Living in Riverside

I moved to Riverside in 1998 from Huntington Beach. The day we moved here it was 114 degrees... honestly, we thought we'd made a huge mistake. I have since learned to love this place. You are still close to the beach... the mountains... the desert... whatever you are in the mood for the I.E. has got it!

Riverside is home to the University of California, Riverside with it's Botanical Gardens, California Baptist University, La Sierra University, as well as Riverside Community College with its world famous Marching Tigers Band and the California School for the Deaf.

Riverside is also home to the Parent Navel Orange Tree, propagated from one of the two original trees from a monastery in Brazil and planted in 1873... All navel orange trees stem from this tree or from its offspring. There is also the California Citrus Museum, chronicling the history of the Citrus Industry in California, and especially Riverside.

The Santa Ana River runs along the western side of Riverside. No longer a river at all, it mostly just trickles along, only swelling after substantial amounts of rain. There are some spots that pool large enough for wading, but not many.

Quick Tips:

You have to check out the Mission Inn. Even if you don't stay there, just wandering around it is amazing. From spring to fall, Riverside Wednesday Nights has shopping, food, a farmers' market, and rides for the kids, all happening in the Main Street Mall next to the Mission Inn. Downtown Riverside has several museums (my kids' favorite is the Science Museum) and many other interesting sights.

Best Way To Get Around:

The Inland Empire is the Eastern Hub of Southern California for freeways and trains. Rent a car, grab a map, and go in any direction, you'll find something to do!

Pepitos Mexican Restaurant is a restaurant my family has been passing by for years. I always thought it was a bar that happened to serve Mexican food. To be honest, the only reason we tried it was because it was on our airline miles program. Boy, are we sorry we have been missing this place!! The first time we went, I was in the mood for soup, and their albondigas did not disappoint. Loaded with meatballs and vegetables, with a rich, tasty broth and accompanied by rice, beans, and tortillas, it was one of the best bowls of albondigas I’ve ever had. My son had the chili verde, which is a specialty dish of mine, so we tend to be very picky about it. It was fabulous! My husband had the camarones ala diabla, which he loved. A bit too spicy for my taste, but the flavor was still wonderful! As you can imagine, when my family dines, we are always tasting each others’ food...some people might find that bad table manners, but we have fun with it!!!

Our server was Cristina, who was friendly and efficient, and other staff also made sure we had everything we needed.

On our second visit we took our teenagers with us, and the feasting began!!! My husband stuck with his shrimp diabla, but I decided to try the shrimp fajitas and my stepdaughter had the chicken fajitas...both came to the table sizzling on their cast-iron platters. My older son had fish tacos, which were tasty, and my younger son had carnitas...crispy and delicious, with rice and beans. I had a margarita, which was just perfect, and my husband had a Modelo (Mexican beer), and it was cold and fresh. We were tasting each others’ food, commenting on how everything was so good and cursing the fact that we hadn’t found this place sooner. Cristina was our waitress again, and we never wanted for a thing...again she was right on top of all five orders, as well as the rest of her customers.

The décor is beautiful, authentic Mexican with rustic wood chairs and tiled tables. Stained glass and pictures depicting scenes in Mexican history keep you entertained, as well as Los Trios Bohemios, strolling musicians who are very good but do not “pester” for tips as some restaurant musicians do.

We have definitely become their new regulars!

www.pepitos-restaurant.com

Mt Rubidoux nature trail winds in several directions up the side of the mountain, weaving past residential homes, vast hillsides of wicked looking cactus, rocks trees, and flowers (including the California poppy). Hiking the paved road or the more difficult dirt trails, you will encounter hikers, bikers, and dog walkers. We've seen raccoons, possums, squirrels, skunks, lots and lots of lizards, and even a few snakes. Once we saw a fox, but that was several years ago. If it's summer time, go early in the morning, because it can get really hot! Take a bottle or two of water, but beware... no restroom facilities! At the summit, you'll find a huge cross dedicated to Junipero Serra, an American flag and 360 degree views of the Inland Empire, including Mt Baldy and the San Bernardino mountains. Pack a picnic lunch and eat at the top on the many steps leading to the cross or the flag.

Lake Alice Trading Co., a nice big bar and grill, has good food, live music, and a dance floor. If you want something a little more low-key, Worthington's pub is across the street. It's smaller, but they also have live music and they draw a rather large crowd for a little place.

My drive to and from work, which is quite short to begin with, is made all the more pleasant by driving through Fairmount Park. Developed in 1875 by the Oltman Brothers, who designed New Yorks's Central Park, it has grown from 30 acres to 180. There's an amphitheater, which hosts the annual Riverside Jazz Festival, and many 'concerts in the park.' The boathouse has beautiful banquet/meeting facilities, and you can rent a paddle boat to take out on one of two lakes in the park. Fairmount Lake is the smaller of the two, and frankly not quite as scenic as the larger Lake Evans. Spread out over the park are several play areas, picnic and BBQ facilities, tennis and basketball courts, a lawn bowling club, fishing, and bike and nature trails leading to the Santa Ana River. The Rose Garden is a favorite photography spot for weddings and quinceaneras, due to the beautiful arches and gazebos, and the lake in the background.

My drive takes me through the heart of the park, between the two lakes. It's not exactly a shortcut, since the speed limit is 5 MPH and sometimes you have to wait for ducks or geese to cross the road... but it beats the other traffic I encounter!