Page 77 - 2025-2026 Travel Guide to California

and seasonal ice-skating. Wander in the
natural beauty and charming shops
of the Swiss chalet-style alpine village of
Lake Arrowhead. Or simply stargaze, watch
the autumn leaves turn or the winter
snowflakes fall.
City & Town
Foodies and oenophiles should explore
Old Town Temecula’s historic district of
1880s buildings for wine tasting and sam-
pling local fare in a friendly, Old West
ambience. Or visit Redlands, the “City of
MUST
SEE,
DO
COURTYARD AT THE MISSION INN HOTEL & SPA ON MISSION INN AVENUE IN RIVERSIDE, opposite;
ballooning over the orange groves in Temecula Valley, below.
• ELEVATE YOUR SENSES SKYWARD
Hop on the Snow Summit Scenic Sky Chair at Big
Bear Mountain Resort and ascend 8,200 feet for
panoramic mountain and lake views. At the summit,
indulge in mountaintop dining or embark on a
downhill hike.
• bigbearmountainresort.com
• SAND TO SNOW NATIONAL MONUMENT
This national monument is comprised of 154,000
acres of San Bernardino National Forest and BLM
land jutting skyward from the Sonoran desert floor
to the 11,502-foot peak of Mount San Gorgonio.
This rich biologically-diverse monument encom-
passes wildlife corridors, sacred Serrano and
Cahuilla tribal sites and 30 miles of the Pacific Crest
Trail. It is a four-season recreational wonderland.
• fs.usda.gov/visit/sand-to-snow-national-monument
• UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RIVER-
SIDE’S ARTS A cultural anchor in downtown
Riverside, three miles from UCR’s main campus,
ARTSblock occupies adjacent historic buildings
and former department stores. The California
Museum of Photography exhibits contemporary
photography and has a comprehensive collection
of early cameras. The Sweeney Art Gallery acts as
a laboratory of experimental art. The Culver
Center of the Arts hosts films, lectures and
theatrical programs.
• artsblock.ucr.edu
• BALLOONING OVER TEMECULA Drift
serenely in a hot-air balloon over the vineyards,
citrus groves and horse ranches of Temecula’s
wine country, tinged by the rising sun’s golden
light. Sunrise Balloons first pioneered these flights
in 1975; their capable, licensed pilots ensure a safe
float that includes champagne and bottled water
served aloft.
• sunriseballoons.com
• MISSION INN HOTEL & SPA This 1902
National Historic Landmark has hosted presidents
and movie stars in this ramble of Mission Revival,
Moorish and Oriental architecture, and Louis
Comfort Tiffany mosaics. It evokes the enchant-
ment of a European castle. Sip a drink in the
Spanish Patio under colonnades draped with red
bougainvillea.
• missioninn.com
2025-26 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA 75