🌴 Riverside | LA's Hidden Gem

✨ Why Riverside? 💰 Budget-Friendly: Lower cost than most CA cities 🎓 Academic Hub: Home to UC Riverside (plus a shocking concentration of Ivy League alumni in local families) 🚗 Easy Access: Just ~1hr from LA (leave early to avoid traffic!) 🏛️ Must-Visit Spots 1️⃣ The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa 120-year-old European-style masterpiece with Gaudí-esque flair 🎩 Historic VIP guests: 8 U.S. Presidents (Nixon married here! Reagan honeymooned here) ☕ Afternoon tea and fine dining on-site 2️⃣ Tio’s Tacos 🌮 Legendary local Mexican joint (cash only!) 3️⃣ Redlands Charm (nearby town) ☔ Umbrella Alley + quaint boutiques 📚 A.K. Smiley Library: Stunning architecture ($25/year for non-residents vs. $1,000+ library taxes elsewhere!) 🌿 Outdoor Adventures • Mount Rubidoux Park: Sunrise hikes with panoramic views • Whitewater Preserve: Serene desert canyon trails • UC Riverside Botanic Gardens: 40 acres of lush collections 🛩️ Unique Museums • March Field Air Museum: Ever-expanding aircraft exhibits • Citrus State Historic Park: Free museum + pick fresh fruit (open weekends only) 🎓 Local Bragging Rights "My aunt teaches at UCR. Family alumni include: Harvard (cousin taught Trump’s impeachment lawyer) Stanford + UC Berkeley PhD (cousin → UC Davis professor) Yale + Princeton PhDs (another cousin & brother-in-law) ...all from this unassuming town!" #HiddenCalifornia #CollegeTownVibes #RoadTripLA #HistoricHotels #IvyLeagueRoots #BudgetTravelCA