Skip to Content

5 Great Places to Visit in the Inland Empire (Part I)

5 GREAT PLACES TO VISIT IN THE INLAND EMPIRE

 ~ PART I ~

Inland Empire snowWhen you think about Southern California, what cities come to mind?  Los Angeles for the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  San Diego for Sea World.  Or Anaheim for Disneyland?

Today, I want to challenge you to think beyond the traditional Southern California hot spots.  Instead, I want you to consider Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, otherwise known as The Inland Empire, as a great place to visit and explore with your family.  There are several non-traditional places that offer visitors a unique experience and are worth a second glance.

Inland empire blvd

According to Wikipedia, The Inland Empire (I.E.) is a metropolitan area home to over 4 million people.  It is the 12th most populous metropolitan area in the United States, and the 3rd most populous in the state of California.  That’s a whole lot of people, with a whole lot of places to visit!

To start your travel journey, here are five places in the Inland Empire to check out with your family or plan a field trip to for the 2014-2015 school year.

Cal-Earth, Hesperia

Flickr - DVIDSHUB - New eco-dome signals changes for local village (Image 10 of 10)

Cal-Earth allows children the opportunity to build a dome home with their classmates by using supplies provided mainly by Mother Earth.  It is a team building exercise aimed at creating unity amongst students.  Through interactive exercises and storytelling, Cal-Earth teaches grades K-12 about the Superadobe building technique which is a certain type of sustainable earth architecture.  Cal-Earth’s field trips are also reasonably priced at only $10.00 per child, with a minimum of a $100.00 per trip.  Don’t forget about the adults too!  Adults can get in on the action by attending one of Cal-Earth’s weekend workshops in Superadobe building technique permaculture and masonry heating.

Fender, Corona

Fender Jaguars

Have a guitar fan in your life?  Then take them to see the new collection of famous artist Stratocaster®guitars now on display at the Fender Visitor Center in Corona through the end of the year.   The exhibition was developed in conjunction with the Hard Rock Hotel and Café memorabilia team.  Furthermore, Fender offers daily tours of their facility, which includes an up-close look at the Fender guitar making process and a visit to the Wood Mill, Metal Shop, Final Assembly Room and more.  Factory tours are available at $10 adults / $8 seniors / $6 teens / FREE children 9-12 years old.

American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona

Ceramic Art Pottery Agatino Caruso Caltagirone

Going to a ceramic studio to make a ceramic creation is fun, but combining it with a visit to one of Southern California’s premier ceramic museums is even better.  “AMOCA champions the art, history, creation, and technology of ceramics through exhibitions, collections, outreach and studio programming.  Founded in 2001 and opened in September 2004, AMOCA is one of the few museums in the United States devoted exclusively to ceramic art and historic innovations in ceramic technology.”  AMOCA provides FREE tours of their museum for Kindergarten – College age students.  Teachers may also add on an art lesson onto their tour for $5 per student.

Chino Youth Museum, Chino

The Chino Youth Museum’s mission statement is to provide an interactive learning environment to foster a better understand of tomorrow through an appreciation of yesterday and today.  On the first Friday of every month, they host a FREE family event that features an entertainer, craft and a healthy snack.  Teachers and troop leaders can plan a field trip to the museum, which includes an art project, for only $3.00 per student /  $2.00 per adult.

Oak Glen School Museum, Oak Glen

Schoolchildren reading 1911

My homeschool students from Celebration Education visited the Oak Glen School Museum last May as a part of their closing celebration for year.  It is a very simple one room school house with historical significance.  In the fall, when people are out apple picking in full force, the museum is open Wednesday – Sunday, 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm.   The rest of the year they are open on weekends only.  Groups tours are available by reservation only.

To discover more places to explore in the Inland Empire visit http://www.pinterest.com/socalfieldtrips/riverside-san-bernardino-field-trip-ideas/
Happy Field Tripping,
Jilleen
Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post.  All opinions are our own.   All images used by permission from Wikimedia Commons.  Click on individual pictures for full copyright information.

Craig Lesh

Thursday 20th of December 2018

Please check your list. Fender and Cal Earth are both closed for field trips. Please consider our progams, in your we'd site.

​Gear Up for Iron Horse Family Steampunk Carnivale in Perris - SoCal Field Trips

Tuesday 27th of February 2018

[…] 5 Great Places To Visit in the Inland Empire […]

Carrie Ellison

Sunday 15th of May 2016

I caregive for a 92 yr old senior, who is having a visit from her 87 yr old cousin from Washington State during the wk of 5-18 thru 5-23. I just learned of this visit and am quickly trying to plan a couple trips they can take. Your museum sounds very interesting to them so I inquire for more information please. Your help is greatly appreciated. Thank You. Carrie Ellison

Jilleen

Sunday 15th of May 2016

What type of places do you want to visit?