About an hour away from Los Angeles is Riverside, located in Riverside County. This city is a must-visit for history lovers. Notably, this underrated Southern California destination is home to the iconic Mission Inn, a luxurious hotel dating back to 1876 famed for its clientele like President Theodore Roosevelt. Then there’s the California Citrus State Historic Park, an open-air museum founded in 1993. Thanks to Southern California’s Mediterranean climate, Riverside is known for producing varieties of oranges and was a key location in the state’s early citrus industry, established in the 19th century.
California Citrus State Historic Park serves to educate visitors about this significant time in the state’s history and how it ultimately led to its advancement. Ranked as one of Riverside’s top attractions on Tripadvisor, it has various citrus groves and walking trails. As one Tripadvisor reviewer put it, “It is a delight for the senses — sight and smell!” In addition to this, visitors will encounter QR codes throughout the trails that provide an educational experience.
For instance, some of the QR codes open up to videos explaining everything from the plants found at California Citrus State Historic Park to the indigenous peoples of Riverside County and more. Simply put, visitors can take in the beauty of nature and history at this unique site.
There’s more to discover at California Citrus State Historic Park in Riverside
A day at the California Citrus State Historic Park, which is more than 250 acres and also includes a rose garden, is self-guided. However, if interested, complimentary tours of the citrus groves are offered. Note that at the time of this writing, tours are only provided at 10 a.m. Friday through Sunday. With that in mind, Tripadvisor reviewers say not to miss out on this opportunity. “The guide was very knowledgeable and explained cultivation history, difference across citrus varieties, and offered us to taste some of their cultivations at the end of the tour. All the fruits we had were absolutely fantastic,” wrote user minimize940314…