If you’ve never been to Riverside, you’re in for a treat. It has something for every type of WordPresser, whether you’re a foodie, a night owl, a fitness fanatic or a pub crawler. These are the best eight things to do after the day is done at WordCamp.
1. Hike Mt. Rubidoux
Riverside’s most iconic park, Mt. Rubidoux is a 600 ft.-tall mountain with a paved walking trail winding up to the peak. The view from the top is beautiful, especially after sunset, making it a great place to bring your special someone—as long as they don’t mind the 3-mile round trip hike. Two other spots that are great for a hike, run or long walk are Fairmount park (only about a mile from Mt. Rubidoux) and Citrus Heritage State Park (about six miles west from downtown).
Websites: Mount Rubidoux Trail, Riverside Parks, California Citrus State Park
2. People watch on Main Street
Main Street is in the historic core of Riverside and is bar-none the best place for wandering, sightseeing, dining and people watching. The points of interest stretch from 5th to 12th streets and include the Mission Inn, museums, restaurants, murals and more. Take yourself on this walking tour or simply wander the area and discover the hidden gems yourself.
Website: InlandEmpire.com
3. Dine at the Mission Inn
The Mission Inn, one of the oldest surviving structures in the city, has become a trademark for Riverside. Built in 1902, now it’s a four-star hotel with numerous restaurants and other shops lining the outside walls. The public is welcome to wander its halls and admire its neo-colonial architecture. Make sure to say hello to the two talking parrots living in the large cage by the front door, and take note of the many bells scattered throughout. They’re the reason a bell is part of Riverside’s city seal.
Website: Explore The Mission Inn
4. Drink in Riverside’s Nightlife
The city’s downtown area has a lot going on at night. Several bars and clubs line University Avenue from Lime to Main streets, with a few on Main and Mission Inn Avenue. Also, the Riverside Municipal Auditorium regularly features big-name bands, though as of this writing, the schedule wasn’t set for WordCamp weekend.
Websites:
- Mission Inn Presidential Lounge
- The Hideaway
- Riverside Municipal Auditorium
- ProAbition Kitchen & Whiskey Lounge
- Mezcal Cantina & Cocina
- Mission Tobacco Lounge
- Sevilla Nightclub
- The Menagerie Gay Bar & Nightclub
- Wolfskill
- The Brickwood
- Worthingtons
- Pixles
- Aurea Vista
5. Coffee Shop Hopping
Riverside was named America’s eighth-coolest city by Forbes, and no cool city is complete without a strong coffee culture. Downtown has three independent coffee houses — Back to the Grind, Augie’s and Molinos — and a coffee house/roastery called Arcade a short drive away in the Eastside neighborhood. If you venture away from the downtown area, Daily Grind and Lift are worth your while.
Websites: Molinos Coffee, Back 2 The Grind, Augies Coffee, Lift Coffee Roasters,
6. Get your face painted at the Dia de los Muertos celebration
Riverside is home to the largest Dia de los Muertos celebration in the Inland Empire, and its timed perfectly for WordCamp. It’s scheduled 1–10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3 and will include live music, dance performances, vendor booths and, of course, elaborate altars built by locals. The event sprawls all over downtown (several roads will be closed) but the focus is the library on Mission Inn Avenue at Lemon Street.
Website: Riverside Day of the Dead (Nov. 3, 2018)
7. Museums and stuff for kids
If you have kids, they’ll enjoy the variety of museums downtown. Many offer children’s activities, though most close early, so you’ll probably need to catch them during your lunch break.
Websites: Riverside Art Museum , California Museum of Photography ,
Barbara and Art Culver Center for the Arts , Riverside Metropolitan Museum
8. See the first-ever navel orange tree. It’s still living!
Well, it’s actually one of the first two navel orange trees, but the other one—which lived in front of the Mission Inn—died a few decades ago. Since navel orange trees are reproduce by grafting, every navel orange tree is a genetic clone of this one and it’s late partner. After its creation in 1871, the world embraced the new breed giving birth to Southern California’s orange industry. You can find it at the southwest corner of Arlington and Magnolia avenues.