanticized orange groves that made California famous.
#133 Box Springs Mountain
Box Springs Mountain is a beautiful reserve in Riverside. With its many hiking trails and rolling green hills in the wintertime, the 3,000 foot park provides sweeping views of the Inland Empire and its surrounding mountains. The City of Riverside as well as University of California Riverside manages the 1,155 acre reserve. Early Pioneers used this mountain for its natural spring and surrounded the spring with a box from which it got its name.
#108 Mission Inn
The Mission Inn is the grandest hotel in the west. Located in Riverside, once the richest city in the United States due to California's 2nd Gold Rush the Citrus Industry, Frank Miller envisioned the Inn so guests would have a luxurious place to stay while visiting. Mission-Revival is the architectural style and is the largest building of its type in the country.
Modeled after California's 21 Spanish Missions, the Inn contains more than 200 rooms that surround garden terraces, art galleries, decorated balconies, sculptures, ballrooms and one of the grandest staircases in the world. Celebrities and presidents have stayed and wed here including Theodore Roosevelt, Andrew Carnegie, Albert Einstein, Helen Keller, John Muir, Amelia Earhart, Ginger Rogers, Clark Gable, Barbra Streisand and Miss Piggy among many many more.
Today, the Mission Inn is a living museum that screams luxury and opulence. Ranked the best in the country year after year, the Annual Festival of Lights Christmas Celebration draws thousand of visitors each season. Whether touring the grounds or staying the night, the Inn will continue to delight.
